Northlands Campaign

No other buildings in sight.  Looking back at this building, it is in remarkably good repair and seems to be only at most a few years old.  The track leads off in the direction indicated on the map for the main stronghold of the cult.  According to the map, it is going to be a 3 day journey to get there.

**queue** These boots were made for walkin........**end queue**

”Time for a wee stretch of the legs. But before that let’s have a good look in and around the barn, there may be something useful for our journey.”

Investigation: 13

Cade will help in searching the barn.

Barnabus stands guard as look out while the others examine the surrounding area.

In looking around both inside and out of the barn, you can easily tell that the building sees frequent traffic.  Last traces of occupancy, however, seem to be between 1 and 3 weeks ago.

There are no visible signs that any of the local wildlife (if there even is any local wildlife) intrude on the building.

No valuables or other signs of who may be using the building can be found.

"Seems just a stopping place." Cade comments. "Shall we start the long walk onward?" He moves out of the barnand onto the path indicated by the map.

"Onward companions! I have slept in way too many barnyards in my life and would like to keep on going."

Wil sets out at a nice maintainable pace, not a Sunday stroll, but not a forced march pace either, regularly checking on his companions and taking breaks when needed.

As soon as Wil is within a few feet of him, Barnabus starts off down the road ahead. " Just point me in the right direction boss." as he trusted on.

The whole time Fife's new pomel stone provides a gently and nearly imperceptible magical hum at the back of his mind. It does however seem to make Barnabus a bit twitchy. It would seem that any presence that could be a surprise generated a response in the stone. The hair on on the back of Barnabus' neck would rise at every flutter of wing or russel of leaf. The sensation was not an unpleasant one but it did cause the dwarf to shrug his shoulders in a short involuntary shiver. The heightened sense of awareness only fed to the warrior's overprotective nature and so he tells the group something that probably goes without saying but he can't help himself.

 "Every one be on alert. Remember what junior said. They make a trip about every three weeks. They had just had a delivery about two weeks ago so they could be headed this way any day. Judging by the fact that nothing seemed to have been touched, I don't think they've been back since we left. I'm wondering if we should try to avoid them and watch what they do for a bit. Might not hurt to get some information."

Kina nods.
"I'm all for it. It'd be nice to have some kind of advance knowledge for once rather than perpetually wading in blind." she says. "While we could create an ambush in a barn, we have no idea how many would be arriving and when. Long as we're not spotted before we spot them..." she says, staying towards the back of the group to avoid giving them away.

Judging by the number of bunks in the barn, the caravan is quite large, likely over 100 in number.

Leaving the barn, it is currently early afternoon and the weather seems little changed from what you have grown up to expect.  However, the landscape is almost alien in appearance.  The grasses, while taller than the sickly growth of the swamp, look no healthier here, being a yellowish brown in color.  What few trees look stunted and misshapen.  Bushes are in abundance, but covered in mottled grey-green leaves, and most are covered in large thorns as well.

Off in the distance to either side of the track, you catch occasional glimpses of movement, but it is too far off for you to make out any details.  (Edges of your vision, not within even longbow range.)

Just as the sun is beginning to set, you come across a large open area beside the road with a number of cold firepits scattered around it.

"Looks like as good as place as any to stop for the night. Don't ya think? Lets split up and see what we can find for fire wood. By the look of this landscape I don't trust what beasts might be roaming around after the lights go out." Barnabus says as he starts to search the perimeter for camp fire material making sure to keep the others in site as best he can.

"Good plan." Cade agrees, his voice soft and whispery as usual. He holds the block of wood hanging from the cord around his neck, as he walks around the large campsite. "This seems like a lot of people." He says eventually. "What will we do if we actually do catch up with them?"

Wil scouts around the campsite looking for signs/indications of what creatures are in the area and what might visit them in the night so the group can prepare.

Investigation: 18

Nature: 16

Perception: 16

Strangely enough, you find no sign of wild creatures.  The only prints are from men, ox and carts, and those are over two weeks old.

Firewood is easy to find, not so easy to collect with the abundance of thorny bushes around.

Watches set (if you choose, or let Fife take watch), the night passes without incident.

"I'd be glad to avoid them especially if their numbers be as large as this barn makes it seem." Says Bart setting up a torch to help with the fire and to make things more cozy. Bart sleeps next to Kina after signing the group a sweet lullaby. 

"Another day then." Cade says the next morning, stowing away his gear and putting his pack on his back. "Shall we continue then?"

Barnabus grabs some bits of dried food from his ration pouch and through through a mouthful of dehydrated berries says " " Mphounds good to me."

Kina is loathe to give up her space heater companion and is slow to wake but the smell of food reminds her to consume one of her rations in such a way that one might worry what might happen if the group were out in the middle of nowhere and food ran out. She also picks a few more feathers out of her cleavage, as has been the habit of late for her.
"No reason to stay here... in fact, from the looks of things, if we did, we would be horribly outnumbered. It seems that this cult is larger than we first realized."

The track takes a northeasterly course, confirmed by the map, and continues onward through unchanging scenery.  Shortly after noon, (everyone roll Perception check):

Perception > 15: 

Perception > 10: 

Perception > 5: 

Perception 5 or less: