Chp. 1: The Adventure Begins.....

[MrHemlocks]

***Albertus, Cleric, Old Tree***

Waving to the rest of the party, Albertus motions them to come over and rest up. "I told him that the gods are watching over us and will do the same for him if he can help us some how. So, I guess food and drink is a good start on his part. Besides, I am hungry and need some energy before heading back toward the Keep."

Entering the tree, Albertus looks around at his newest surroundings. Taking notice of any pets that the Hermit might have and looking for clues of possible pets via food bowls or other signs.

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers pause, not sure whether to accept the gnome’s offer of hospitality or not. Albertus encourages it; indeed the cleric bends down and enters the tree. Boddin the hobbit and Niles the fighter prefer to continue traveling, while Fingal the thief hides in the shadows considering the situation.

“This Kane McSnoogles doesn’t seem harmful,” chimes in Foracor the elf. “Though I could go either way."

Fingal is feeling more ill. The sun is setting.

Need responses from NJ/Bayard and jd/Luna or I’ll go with current majority, which is keep traveling. Fingal in the shadows can of course vote also.

[NJWilliam]

Bayard

Bayard stops a moment, taking a closer look at the gnome, "Fingal, this is your call, you are the one we are trying to heal." (ooc: Bayard will follow Fingal's decision on whether to stop or continue to the keep)

Bayard then turns and addresses the gnome, "Do you know of these flying insects that paralyze their victims, and of ways to cure the maladies they inflict? We are in haste to aid our friend."

[Grognardsw]

While Fingal considers his decision, the old gnome answers Brother Bayard's inquiry: "Heard I have those bugs, thankfully have I not met them face to face," he says with a big smile.

The gnome waddles down to the group. You see he has a facial tic which causes him to break out in an extreme leftward crooked smile every thirty seconds. It is both distracting and funny.

"Is your friend paralyzed? Perhaps I can apply plant unctions and herb tinctures to rejuvinate his ailing muscles," he offers with a grin. "Hhmm, yes, perhaps leeches to draw forth the black humours stiffening his limbs."

"I know," he says, eyes bright, a huge smile angling across his jaw. "I shall use my clyster to inject snail oil up his anus. Yes that should work!"

[Zhym]

Boddin loses any appetite he'd had for this fellow's cooking.

[mordrene]

Niles, fighter

Niles will sit quietly and guard the party. He does not trust this but will be polite an accept the hospitality. However, he will remain vigil.

[Grognardsw]

All eyes turn to Fingal after Brother Bayard's comment, "Fingal, this is your call, you are the one we are trying to heal."

"What say you, rest here for the night or continue on?" adds Foracor.

[Fearghus]

Fingal, Thief

Turning beet red, the thief is nearly certain he'd rather die with his dignity than die with oil injected up his rectum. "Thanks friend, but maybe I just need to get to the keep where I can be bled right proper". The thief wipes his forehead and looks about agitated, "I'm not feeling so well. Maybe we can let Albertus rest up and then move on".

[MrHemlocks]

***Albertus, Cleric, Road Toward Keep***

"Agreed Fingal. We should move along toward the Keep." Looking over to Kane, Albertus calls out..."might you have some healing salves or tonic to lessen my friends pain?"

"Hurry up Kane. Gather your items. Your trip to the Keep is at stake. We need to hurry. Guys, Kane ask if I could escort him to the Keep. He has a friend there that he needs to talk with and is afraid to make the travel alone. Is this alright with you?"

[Grognardsw]

With the old eccentric gnome Kane McSnoogles wandering along the back of the group, where Albertus takes up the rear, the party continues on its way to the Keep. The sun is setting, the air becomes chillier, the noise of night insects emerges. The group has been heading south from the ruined watchtower through the woods to reach the road, at which point you will turn west following the road to the Keep.

Kane occasionally makes nonsensical remarks or small talk with others in the back. "Do you sacrifice virgins to appease your god?" he asks of Albertus. "Is it true elves have no soul?" he queries Luna. "I hear hobbit meat is tasty - that is, you be tasty cooks," he says to Boddin with a goofy angled grin. "You priests really celibate?" he asks Brother Bayard.

The party reaches the road at about 9:00 pm, judging by the position of the moon. All are tired from a long day but realize time may be of essence to save Fingal, whose skin is turning a hue of lime green around the bug wound, as well as exuding a pungent odor and puss.

"Camp, or strike on through darkness?" asks Foracor the elf.

[NJWilliam]

Brother Bayard

Bayard chuckles at Kane the Gnome and replies, "Not as celibate as what I've heard of gnomes."

When the party reaches the road, Bayard takes a closer look at Fingal's wound.

"As we feared, I believe more is amiss with Fingal's wound than the mere puncture.
"If we do not press for the Keep, we may be taking a corpse there tomorrow.
"I fear that even if Trithereon were to grant me another curing enchantment, that this wound is beyond my abilities."

Bayard looks about at Fingal and his companions, "How far to the Keep at top speed?"

Bayard does what he can to clean and dress Fingal's wound, and keeps his eyes watching for any healing herbs of use as they travel.

ooc: what would be the minimum amount of time Bayard needs to rest and re-memorize Cure Light Wounds?

[Fearghus]

Fingal, Thief

Itching at the wound, Fingal says to the group, "Lads, I hate to be caught unawares at night. No need to press through and rouse the suspicion of bandits and worse. Let us camp and wait for the light of morning".

[Grognardsw]

Bayard: what would be the minimum amount of time Bayard needs to rest and re-memorize Cure Light Wounds?

This time say 3 hours. I thinks its longer but don't feel like looking it up. Don't hold me to it in the future.

[MrHemlocks]

***Albertus, Cleric, Camp***

"Good choice, Fingal! We will rest up here for the night and at mornings first light make for the Keep. Can someone help me gather some clean water? I saw a fresh stream not too far from here. We might even be able to gather some berries along the way. So, which one of you can help me? The rest of you can make a fire and secure out camp better."

Heading off into the woods, Albertus calls out..."hurry light is fading."

[NJWilliam]

Brother Bayard

"Fingal, again, it is your decision since it is you life. I will pray for healing and for our safety.
"Please excuse me if I do not help with the setting up of camp, time is of the essence and I must begin my preparations immediately."

With that Bayard takes out a candle or two and begins with his fervent prayers to Tritherion for curative and healing spells for Fingal. While he prays specifically for cure light wounds, he also prays for any other beneficence Tritherion would grant in addition to, or instead of that spell that he has cast before, he trusts in Tritherion to grant him what spell would best suit their need.

After praying, and before resting, Bayard approaches his companions, "I must rest now, someone please be sure to wake me in three hours, no more." Bayard will then rest, and pray again upon waking. When he feels the power of the spell in him, he will cast it on Fingal, and then pray and rest again, hoping to have another spell to aid Fingal in their journey beginning in the morning.

[mordrene]

niles, fighter

Niles will stand guard at the camp. he worriedly keeps checking on Fingal through the night, almost to the point of being annoying.

[Grognardsw]

The group strikes camp back from the road about 40 feet, at the edge of the woods among low lying brush. Brother Bayard prays, Niles keeps watch, Foracor starts a small fire, Kane the gnome picks his toenails. Boddin stays near the resting Fingal.

"I'll join you Albertus," says Luna the elf. Together they leave to secure water and berries.

[MrHemlocks]

***Albertus, Cleric, Camp***

"Anyone seen Luna? The crazy elf and I were picking berries and gathering water when we saw a young girl, naked too, riding a white horse not but 30 yards away. We called out to her and she smiled back to use than rode off. Luna, dashed out after her. His last words were for us not to wait up for him."
Well, anyway here are some fresh berries and water. After handing out a handful of fresh berries to each of the adventures, not the sleeping cleric, Albertus gathers around the fire for warmth and protection form the stinging insects.

"Let's rest up a bit and wait for Luna. if he does not return soon than two of us need to go loking for the sex crazed elf."

"God bless this food and those that are to partake of it." Albertus, makes a stew for the party. using his rations and fresh water from the stream he sits along the fire and prepares dinner."No use going to bed hungry. This stew will warm our hearts and brighten our spirits."

[Grognardsw]

"Luna just ran off?" asks Foracor of Albertus. The elf shakes his head.

The group is ambivalent to the cleric's stew. Adventuring tales and camp fire small talk occupy the next hour until sleep comes. Brother Bayard is awoken at his requested time. His god must be watching over the cleric, for he is possessed of healing power more quickly than usually received. He lays his hands on the ailing Fingal. The wound improves - puss evaporates, the smell recedes, flesh regains some color, skin and muscle knit and close. Still, there is something the healing cannot get at. (Fingal is at 5/5 HP, but something still doesn't feel right in the wound area.)

A watch is established. Around midnight Boddin the hobbit's keen ears hear shuffling down the road. Moonlight reveals three hooded, robed forms slowly hobbling down the road. From their silhouette and gate, Boddin thinks they look like old women.

Actions?

[Zhym]

Boddin is well aware that when three old women travel together, it's best to be respectful. Or hidden. Even more so if one seems more motherly and another seems like she'd never been married.

He'll quickly and quietly wake the rest of the group, then try to disappear in the brush to the side of the road.