Direcris's footing gives way as Dench attempts to move against the current toward him. The wizard goes flying into the water but his rope holds as it pulls the half-orc back. By Lathander's grace the half-orc is able to keep hold of the rope and his bugbear companion as Uri swings across the breadth of the waterfall. The monk swings gracfully, avoiding the protruding rocks of the cliff face. Gadston strains to anchor the group to stable ground as he slides toward the precipice. The paladin hangs on and is able to raise the group to safety on the far side of the river. The island continues to crack and splinter, geysers of water shooting through the foundation.
Dench looks for a moment to be sure everyone is safely on the far side of the river. He tries to shake some of the water from his clothes. Eventually, he'll take the book from where he stowed it and open the first few pages.
Dench pauses. "Perhaps not. But I still have some suspicions about the woman who hired us. Given the nature of the being who held the book, shouldn't we know little about it before giving it to her?"
""We need the Hut. But not here." Direcris calls the lights to him and starts back the way they came. "Shall I take the book back or does your curiosity still need tending?" he throws over his shoulder to Dench.
Gadston takes a moment the breath a sigh of relief. He is happy his companions made it out. "If we rest," he says a bit winded. "We rest and travel parallel of the road but not on it. It may be slower but, it may be wise if there are pursuers."
Dench turns the book, opens it wide, holds a page up to whatever sunlight is available. He considers casting Dispel Magic on it, but decides that doesn't make much sense. Slightly exasperated, he returns the book is Direcris. "Yes," he says, "You should hold onto it. I hope she will reveal what it does to us." He shivers in the wet cold. "Let us find a spot for your excellent hut, Direcris," he says.
Direcris takes the book back and searches for a wide enough spot for the Hut. But well back from the river and even a bit into the woods if he can glimpse it from the path. He's more intent on hurrying to set up the Hut than on truly hiding it.
Soon as he finds an area, he sets it up and sits down. He gets rid of three of the lights and looks at the book. He more examines the cover and the book itself before looking thru the pages. He casts Detect Magic on it.
Gadston will wait till everyone piles into the hut and then will enter. Once inside he will go to each of the company and see to their healing if they need it. After that, he will sit down in a small space and rest. After some time he will speak:
"Is everyone fine? What does everyone want to do next?" he will ask.
The group finds a spot in the mountains out of sight of the trail and the crumbling toward. The magic of the tiny hut slowly warms their chilled bones with its magic as they rest. Direcris's spell reveals that the book has strong illusion magic coming off of it, but still appears completely blank.
"I'll take first watch", offers Uri. "We don't know if those...things...will try to follow us, or if there are more bandits like the ones we encountered before."
"I can take second watch," Dench says. "Thank you, Sir Gadston, for your kind of offer of healing. I think a long rest will be enough for me. Please wake me, Uri." Dench curls up on his shield, his hammer close. During his watch, he'll seek Lathander's strength to recover his spells.
Dench feels the entire waterfall reaching down into his lungs. He coughs and struggles to cast Guidance on himself and then on Uri, if possible.
His Strength (Athletics) check: 22
Guidance: 4
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Uri opts for the shore, not enjoying the water. Acrobatics: 18 (+2 if Dench's 2nd guidance is permissible).
Sir Gadston
Athletics: 10
Direcris's footing gives way as Dench attempts to move against the current toward him. The wizard goes flying into the water but his rope holds as it pulls the half-orc back. By Lathander's grace the half-orc is able to keep hold of the rope and his bugbear companion as Uri swings across the breadth of the waterfall. The monk swings gracfully, avoiding the protruding rocks of the cliff face. Gadston strains to anchor the group to stable ground as he slides toward the precipice. The paladin hangs on and is able to raise the group to safety on the far side of the river. The island continues to crack and splinter, geysers of water shooting through the foundation.
Dench looks for a moment to be sure everyone is safely on the far side of the river. He tries to shake some of the water from his clothes. Eventually, he'll take the book from where he stowed it and open the first few pages.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"Is that wise?", questions Uri, shaking water from his battered, furry body like a half-drowned animal.
Dench pauses. "Perhaps not. But I still have some suspicions about the woman who hired us. Given the nature of the being who held the book, shouldn't we know little about it before giving it to her?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Direcris takes the book out of the bag of holding and holds it out to Dench. "Let us at least move from the tower and the river."
"Agreed", sniffs Uri soggily.
Sir Gadston
OCC: Where is Gadston in relation to the group? Same side of the river or different side?
(Everyone is on the same side of the river)
Looking through the book, it seems entirely blank.
The night wind howls and cuts through the party's drenched attire. If warmth isn't found soon, there will be a rough march ahead.
""We need the Hut. But not here." Direcris calls the lights to him and starts back the way they came. "Shall I take the book back or does your curiosity still need tending?" he throws over his shoulder to Dench.
With a last look over towards the tower, Uri forces his weary feet to march.
Sir Gadston
Gadston takes a moment the breath a sigh of relief. He is happy his companions made it out. "If we rest," he says a bit winded. "We rest and travel parallel of the road but not on it. It may be slower but, it may be wise if there are pursuers."
With that Gadston moves slowly forward.
Dench turns the book, opens it wide, holds a page up to whatever sunlight is available. He considers casting Dispel Magic on it, but decides that doesn't make much sense. Slightly exasperated, he returns the book is Direcris. "Yes," he says, "You should hold onto it. I hope she will reveal what it does to us." He shivers in the wet cold. "Let us find a spot for your excellent hut, Direcris," he says.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Direcris takes the book back and searches for a wide enough spot for the Hut. But well back from the river and even a bit into the woods if he can glimpse it from the path. He's more intent on hurrying to set up the Hut than on truly hiding it.
Soon as he finds an area, he sets it up and sits down. He gets rid of three of the lights and looks at the book. He more examines the cover and the book itself before looking thru the pages. He casts Detect Magic on it.
Sir Gadston
Gadston will wait till everyone piles into the hut and then will enter. Once inside he will go to each of the company and see to their healing if they need it. After that, he will sit down in a small space and rest. After some time he will speak:
"Is everyone fine? What does everyone want to do next?" he will ask.
The group finds a spot in the mountains out of sight of the trail and the crumbling toward. The magic of the tiny hut slowly warms their chilled bones with its magic as they rest. Direcris's spell reveals that the book has strong illusion magic coming off of it, but still appears completely blank.
"I'll take first watch", offers Uri. "We don't know if those...things...will try to follow us, or if there are more bandits like the ones we encountered before."
"I can take second watch," Dench says. "Thank you, Sir Gadston, for your kind of offer of healing. I think a long rest will be enough for me. Please wake me, Uri." Dench curls up on his shield, his hammer close. During his watch, he'll seek Lathander's strength to recover his spells.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard