On the island: Exploring the northern trail

[Alethan]

Then north, it is...

[dmw71]

Then north, it is...

I'm good with this.

[Argennian]

~ Bogdan takes in the view and assimilates his surroundings from the edge of the small bluff whilst Caelvanna and Emm remain at the eastern edge of the clearing. The druidess keeps her senses keenly alert for any potential predators or danger and the Wild elf remains vigilant in her ongoing visual reconnoiter of their immediate perimeter, her favorite coveted and most deadly weapon of war at the ready in her more than capable guerrilla-fighter hands.

Bog pokes at the rotted rope and rusty hook with the tip of his spear, revealing no traps or unseen consequences. He leans down and easily separates the hook from the rope with a quick swipe of his knife. The hook, although a bit rusty from being in the elements, is solid enough and would clean up well with some oil and elbow grease. It is about 3 inches long and just large enough to hold a standard rope or line.

He stashes the hook and creeps back over to his waiting comrades. After a brief description of what he's observed, the trio decide to check out the northern offshoot of the game trail. They form up in their previous marching order and Bogdan leads the way, Caelvanna on his six and Emm bringing up the rear as before. The trail arrives at the edge of the small clearing and after moving past a thicket of brush and bramble, leads downward about twenty feet and then turns left, heading west and descending down towards the water. The trail appears to follow the northernmost edge of the clearing and bluff where they just were and arrives at the shore, where it splits into two directions.

To the left, through a clump of tall ferns, the trail appears to lead to what can now be seen as the entrance of a small cave or grotto. It is well hidden due all the low-hanging trees and brush and appears to be about 20 feet across and approximately 7-8 feet tall at center. The water does not look very deep here, perhaps only a few feet at most. A look just above the entrance of this hidden tunnel tells Bogdan that is where he stood previously at the edge of the bluff. To the right, the game trail proceeds along the shoreline in a mostly northern direction. There are some small animal tracks present but it does not appear that anyone or anything of size has been through here recently.


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Actions?

Questions?


TOD: 10:00am of Day 1

HPs/Status: Bog 28/28 ; Caelvanna 25/25 ; Emm 10/10
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – spear/shield (& other spears) ; Caelvanna – short bow/short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear/SC (SC = spell component/spell to cast)
M.O./Location At the shore on the small offshoot trail below the clearing: Bogdan , Caelvanna , Emm

[tkrexx]

Noting the surroundings, and Bog's gaze, Emm offers her observation. It seems as tho someone would rather enter this cavern from above, rather than wade thru seawater. There must be a reason for this.

[Alethan]

Can Bog safely see into the grotto from his position? Or from a position without moving into the water? Also, can he see into the water? If so, he'll nod his head at Emm's words and peer into the water, spear ready to thrust at anything what might seem to do him harm.

"Or maybe it's something to do with the tide?" he replies as he examines the water.

[Argennian]

Can Bog safely see into the grotto from his position? Or from a position without moving into the water? Also, can he see into the water? ...

OOC: Bog would have to take about three steps into the water to see into the cave/grotto from his present position. Presently, he can see about 10-12 feet into the entrance. He can easily see into the water, as it's only about 2 feet deep at the most. Other than perhaps some small sea-plant life (kind of what you'd find in a tidal pool), he sees no other fish or creatures.

[Alethan]

Bog looks back to the other two for approval before taking a few steps into the water to get a better look into the grotto/cave...

[tkrexx]

Emm's dark eyes flash from Bog to Caelvanna to silently determine what she thinks. She nods at the burly Half-Orc and moves closer, readying her own spear against anything that might attack from within the shallow water.

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We'll pick the action up here: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3919&start=0#p54962

[Alethan]

Bog takes the lead to return to camp.

[dmw71]

Caelvanna continues to monitor the pool of water while her companions begin their exit. Interested in taking a quick, final look into the pool herself, she slings her bow carefully over her back and switches to her short sword before cautiously making her approach and peering in.

[SocraticLawyer]

Ulrich follows Bog and the others out, glad to be out of the cave. He extinguishes the torch we he gets outside.

[tkrexx]

Emm is also gratified to be away from the cave, back to the beautiful (if still dangerous and mostly unknown) tropical forest, the blue sky and the scent of air not dank and stale. She dallies a moment to be sure Caelvanna follows along, lest the Elven Warrior be set upon by swimming beast or whimpering fiend. Are we taking this crab meat with us?

When well on their way, she will openly ask Lauranna about her experience in the collapsed tunnel, and the fiend within.

[Alethan]

Bog replies, "We've done enough today. We can send some of the crew back here to get it just as soon as we get to the camp."

[Nuke66]

Lauranna responds, "She scared the crap outta me. Didn't expect a child-figure to be so threatening."

[Alethan]

Bog shoulders his shield and hefts one of the 40 lb bags of coin.

If nobody else wants to/can carry the other bag, then Bog can carry it, as well, if someone will take his spear and keep it handy.

[tkrexx]

Emm grabs one bag with both hands and hefts mightily, the weight throwing her off balance. She manages not to spill its contents, but she's clearly embarrassed by her physical limitations. She will carry the load as far as she can without complaining.

[Nuke66]

Lauranna will hoist a bag as well. "Let's just get beck to camp."

[Argennian]

The party regroups in the small meadow above the watery cave. The magic-user/thief opines that they return to camp before making any further island explorations. No one argues or disagrees.

With one of the large bags of coin to hand like no more than a wineskin, and still gripping his masterwork spear in his other, Bogdan leads the others back towards the northern trail. Ulrich follows the big fighter into the thick island foliage, keeping his mace and shield to hand and at the ready, if needed. Exerting obvious effort to try not to show it or openly complain about it, Emm hefts the other 40 lb. sack of crab den treasure and follows the dwarf cleric. Lauranna nods to Caelvanna and falls in next. The multi-classed High elf keeps her short sword to hand while she carries the nearly full small sack of coin, and cannot help but smile as she watches the druidess lugging the decent load of party loot. Remaining in rearguard, Caelvanna departs the grassy clearing last, keeping her Wild elf eyes focused for danger and constantly roaming. As usual, her coveted bow remains to hand at the ready should anything be foolish enough to confront them and risk becoming an impromput recipient of eager flight arrows.


~ The party of island explorers push through the short section of thick brush and make it back to the intersection with the northern trail. Almighty Hazara shines down brightly through a small gap in floral canopy there, revealing nothing of the big, deadly or unusual sort awaiting them. Other than the buzzing of insects and the chirping and singing of the islands nearby avian populace, all appears quiet and calm.
Bog turns right and heads back to camp without further adieu. The others follow while Caelvanna covers their progress. Just as the Wild elf archer makes to head out behind them, however, she is suddenly slapped across the face with the cold, eerie feeling that there's something behind her! She spins around in an instant, prepared to fire point blank, but there's nothing there. Her normally unemotional visage becomes one of uncertainty as she strains her keen, guerrilla-fighter senses for further confirmation of whatever it is that must have went unnoticed. She receives no audio or visual indicators and nothing happens. The young warrior remains stone still in a ready crouch for the better part of a minute, just to be sure. Again she detects nothing and nothing happens. Other than the birdsong and buzzing of bugs, an ever-so-slight light morning breeze is the only thing she can add to the ongoing chill she feels in her spine.

Inaction finally relents to the evidence that it was simply nothing. Caelvanna stands up, lets out her held breath and follows the others back to camp...


viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1576&p=109512#p109512

[Argennian]

~ The trio of island scouts make their way into the embattled northern treeline along the game trail, leaving the invisible Seahawk and beach HQ behind them...

Sorel takes the lead, his bow and an arrow in his hands just like Caelvanna does it. Other than getting slightly damp from contact with the accumulated dew on the leaves and branches, nothing impacts or impedes progress. The burly half-orc swordsman and stout dwarf cleric are reminded of the fresh and pleasant morning aromas within the bush, and also, of course, all the things they got into the last time they came this way. The island's prolific avian population sings their morning tunes in the distance. Yesterday it was merely mellow background music for training. Today it's an inviting soundtrack of intent, purpose and action.

They make it the 80 or so feet and arrive out of the damp brambles and into the small clearing at the intersection. It's empty. A quick look to the right towards the thick bushes at the cliff base, where they battled the giant snake and found the crates by that crevice opening, reveals no movement or occupancy. A look to the left through the bushes and along the game trail that leads to the meadow above the watery cave shows empty too.

After getting affirmative-ready nods, Sorel proceeds forward, north by northeast. The half-elf easterner archer stays low and cautious but moves along steadily enough, making nearly no noise as he does so. The dew-covered plants and brush are thicker this way, as well as the accompanying undergrowth, and everyone's outer layers quickly become more damp. At times the flora seems near impenetrable, almost as if it has a mind of its own and wishes to dissuade and even impede their mission in some way, but it doesn't. Other than some small birds that chirp and take flight at the trio's approach, none of the other island denizens appear to make themselves known.

In what must be another couple hundred feet, the flora and thick underbrush thin out a bit and the cliff-cave scouts find themselves within the canopy of larger trees. Sunlight shines through the upper cover here and there, which is between 15 to 20 feet above the trail, and more bugs buzz about as the temperature warms. They pass numerous small offshoots of the main game trail and arrive at the Y-intersection in another hundred feet or so. The main trail continues forward, but this time in more of an easterly direction while the other heads off to the left and north.

Sorel stops for a brief moment and knocks an arrow as he listens. All seems normal and empty of apparent threat. Bog recalls coming this way with Emm and Caelvanna on their first day here at the island. They ended up finding a pack of those funny-colored but mean-looking wild boar off the northern leg of the trail. He also remembers the large reptile prints in the mud up ahead by a stream. That's as far east as he's gone on the island to date, at least above water. There is no movement or unnatural noise, so Sorel nods and proceeds along the path.

The trail continues mostly eastward and in approximately another 150 feet, is intersected by a small stream. Sorel stops just short for a brief moment to listen and looking around again, obviously intent on ensuring they're alone. Bog can once again see wild boar tracks and scat on the trail ahead about the brook, which runs right to left (south to north) as approached. Also visible just beyond the brook are the large reptile tracks that gave them pause during that first reconnoiter, but they do not appear to be fresh or more numerous since his last visit.

Satisfied there's no apparent danger lurking, Sorel nods ready and proceeds to cross the stream and continue east down the trail. The path widens a bit after another 100 feet or so, as the flora seems to recede more under the thicker treetop canopy above, which is now between 20-25 feet high. They continue on, passing a few small offshoots here and there. The trail continues eastward in a mostly straight fashion save for having to round a few large trees and clumps of sticker-thicket. They pass a few felled trees and it seems like they have to be getting close...


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*** Need a d6 surprise roll for the party before they proceed any further, please! ***


OOC: Probably should've asked about M.O. & W.I.H. previously but just went with Sorel leading & default WIH here. Please let me know if that needs to be changed or updated before any potential action occurs. Would also like to confirm if any of your characters' gear/supplies are being left behind at the ship, and if so what.

If you have any questions, or need some additional clarification, please let me know!

TOD: now 9:55am of Day 9 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Ulrich 22/22 ; Sorel: uninjured
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – masterwork spear & shield / masterwork longsword or others ; Ulrich – mace & shield / Holy symbol or SC (SC = spell component/spell to cast) ; Sorel - short bow* / short sword
Spells cast:
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location On the trail, headed towards the cliff cave: Sorel , Bogdan , Ulrich

[Alethan]

Surprise Roll [1d6] = 5