Chapter 02: across the badlands

[Nordbo]

Four adventurers set out on their horses. You are heading for Kinghill Valley, a couple of hour's ride from Slowcroft.
The countryside is barren but majestic. The scenery is familiar; this is the land you know and you are proud of its vistas.

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A few hours into the trek, the deserted, lonely feeling is becoming stronger. Not one living creature has been seen for a long time.

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After a while, you glimpse the lower parts of Kinghill Valley, on which edge Rat Ridge lies, on the horizon. Ox and Jacob are pretty hungry, not having eaten at the pub.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin halts for a moment because he also didn't eat at the pub he stops takes his pack off one shoulder and rummages through for the iron ration and has himself a little snack break. "Best stop and take a moment ta eat sumthin lads. Might not get the chance once we get to rat ridge."

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob digs around in his pack for the rations, eating them ravenously, "Sounds like a plan to me, I'm starved."

[Nordbo]

In the view towards Kinghill Valley, from the place where you just stopped for a break, all four can just about make out the outline of Rat Ridge. It is the lower, smaller, slightly darker mound.

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[MonkeyWrench]

Hahahahaha, so that's why you wanted the figurines.

Once everyone is done taking a break jacob looks over towards the ridge, "Well, alright guys. We got this far, lets go see what's at Rat Ridge... Sooner we do this the sooner we can get back home and I can take a nap."

[Nordbo]

Yup, anything for that old school vibe!

[Dram]

Ox- Stands up looks back in the direction he came. Hey a maybe weeeeeee. Naahhh never mind lets get up this mission done. I want didn't bring any ale with me . I should 've filled one of my waterskins with ale. He looks at his comrades and smiles.You guys rested and ready to get on the road?

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin finishes his portion of the days ration, and takes a swig from his skin. "Ale ha what you think I put in this water?" he waves his "Aleskin" at Ox.

[MonkeyWrench]

Jacob forces down a chuckle at the joke, letting a few slip out, "Yeah, I'm ready to head back out, faster we get there the faster we can get back."

[Dram]

Ox- Then we will be on our way then. Yeah but yours is probably half gone by now. He smiles at Drez and gives a wink.

[Nordbo]

Are you three dragging Norbold along with you, or shall we wait for Pyro's input ?

[PyroArrow]

Norbold Ernessaeia [Sylvanian Elf Cleric: Scale Mail AC 6 : 2 / 2 HP]:

Having ate at the pub, he just stops & waits for the others to chew down a bite, before moving along.

[MonkeyWrench]

No need! Norbold will be dragging himself!

[Nordbo]

As the group gets closer, you are sure this mound is Rat Ridge, from your previous rambles in this area. Your approach is from the west.

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Far to the north (roughly to your left in the same picture) a faraway dust storm seems to be dissipating. Otherwise, the area is eerily silent

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin "Nearly there might as well pick up the pace to get there faster." the dwarf then quickens the pace a bit heading towards what looks like an opening in the rat ridge.

[Dram]

Ox- Stares curiously at rat ridge. What the hell! I've never seen that before. There is a cave in the ridge right there. We have been up 100's of times there has never been a cave there before. He points at the face of the ridge.

[PyroArrow]

Norbold Ernessaeia [Sylvanian Elf Cleric: Scale Mail AC 6 : 2 / 2 HP]:

When the party reaches Rat Ridge:

Standing in front of Rat Ridge, Norbold says on a haunch,

"Hmmm, (hand on chin & rubbing it, with an inquiring look in his eyes), there is something 'new' about Rat Ridge here, it just doesn't quite look the same as it used to in the old days, & I can not quite put my finger on what it is, hmmm."

[Nordbo]

You're now standing a couple of hundred yards away. You can now indeed all make out some kind of opening, and a structure leading up to it, on the west face of the mound. On the south side, round the corner, you can also glimpse some bits of construction, nearer ground level.

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The dust storm to the north has faded away. The area remains quiet - no signs of life.

[Dram]

OX- Korin, Jacob can one or both of you sneak up there and see who or what has made a home out of the ridge? I will cover you from back here with my bow.

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin "Sure thing Ox." the dwarf says as he is already headed off trying to sneak up to the opening/odd construction site.