“Better late than dead.” Ted retorts. “Besides, it’s about the journey not the destination. Let’s keep an eye out for somewhere safe to rest eh?” Ted runs his hand through his hair, taking a glug of water. He seems exhausted, having to deal with riding a horse again. “Echo, keep an eye up ahead, find us somewhere nice, warm and cozy to rest up.” 

Echo perception 18

"You want to live forever Dreadbane," Vanya scoffs smiling darkly over the ridge she's standing on beside the petrified crystalline tree.

Echo scouts forward.

OOC: Are you using your sight through the parrot or allowing him to communicate what he sees to you 100 feet of you, you can communicate with it telepathically. How far ahead are you sending him?

Quote from RiderofRohan86 >>

Areon perception check.

 

  Areon perception 19

Quote from RiderofRohan86 >>

Quote from RiderofRohan86 >>

Areon perception check.

 

  Areon perception 19

"Come, Viggo. Step more carefully!" Erika chides the horse, pulling at his reins to try and keep pace. She looks up and out.

Perception (adv)  6

13

"Looks like they've frozen," the ranger says curiously looking at a man in robes with a horror struct face. "Ragnar...Gen-ga," he then calls. "He's wearing holy vestments," he adds pointing to the man frozen in the crystal!

Echo is flying ahead until he finds any danger or a suitable spot to rest and will let Ted know psychically if that happens. (So answers are - not looking through his eyes and as far ahead as it takes - I’m assuming we are still moving and Echo’s fly speed is 50ft so he should be almost twice as fast as us assuming we are both at a normal pace?)

”That’s why I’m here.” Ted barks back, his smile laced with sarcasm.

Ted *whispers*

 Catching up the party is now gathered around the structure Areon points out the man frozen in the crystal!

"Hey everyone!" Ted pipes up, "There's a pretty narrow bridge up ahead, it's over a deep, deep chasm. It looks pretty breathtaking, and dangerous, my favourite two things, but I'm not sure if the bridge will take our weight." Ted lets out a little sigh, before continuing, cringing slightly "I never thought I'd say this.... feels like a total Gen-Ga thing to say. But we should be careful."

Ragnar looks closely at the man frozen in the crystal.

"The clothing doesn't mean anything to me," Ragnar starts. "I don't know about Hofstaoir, Erika but I will guess it was similar to Burøya. We don't really have these formal priests in our village. Different people take on different roles. And there definitely is no special clothing to go with it."

He reaches out and touches the crystal.

"Could this be a priest from Ellyria? Is this what happened to some of the people?"

He then looks even more closely at the man to see if he can see any sign of life or how he might have ended up inside.

Insight: 20  

"Vestments, no. That was something I only saw the southerners doing. Our Sjaman wore a fur robe." She pulls Vigga aside Ragnar, looking at the crystallized man. Did she recognize the vestments or other distinguishing features on the priest from any stories?

History 11

Ragnar can is the man sees fairly shocked as if he doesn't understand what's happening to him. His hands are held out in front of him as if he's trying to shield himself from something. Ragnar looks around as spots other people in the crystal structures nearby. They all look shocked in various stages of fleeing!

"These...are new," Gen-ga says with a frown looking at the figures. "The crystal....we know is alive," he adds motioning to the fields where other crystals are moving up through the barren ground. "This is the outer impact of the city. I'd say we have about another couple of hours just after dark when we'll reach the city itself," they add looking towards Vayna on the ridge by the tree. "That's another landmark the scouts noted," they point to the tree.

Erika doesn't seem to recognize the vestments but she does surmising they are religious vestments.

Moving away from the field of crystal people and plants, anything organic it seems, the crystal grows over and consumes! An hour later the party reaches the bridge. Most of the afternoon 

"We either continue through the dark or make camp after we cross here," Zira announces as the mist abates over the chasm and the sun above begins to set at the bridge looms ahead. "I...I feel like this should be a group decision," she glances at Vanya who's petting her horse, "so what say you all," she asks looking at the party. "We've taken heavy losses," she says. "I...I feel like it makes sense to bed down after we cross the bridge and set up camp. I also see the merit in making it to the ruins after crossing the bridge and setting up camp beneath the ground. Yes, it presents its own dangers but those beasts we fought off last night...well they avoid the ruins," she explains.

"Only because of the horrors in the ruins," Vayna chimes in with a grumbling tone. "Either way we might die eh," she then says louder looking over the group. "So, I guess what you should ask yourselves do you chance death now or later eh? The odds are about the same," the dark elf adds her tone dripping with venom still as she glares at Zira.

"Vayna, enough," Gen-ga speaks up. "We all knew the risks coming on this expedition," they remind her. "Ragnar has seen the cost as much as we have now. This job is important as much as it is dangerous," they explain. "We appreciate you added protection but we've all felt the losses of our companions," they add. "I vote we make it to the bridge and camp," they finish their tone resolute, "but I will concede with the party's wishes," they add quickly.

Erika sees the horrified look of those trapped in the crystals, and her look of amazement turns quickly to disgust. She spurs Viggo onward. As they reach the bridge, she looks across the chasm.

"We still do not know what sort of natt rullator possessed Garth. If there is such a hidden threat that can find us again, I would prefer not to have Vanya or Areon be the next with a blade to our throats."

She scans the darkening sky, eyes resolute. "I say we press on, and take shelter in a place less exposed. The horses will only serve as a lure as long as we are in the open wilds."

"Great leadership Vanya....." Ted rolls his eyes. "Just brings my morale right up, I can feel it tingling at the top of my head."

Pacing before the bridge, Ted continues. "I think we should rest. I don't share this entitled merc's attitude about not making it back, I want us all to be at the top of our game going in here so we can leave and tell our valiant stories of how we conquered the ruins of Valyria! We faced Yeti's, unfathomable horrors, and worst of all...... angry drunkards! We're practically hero's! All we need to do is survive. Now, I wan't every single one of you to promise to me, that I won't be leaving here with your last words to your loved ones. You're too good for that! Each and every one of you....... except Vanya, matters to this expedition, and we are going to walk out of here with more that just our lives." He glances over to Vanya shrugging. "If you think we're doomed, feel free to jump. We don't have any space here for naysayers."

Ragnar finally manages to get his horse up to the bridge but still manages to catch the end of the conversation the group is having.

"We are all going to die some day," Ragnar says. "The best we can hope for is that it is while we are standing tall in battle, weapon in hand, surrounded by friends."

He looks down into the ravine and over to the other side.

"If more of those creatures from last night are still out here, I would prefer to be settled and ready for them rather than being caught in the open in the dark," he adds. "If there's a rock face we can put to our backs, or even better something with an overhang so we can protect one or two sides that would be my vote."

He looks back towards the crystals.

"At first light we could push hard to the city."

"I'm not your leader," Vanya snaps. "I'm just more fodder for the Gods," the dark elf says with a snide tone. "I'll stay with the party. Safety in numbers and although you all might have a higher purpose I just want the coin I was promised," she adds crossing her arms over her chest.

"Enough," Gen-ga sighs loudly. "That's majority for staying put and finding shelter. I say with our backs to a crystal and the chasm in front we'd only have to worry about the sides. Those beasts we face yesterday don't venture near the crystal fields as I said," they remind everyone with a sigh looking at the party then Vanya who's begun to look around. "Everyone take a look eh," they add.

OOC: We need a campsite survival check and watch order. 

Ragnar begins looking for a good spot to start a fire and set up the camp. While the crystals may provide some protection from the undead creatures, there has to be a reason for that, and he'd as soon not be leaning against one when he finds out why. He searches for a more 'natural' rock face to act as a backstop for the party.

Survival: 28   

"I'm happy to take a turn on first watch," Ragnar says once they've gotten settled.

Perception:  25   

“I’ll join the first watch.” Ted jumps off of his horse, wincing as his legs turn to jelly upon hitting the floor. 

To Gen’s comment, Ted chuckles, “Yeah, I saw! So cool..... I mean tragic. What are they, suspended? Or are they just dead and very well preserved. Are they ancient Ellyrians? Do you think they’d worship us or something, for being so far advanced and from the future? Maybe we can find a way to reverse it! The things I could do with a whole ancient city of loyal magical followers.....”

As Ted blabbers on, fantasising, he pitches up the tents. As usual, he’s not the most valuable member of the team when it comes to setting up camp. Survival 11

Erika can't help but chuckle at Ted's comments. "If the ancients were so backwards, I do not believe we would need to venture though Helheim just to visit their ruins! I wonder what majesty even a common Ellyiarian had in their lives." 

She thinks back to the old myths of home and the stories uncovered in the Holbright halls to find one to retell, to pass the time over a meal.

History 18

Cast: DM Exposition ;) 

Edit: coming up with a blank, Erika is quiet and tells no tale. She must have something else on her mind