In Search Of Pappy Peppy

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-Dwarf Fighter

Loyn finds a stick about the same height as him and carefully crosses the stream, poking the water for any hidden holes. “See Bugs, that’s a sign!”. Once across, he’ll study the cairn and the rocks used in it’s formation. Thoroughly examining it and if there has been any disturbance to the ground where the rock pile sits.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb looks along the banks of the stream for spots where something might be lurking. He picks up some rocks and tosses them at any likely areas, trying to provoke a reaction. If the way seems clear he crosses over behind Loyn.

[ravenn4544]

Haldric shrugs at the cairn and follows along. "Seems like a lot of effort to make that for someone that may have been in trouble. If he wasn't in trouble and had time to make that - why wouldn't they just go back to the keep?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Wild
Early Morning, Partly Cloudy

The smaller stream is crossed without conflict allowing the group to gather around the cairn of flat river stones.

stone pile.jpg (49.94 KiB) Viewed 264 times

Despite Loyns excitement, Haldric points out that this doesn't seem like a sign someone in distress would take the time to create. Looking the flat stones over more closely, a bit of moss is starting to grow on their surface, indicating that this stack has probably been here longer than Peppy has been missing.

When no tracks or other indications of a fleeing gnome are found, the group wonders where they should search next. Looking out over the vast swampland area, a raised island can be seen to the northeast, and a dense evergreen forest spreads out a few hundred yards beyond the southern portion of the swamp.

Cloudia, or Twofer, as she prefers to be called, suggests that she could climb a tree to get a better look over the open lands. To do this she would either need to head further south, or head along the drier edge of the swamp to get to the pine trees in that area. Would she have any preference?

Actions?

wild.jpeg (118.18 KiB) Viewed 264 times

Bugs Donato G (T2) AC:3 16/16
Haldric Hammerheart D (C1) AC:3 11/12 CLW,CLW
Rida (F1) AC:2 10/10
Loyn Shortbeard D (F1) AC:5 12/12
Gyb the Meager Human (M1) AC:10 8/8
Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 12/12 CLW,CLW
Cloudia Birthmire (T1) AC:6 6/6

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

He studies the cairn with optimism, trying to figure out how Peppy could have made it. "Maybe he used mossy stones because he was in a hurry."

Bugs looks back at the river, trying to determine which way it is flowing. "Did we go downstream? Isn't it easier to swim downstream?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Great point!

This river is clearly flowing from northeast to southwest, the opposite direction you are currently traveling.

[Rex]

Rida

"I think we should throw something that floats in the river and follow it. A gnome would be best but maybe just a log would do."

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"So...father would be closer to the Keep? Gnolls didn't catch him because guards would see them there, so gnolls didn't go there."

Gyb turns to head back downstream. "Gyb hopes gnolls are asleep. Not all of them agree with the leader".

[qtkat]

Cloudia

Heads south to climb a tree headed in that direction.

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-Dwarf fighter

He looks a little embarrassed about the cairn. “You’re right, those stones have been there longer than Pappy’s been missing and going with water would be easier than fighting against it, especially if it’s at night and you’re panicking or not a strong swimmer.” Loyn starts walking in a southwesterly direction and looking for anything out of the ordinary between the stream and tree line.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Wild
Early Morning, Partly Cloudy

Rida suggests they toss Bugs into the river to see how fast he floats away. He gets no argument form the gnome.

Gyb and Loyn move down the smaller stream to look for clues, finding nothing that would indicate where the older gnome may have gone.

Twofer walks into the trees and starts to climb a tall one. Once she gets to a point where she can see above the others and out over the lands, she spots a few things she couldn't before. The nearby copse of pine trees seems to be covered in what appears to be spider webs, their sticky strands clumped over most of the evergreen needles in a grey mass. She also sees the raised island in the center of the stinky swamp, though this area seems to be void of any activity at the moment. The third thing she sees is the ruins of a tall stone tower in the distance. These ruins seem to sit atop a hilly area in the distance, but the thief doesn't remember ever seeing this tower from the road when she traveled to the Keep.

Actions?

Wilder - Copy.jpeg (159.65 KiB) Viewed 183 times

Bugs Donato G (T2) AC:3 16/16
Haldric Hammerheart D (C1) AC:3 11/12 CLW,CLW
Rida (F1) AC:2 10/10
Loyn Shortbeard D (F1) AC:5 12/12
Gyb the Meager Human (M1) AC:10 8/8
Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 12/12 CLW,CLW
Cloudia Birthmire (T1) AC:6 6/6

[ravenn4544]

Haldric looks curious. "You say you see a tower? It's the same one that some see and then don't see. That's quite peculiar, wouldn't you say? Is Pappy the kind of person that would have headed to something like that? Maybe we should too?"

[Rex]

Rida

"We should try and stay together."

He will keep an eye on the river for anything that looks like Pappy might have dropped.

[ateno]

"It looks clear, I will assist looking for tracks and other hints, lets head up the stream."

Keya

[Monsieur Rose]

Bugs

"Ok. Which way is up?" Bugs is getting confused with all the up-and-down talk. Left and right are hard enough. At least with those he can use his hands.

"I don't think Da would go to a sometimes tower, besides, it's just as far as the keep. I think he swam with the current."

[Rex]

Rida

"Yes, lets follow the current."

[Hotgoblin]

Loyn-Dwarf Fighter

He agrees with the gnome,“Bugs, you know your Da best and going with the current would have made the least amount of noise, not as much splashing.” Loyn pretends he’s floating along with the water, bobbing up and down as he walks with the current. “I wonder what that cairn signifies and who it’s for, since it’s not for us!” Every now and then he peers into the woods looking for anyone or anything looking back.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

"Gnoll camp is right there", says Gyb pointing across the stream and into the trees. "Gyb thinks gnome-father would not come closer to here."

"If gnome-father was fishing at the ford and went swimming there, then downstream from there we must search."

"Northeast to southwest is how the river runs. We should search downstream to southwest."

[OGRE MAGE]

If you think Bugs is confused, you should see the DM.

Back To The Wild
Off The Map
Mid Morning, Partly Cloudy

Haldric reminds the others about the stone tower ruins some of the team spotted on their last trip to the caves, wondering if Peppy may have gone there to investigate.

Bugs agrees with the others that his father would have swam away with the current, if he was ever really in the river in the first place. Keya looks around for tracks but finds only the dog-like prints he saw near the gnoll camp yesterday.

Moving along the stream towards the southwest, another stack of flat river stones is found almost directly across from the area of the gnoll camp in the trees. These also look like they have been here for a good long while, with no indication as to why.

stone pile.jpg (49.94 KiB) Viewed 72 times

Continuing in that direction for another mile or so, a third cairn is found at the bank of the river.

A few hundred yards beyond that, the little stream turns due south and heads into a nasty looking thicket of thorny trees.

thorns.jpg (222.45 KiB) Viewed 72 times

Actions?

Wilder - Copy.jpeg (159.31 KiB) Viewed 72 times

Bugs Donato G (T2) AC:3 16/16
Haldric Hammerheart D (C1) AC:3 11/12 CLW,CLW
Rida (F1) AC:2 10/10
Loyn Shortbeard D (F1) AC:5 12/12
Gyb the Meager Human (M1) AC:10 8/8
Keya Redd H-E (C1/R1) AC:5 12/12 CLW,CLW
Cloudia Birthmire (T1) AC:6 6/6

[Rex]

Rida

Rida will continue along with the others, bringing up the rear and looking for Pappy the whole time.