Vor starts erasing as much of sign of their presence as he can, "'bout 'ow far is't t' this 'ere cave th' armer s'pposet be in? Any of ye ken that?" He scatters hnadfulls of leaves and duff hither and yon, finding a branch and sweeping gently at any tracks or other markings.
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Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
(DM, would Duradin know of any suitable caves, holdouts, outposts or useful terrain features that might help shield the party from the eyes of a searching dragon? What check would you prefer to see if he can recall such information on the spot?)
"We stay together. Die alone on your own time."
Regardless of whether or not he actually knows of a good cave or shelter, he will start the process of packing up the camp, getting ready to set out with confidence, even if no obvious solution presents itself.
Duradin looks around and spots a nearby mottled mountain face. His eyes narrow for a moment, then he grins. "This way!" He marches off through the woods, driving upslope towards the far mountain. The pace is punishingly quick, but it covers ground as only the march of determined dwarves can.
Duradin grunts and gives a slight shake of his head.
"Nuh. Watchpost - well defended, with half a mountain sitting above it. Used to have a garrison, back when our territory stretched out this far. It's been largely abandoned since then, but we like to keep track of these places in case they are ever used against us. Anyways, it'd take a dragon more trouble than we're worth to dig us out. A good place to cool our heels for a few hours, until we can figure out something better to do, or find a way to avoid the... problem."
"Any place sounds better than out in the open where there may be an angry dragon. Hopefully nothing too big has moved in." Ava says hurrying after Duradin. Under her breath she mutters, "I really need to work out more, those last few months sitting on my rear out there have really slowed me down."
Duradin spares a look over his shoulder, thinking that his own heavy breathing had muffled her last words to his sharp hearing. Still marching, he nods, replying.
"Quite. Most big things don't tend to live too near to dragons, but we are in the wilds, now, so be ready for anything."
The sound of Duradin's grinding teeth cuts through the morning calm as the party gets up in the morning.
"I don't like this. Shoulda've been something by now. A flyover. Kobold scouts. Something. I don't trust this quiet, but we can't stay here. We've already lost half a day, and we've a ways yet to travel."
Duradin takes some time to draw a rough map in the accumulated dust on the floor of the watchtower.
"We're here." He points to a triangle with an x over it, marking their position in the valley. "The scouts reported the location of the tomb to be somewhere nearabouts here." He draw an x at a point across the valley, roughly indicating the scout's report, "Still several days journey out, with dragon activity in the next valleys over. Clearly, some of that has spread this way, and in great numbers: dragons being territorial, the expansion of their territory often correlates to numbers. The way I see it - the only way - we have but three options between us. First, we go up, following the peaktops and ridges all the way to get here, above the unmarked tomb complex, and then we make our descent there. The cold will be bitter, the climbing nigh impossible, and we'll have no cover should the dragon, or any dragon, decide to waylay us. Option the second, we go down to the base of the valley and follow the river. This was more or less our initial path, and we met with kobold presence early on - a hunting party or roving thieves or somesuch thing. Like as not we can expect more such encounters as we move forward in that way. The third, and least possible option, is to go down. These hills and petty mountains once belonged to my ancestors, and those of my kinfolk. We are delvers, miners, and we lived here for generations. Some of those tunnels like as not survived, and may connect us a goodly portion of the way there and back, without ever needing to set foot on the surface. Indeed, this watchtower is a part of those ancient works, but I warn you all, there's no telling which tunnels may have survived all these years. Even dwarven-made tunnels collapse with time, and I would shudder to imagine what horrors now lurk in those once-torchlit halls. If we take the darker path, below the surface, we will have no map, no real way to navigate, no assurance of making it to our destination, but no dragons. I've said my piece. I'd hear your thoughts, if you've any worth offering."
Tom considers Duradin's words as he lays out the three options,"The first option you suggests sounds mighty risky - being out in the open like that, we'd be walking targets. Besides the cold and damp could slow our progress. The second option you propose seems more fathomable, we may be at least afforded cover, should the dragon strike."He narrows his eyes a little at Duradin before continuing,"As for the third option. You say it is the least possible... but might it not be worth considering. If we were able to somehow navigate below the surface then we would effectively be removing our greatest risk - most namely dragons! If they can be avoided at all costs, well that's something worth considering, surely?"
Looking around at the rest of his companions, Tom waits for their responses..."I think I am not wrong in, at the least, discounting the first option."
Marisol thought it over. "These tunnels... how long has it been since they were used? You are the expert on the stonework, do you really think that they are in such bad shape?"
Ash listens intently to all of Duradin's instructions weighing their options.
"Not sure we should alter our course. What you are describing in the other options isn't enticing either. I would like to follow the river. I could even scout on ahead in the water if we move alongside it."
He shrugs. " But I will follow your plan if you believe our chances are better elsewhere."
"Good enough for me. Down to the valleys, then, or we try to find the right cave. Once we start, I ask that we hold to our course for as long as possible, so if you've something to say, spit it out now or hold fast to your own counsel in the coming days, whether we face dragons or the dark."
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Vor starts erasing as much of sign of their presence as he can, "'bout 'ow far is't t' this 'ere cave th' armer s'pposet be in? Any of ye ken that?" He scatters hnadfulls of leaves and duff hither and yon, finding a branch and sweeping gently at any tracks or other markings.
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
History or Survival check with advantage.
History it is! Let's see how well he remembers his maps!
History: 23
You know of a couple areas safe to rest that are covered above.
On to the nearest one, then - perhaps an abandoned mine or dwarf-made watchtower/bunker hidden up in these mountains someplace?
That works!
Duradin looks around and spots a nearby mottled mountain face. His eyes narrow for a moment, then he grins. "This way!" He marches off through the woods, driving upslope towards the far mountain. The pace is punishingly quick, but it covers ground as only the march of determined dwarves can.
Ava tosses her pack on and hurries after him humming a light tune
Ash follows, keeping up with Duradin and his hands on his weapons.
“Maybe a gold mine, eh?” Vor seems at least a bit curious about where they’re going. “Ye been t’ this place afore, Duradin?”
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Duradin grunts and gives a slight shake of his head.
"Nuh. Watchpost - well defended, with half a mountain sitting above it. Used to have a garrison, back when our territory stretched out this far. It's been largely abandoned since then, but we like to keep track of these places in case they are ever used against us. Anyways, it'd take a dragon more trouble than we're worth to dig us out. A good place to cool our heels for a few hours, until we can figure out something better to do, or find a way to avoid the... problem."
"Any place sounds better than out in the open where there may be an angry dragon. Hopefully nothing too big has moved in." Ava says hurrying after Duradin. Under her breath she mutters, "I really need to work out more, those last few months sitting on my rear out there have really slowed me down."
Duradin spares a look over his shoulder, thinking that his own heavy breathing had muffled her last words to his sharp hearing. Still marching, he nods, replying.
"Quite. Most big things don't tend to live too near to dragons, but we are in the wilds, now, so be ready for anything."
Ok. You reach the watchtower without incident and complete your rest. What now?
The sound of Duradin's grinding teeth cuts through the morning calm as the party gets up in the morning.
"I don't like this. Shoulda've been something by now. A flyover. Kobold scouts. Something. I don't trust this quiet, but we can't stay here. We've already lost half a day, and we've a ways yet to travel."
Duradin takes some time to draw a rough map in the accumulated dust on the floor of the watchtower.
"We're here." He points to a triangle with an x over it, marking their position in the valley. "The scouts reported the location of the tomb to be somewhere nearabouts here." He draw an x at a point across the valley, roughly indicating the scout's report, "Still several days journey out, with dragon activity in the next valleys over. Clearly, some of that has spread this way, and in great numbers: dragons being territorial, the expansion of their territory often correlates to numbers. The way I see it - the only way - we have but three options between us. First, we go up, following the peaktops and ridges all the way to get here, above the unmarked tomb complex, and then we make our descent there. The cold will be bitter, the climbing nigh impossible, and we'll have no cover should the dragon, or any dragon, decide to waylay us. Option the second, we go down to the base of the valley and follow the river. This was more or less our initial path, and we met with kobold presence early on - a hunting party or roving thieves or somesuch thing. Like as not we can expect more such encounters as we move forward in that way. The third, and least possible option, is to go down. These hills and petty mountains once belonged to my ancestors, and those of my kinfolk. We are delvers, miners, and we lived here for generations. Some of those tunnels like as not survived, and may connect us a goodly portion of the way there and back, without ever needing to set foot on the surface. Indeed, this watchtower is a part of those ancient works, but I warn you all, there's no telling which tunnels may have survived all these years. Even dwarven-made tunnels collapse with time, and I would shudder to imagine what horrors now lurk in those once-torchlit halls. If we take the darker path, below the surface, we will have no map, no real way to navigate, no assurance of making it to our destination, but no dragons. I've said my piece. I'd hear your thoughts, if you've any worth offering."
Tom considers Duradin's words as he lays out the three options, "The first option you suggests sounds mighty risky - being out in the open like that, we'd be walking targets. Besides the cold and damp could slow our progress. The second option you propose seems more fathomable, we may be at least afforded cover, should the dragon strike." He narrows his eyes a little at Duradin before continuing, "As for the third option. You say it is the least possible... but might it not be worth considering. If we were able to somehow navigate below the surface then we would effectively be removing our greatest risk - most namely dragons! If they can be avoided at all costs, well that's something worth considering, surely?"
Looking around at the rest of his companions, Tom waits for their responses... "I think I am not wrong in, at the least, discounting the first option."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
(Anyone else?)
Marisol thought it over. "These tunnels... how long has it been since they were used? You are the expert on the stonework, do you really think that they are in such bad shape?"
Ash listens intently to all of Duradin's instructions weighing their options.
"Not sure we should alter our course. What you are describing in the other options isn't enticing either. I would like to follow the river. I could even scout on ahead in the water if we move alongside it."
He shrugs. " But I will follow your plan if you believe our chances are better elsewhere."
"Good enough for me. Down to the valleys, then, or we try to find the right cave. Once we start, I ask that we hold to our course for as long as possible, so if you've something to say, spit it out now or hold fast to your own counsel in the coming days, whether we face dragons or the dark."