[Completed] - Varas/Watchtowers - 8 March, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

This expedition left Vaul on March 8 with the intention of seeking out another reported signal tower to the northwest. It is led by the human Varas, survivor of one previous expedition.

Members of the expedition are:

Varas (AleBelly)
Dorvar the dwarf (scott308)
Wendall the magic-user (ogre Mage)
Harold the healer (zhym)

The rain that started on March 6 persists, making for soft and sometimes slippery ground while blanketing the earth in a dense low-lying fog that limits vision to a half-mile and muffles noises.

In which direction does the party head upon leaving the safety of Vaul behind?

(I'll send character sheets out on Monday)

[AleBelly]

"The tower was to the northwest, so let's return that way. Nasty fog out, we'll have to keep our eyes open" says Varas.

[Zhym]

Harold struggles under the weight of the pack on his back and tries to keep up.

[Keehnelf]

March 9, 1 VC - 7:00am

Location Discovery (entry) [1d6] = 5, Location Clues (entry) [1d6] = 2

Random Wilderness Encounter [1d6] = 4

The group travels the entire day northwest through the pea-soup fog, never once catching sight or sound of another traveler on the broad and twisted moor. Unusual locales escape the group's notice as well, with visibility reduced as much as it is, their only hint of the previous expedition the dim outline of the abandoned tower at the edge of sight to their right as they passed by in mid-afternoon.

The group camps one hex northwest of Vaul and has an uneventful night.

Random Wilderness Encounter [1d6] = 3

When they break camp in the morning, the rain has stopped, but the heavy fog still clings to the wet ground in the chill spring air.

Weather change [1d6] = 1

Each party member must deduct one day's rations.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall wakes up in his usual cranky mood and then looks to see if there is some higher ground to climb nearby in order to get a better look around the area.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Wendall wanted to drop off the extra rations and put the lock on the tower that we found. Perhaps we could do that on the way back to town?

[Scott308]

Dorvar

Stay alert, everyone. This damnable fog will prevent us from seeing dangers until they are upon us, so we will need to keep a careful ear out.

[AleBelly]

"Yes, this damnable fog. I can see why these lands remain uninhabited. At least the rain is gone."

Varas readies to continue northwest to search for the second tower.

[Keehnelf]

March 10, 1 VC - 7:00am

The party breaks camp in the morning, intent on traveling further to the northwest. As the days progresses, the heavy fog of the day before slowly burns away under the influence of the steadily strengthening sun. The ground remains heavy with moisture, and the landscape is routinely marked by low gullies or depressions and periodically with deep but narrow fissures in the exposed rock, but none large enough to be of special interest.

Weather change [1d6] = 2

Location Discovery (exit) [1d6] = 3, Location Clues (exit) [1d6] = 6

As they head further to the northwest, it becomes obvious to Dorvar and Harold that the landscape is very slowly but surely sloping downward in their direction of travel, though the terrain is quite uneven.

Location Discovery (entry) [1d6] = 5, Location Clues (entry) [1d6] = 3

Random Wilderness Encounter [1d6] = 6

The day passes without incident, and when the party makes camp it is quiet as well. There has been no wolf-sign, either sound or track, throughout the journey this far, and rather than put the group's mind at ease it rather causes them concern as they rise the next morning.

The party has traveled another hex northwest from Vaul. Each party member must deduct another day's rations.

[Scott308]

Dorvar

We have travelled too far to have not seen sign of any other living creatures. I am not sure I wish to find out what is keeping the wolves and goblins away.

[AleBelly]

Just to be sure, we are two hexes northwest of Vaul, correct? If so...

"The second tower should be around here somewhere. I propose we search the area tomorrow for its location" says Varas.

I'll assume Wendall has talked about his provisioning plans.

"Wendall, I like the idea of setting up supply depots. I'll also look into procuring a pack animal or perhaps a riding horse when we return to Vaul."

[Scott308]

Dorvar

I think searching for the tower tomorrow is a fine idea.

[OGRE MAGE]

Im glad to hear that Varas. I was beginning to think that you all thought I was nuts for even coming up with the idea.

I too think we should search this area for the next tower. The quiet is creepy out here but, it's better than being eaten by a pack of wolves I guess.

I really hate having wet feet all day. They don't smell too good right now either.

Wendall spends the next little while sniffing his socks and feet.

[Keehnelf]

Yes, two hexes northwest. I'll post an update in a bit.

[Keehnelf]

March 10, 1 VC - 3:40pm

Location Discovery (entry) [1d6] = 1, Location Clues (entry) [1d6] = 6

The party spends the morning traveling in wide arcs across the area, seeking out some sign of the second signal tower. Finally, an hour after lunch the group spots a thin plume of smoke rising off to the southwest and decides to investigate cautiously.

Approaching from along a ridge, the group catch sight of the truncated top of another tower almost two hours later, with evidence that the smoke plume is rising from nearby. Vargas makes a quick survey over the ridge top and discovers a camp of humanoids at the base of the tower, which is in shambles.

Three large teepee-like tents of leather and wood sit ranged about a covered cooking fire. A tall pole has been driven into the ground, from which a ragged dark green pennant drapes listlessly. The iconography on it, if any, is impossible to make out.

Standing at or near the cooking fire are five medium-sized reptilian humanoids, with wicked looking curved swords hanging at their belts and bundles of javelins slung across their backs. All but one of the group are naked apart from their swordbelts and javelin straps, but the largest of the group wears a heavy hauberk of tarnished looking chain mail and has a brutal looking battle axe thrown over one shoulder as he converses with his compatriots in his guttural yet sibilant tongue.

It is clear that this is not the entirety of the group given the size of the tents, but no others are immediately visible.

[Keehnelf]

Sorry Varas, the autocorrect on my phone is unruly.

[Zhym]

"Wow," says Harold. "They look tough."

"Are there any other towers we could go look at?"

[AleBelly]

Varas retreats silently back down the ridge. "We're not dealing with a few wolves here, men. Nor even goblins, by the looks of it. At least five lizard-like men by the tower...probably more. These foes are probably beyond us. I don't want to end up in that cooking pot. Perhaps we should head back the way we came and set up camp for the night."

[Scott308]

Dorvar

I agree. I'm generally in the mood for a good fight... but this is not a good fight. I think we would be likely to lose our lives. Might be good info for the duke, though. These lizard-people sound like much more of a threat than a same-sized group of goblins.

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall

I think we could take em!

Besides......how do we know they aren't friendly? They might have some useful information for us if we just talk to them. Maybe if we observe them for a bit, we can find out if they are actually dangerous?

[AleBelly]

Wendall

I think we could take em!

Besides......how do we know they aren't friendly? They might have some useful information for us if we just talk to them. Maybe if we observe them for a bit, we can find out if they are actually dangerous?

"I find it hard to believe these creatures, armed with weapons, are friendly. What if we try to talk and they aren't? We'd be no match for them in a head-to-head battle. Observation is a good idea, but for a limited time. We should set out to find camp at least two hours before sundown to make sure we put some space between us and the reptile men.

Speaking of which, where should we head next? I propose traversing new ground...perhaps to the southwest?"

in game terms this would mean exploring the hex SW of here