Quest #36 "Out Of The Jungle, Into The Swamp"

[Rex]

Tlacthga

"No problem, a very interesting familiar for sure."

[OGRE MAGE]

Bugging Out
Freeday, 5th of Harvester
Mid Afternoon, Hot, Sunny, Buggy,

Once introductions are complete between the group and their animal friends, and the rangers have helped each other out with their ammunition, it is decided that the party should head out now in hopes of making it to the loggers clearing without alerting the dwarves.

Things are packed up and gear straps pulled tight for the first leg of their journey. With no main trails leading off this clearing, the group backtracks to the last clearing where they met the refugees from town the day before. This camp is now completely empty except for a few obvious signs of a recent fight. Blood spatters are found in a few places and all of the makeshift structures have been either smashed up or destroyed completely. There is no sign of any of the former inhabitants, but the northern trail leading in the direction of the loggers trail is clear and wide open.

Actions?

positions:
Alordan AC3 22/22
Theo AC:5 10/10
Lerrick 4 AC5 20/20 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 (Light Stone)
Tlachtga 3 AC7 23/23 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 3rd 2/2 (Light Stone)
Tuto AC:8 4/4
Jobo 10/10 Festus ?/?
Til-dirion 10/10
Andron 3/2 AC10 13/13 CL: 1st 4/4 2nd 3/3 MU: RM, CL, DM, 2/2
Torbath 2 AC8 13/13 2/2 RM, CL, DM
Comet AC:7 4/4

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Should we pursue and see if we can free any prisoners?"

She examines the area and tries to see if she can determine anything.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan looks grim as he surveys the clearing. He is careful to examine any tracks for what could have happened her - how many were involved, was it dwarves, and which way they seem to have gone.

"Rescuing prisoners could be good - but if the dwarves are in great numbers we'd be in trouble. I think we need a larger organized group to take them on - and then out..."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

She will also keep her eyes out for another suitable animal for Animal Friendship.

She can have up to 6 HD total.

[Ahlmzhad]

Jobo

"Sad to see, but they wuz stubborn. Didn't wantz to leave, and didn't wantz our help. Dem Dwarvses is too many, maybe later with more money or magic we can take them on."

[gurusql]

Torbath

Torbath lowers his head as Comet flies from one shoulder to the other and Torbath says "As much pain as I am sure we are all feeling right now, the fact remains that we do not have the strength to take on the dwarves directly - we must keep going. I only hope it really is the grey ooze that is controlling the dwarves, so that we can find a way to stop them without killing them."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Mr. Jobo is correct, they chose to remain and were quite aware of the immediate risk of reprisal. The dwarves also know exactly what we look like. Adventurers, not simple farmers or fishermen. We are the ultimate target of their revenge and it is likely they took these refugees as hostages to interrogate about our location ... or use them as bait. Worse yet, Mr. Jombo knows of our plans and the obelisk. I anticipate a much larger force of dwarves to follow up this attack. Morning at the very latest. We must not delay here long."

[jemmus]

Theo also checks for tracks, checking to see if any of them are from dwarf-size shoes or boots.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric pauses at the site of bloodshed, then closes her eyes and mumbles a prayer for those who where taken into captivity by the dwarves and to those who were slain. Afterwards she remains silent as she continues with the party on their journey.

[OGRE MAGE]

Not sure if Brunnacht is still with us or not, so I will move this action along here.

Bugging Out
Freeday, 5th of Harvester
Evening, Warm, Sunny, Buggy,

The rangers search for tracks and find them everywhere. It appears that a large contingency of dwarves arrived by the hidden trails you used yesterday, leading them directly into the back entrance of the camp. There are plenty of tracks that lead back to the beach as well, with drag marks in the sand that either indicate prisoners or dead bodies were also dragged back into town. By the count of the prints, there were many dwarves involved.

Tlachtga looks around for more animals to tame, remembering that anything edible near town doesn't stick around for very long.

Not wishing to remain in this area too long, Andronichishche and several others think it is best to move along. With nothing left to learn here, and no desire to take on a bunch of angry dwarves, the party sets out on their mission to make it to the loggers clearing. They take the tight trails back to the main trail, seeing no trouble along the way. As the afternoon passes, they use the main pathway as much as they can for ease of travel, but once they get closer to the area where they know the trail leads off to the mine, they start to hear voices and commotion up ahead again.

Bypassing the busy area using the detour they blazed earlier gets them around any trouble and the group is soon approaching the old loggers shack. This area still appears to be abandoned, but the smaller trail Andron was looking for is still visible to the northwest. It is nearly dark out by the time they reach the empty clearing. If you thought the bugs were bad during the daylight hours, their numbers multiply tenfold once darkness sets in. Comet doesn't seem to mind, though.

Actions?

positions:
Alordan AC3 22/22
Theo AC:5 10/10
Lerrick 4 AC5 20/20 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 (Light Stone)
Tlachtga 3 AC7 23/23 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 3rd 2/2 (Light Stone)
Tuto AC:8 4/4
Jobo 10/10 Festus ?/?
Til-dirion 10/10
Andron 4/3 AC10 17/17 CL: 1st 5/5 2nd 4/4 MU: RM, CL, DM, 1st 2/2 2nd 1/1
Torbath 2 AC8 13/13 2/2 RM, CL, DM
Comet AC:7 4/4

You are now gathered at the Loggers Clearing on the main map, about 6 miles up the loggers trail north of the beach.
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477

[Brunnacht]

Is this close up map helpful? Or is it out of date?

[OGRE MAGE]

That one works. You are currently at the spot marked loggers shack.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Is there a spot not in the main clearing we can set up the magic shack?"

[Brunnacht]

Til-dirion

"If you can please keep me in the loop about our next steps then I'll go on first watch."

The elf keeps his club in his hand and stays alert, especially for sounds that could mean oncoming unexpected visitors.

Might be a good idea if our rangers regularly update the map.

[Brunnacht]

That one works. You are currently at the spot marked loggers shack.

Thank you.

[jemmus]

Theo looks into the logger's shack. To the group, I suppose this shack has been searched before?

If no one else does, I'll try to update the map as we go along. If I don't, please remind me.

[kruk]

Theo I suppose this shack has been searched before?

Yes...we searched the shack a couple days ago. A wild bore was strung up alive on one of the ceiling beams. We killed it dismember it to provide food for the villagers.

The cleric turns to the others I will take the first watch as well.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"I can take the last watch."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche indicates the faint trail leading northwest from the clearing. "If my calculations are correct, the obelisk should be approximately two and a half miles northwest and then one mile north."

He peeks through the shack's window when the topic is broached. "We also found a huge yellow skinned ogre sleeping in there, along with a jungle kobold. He was rather irate at being awakened ... the ogre, that is. Although, the kobold was a nasty little git too, as Mr. Maag would say."

"By the way, if you happen to see a troglodyte, it may be Mr. Torbath's friend, Plawkht. It faithfully chased after the kobold and we haven't seen him since. I will take last watch with Miss Tlachtga, as well."