On the island: Exploring the southern trail

[Nuke66]

Lauranna finishes up the beach sweeping , at least until they depart the scene. Regrouping for further discussion she offers her two coppers. "If we take the boat, we leave them no choice but to further explore the island." She looks at Emm before continuing her thoughts. "That may not be all bad since their days are limited anyway." she says with a wink. "We should return post haste and get the others before we spring our little welcoming party. I could use a bit of rest and study before we head out anyway. We might as well row anyway."

[Argennian]

~ The druidess confirms message completion instructions with and creates the illusion of a heartfelt apology for the charmed corporal before leaving him to make it so. The poor chap is still white as a ghost, shaking badly, sweating profusely and looking like he might pass out any moment. Cutler finishes whatever it was he was doing and walks around the longboat to confront him. In a rather uncharacteristic show of affection, he sits the young man down, pats him tenderly on the cheek with a cheesy, reaffirming grin and tells him everything's gonna be alright. "Hey, laddie... Yer gonna be fine, okay? Just Relaaaaaax... Savvy?"

Tally takes a deep breath and shakes his head affirmatively, and after a few moments, does so. The weapons-laden cook hands him a waterskin, of which he takes a few long draws. Soon he's calm enough to start writing out the communique, as instructed...


Emm steps over near the northern treeline to be out of immediate earshot of her new Karagonian best friend and signals her companions to join her. Lauranna finishes sweeping away the footprints of her fellow southern trail strike team on the sand and does so. Caelvanna keeps her fingers taut on her bowstring trigger and her eyes continually roving for danger but takes a few steps closer and nods that she's listening. Now finished calming their high-strung captive, Cutler hustles over to join the debrief as well.

With a lowered voice, Emm discusses their status and the progress they've made to present. With the charmed corporal's latest magically-coaxed testimony now come to light, she offers her thoughts and some new tactics, and also suggests a change of plan which ultimately includes taking Tally, Chaska the hawk and the navy longboat back to the hidden cove with them. Also proffered is an oath that the lieutenant and his men will meet certain doom for their giant owl hunting activities once she's had a chance to regroup and regain more of her spells.

Caelvanna agrees to watch the hawk when it flies off to deliver the communique to it's soon-to-be former master. She also acknowledges her availability to be present and accounted for when it comes time to undertake the mission to kill the Karagonian soldiers searching for their giant avian island ally. The glimmer in her eyes and sarcastic smile on her normally hard and emotionless guerrilla fighter visage is easily understood to relay that she absolutely and unequivocally means it...

Lauranna then throws her two coppers in the discussion kitty...

... "If we take the boat, we leave them no choice but to further explore the island." She looks at Emm before continuing her thoughts. "That may not be all bad since their days are limited anyway." she says with a wink. "We should return post haste and get the others before we spring our little welcoming party. I could use a bit of rest and study before we head out anyway. We might as well row anyway."

Cutler assimilates the new proposed tactics, looking back from time to time to check on young Tal Brevins. He agrees they need to report to Gentleman Billy and Captain Billings and send their new Karagonian Navy pal in for a mind-picking and wiping session with Shanny. In the end, the grizzled cook offers they leave the longboat right where it is for the time being, lest the soldiers hunting for the giant owl above look out and see them rowing back west toward the hidden cove. He also details that he's installed certain countermeasures that would prevent said raiding party's ability to get too far if they did in fact return to the cove and tried to depart the island before they could regroup and move to take them down...

With everyone present's input accounted for, Emm then turns her attentions back on Tally. The charmed corporal has finished writing up the message and stands waiting, as instructed. She fixes him with her best island-queen smile and asks him where his ship, the Gallant, is presently anchored.

"I imagine she'd be anchored by the furthest east of them three big islands north of here. Captain Krall and the wizard Fellan were to meet with the pirate leaders hold up there and begin some kind of secret operation in the ancient ruins on the island. That's all I know," he answers dutifully.

After a final, quick proffering of nature-speak to Chaska, Emm moves over and hands the trained hawk over to Tally. The falconer soldier feeds the magnificent raptor a readied treat and affixes the small message tube to one of it's talons. With a nod from the druidess, he relays the command, "Seek!" and swings his arm up. Chaska takes flight and is soon circling high up above them. After less than a minute, Caelvanna reports that the avian messenger has moved out of sight and likely landed near a clump of trees on a small ridge about halfway up the high cliffs, almost directly north of their present location...


Actions?

Questions?

***************************************************

OOC: okay, friends, the hawk is off and away to deliver the message and Caelvanna was able to track exactly where it landed, which looks to be at least 3/4 of a mile away and up @ 500 feet elevation above sea level.

POP: I know that Emm's previous SWA instructions to the hawk was to have it fly back to the cove and then make it's way west to seek them out but figured to give you all a chance for any further actions and/or discussion before the team leaves the cove and heads back; TOD adjusted.


TOD: @ 10:27am of Day 9 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 ; Cutler: uninjured
WIH (primary/secondary): Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 3) ; Emm – none / SC ; Lauranna - tree branch / DDDs ; Cutler - none / daggers & weapons (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: speak with animals x4 ; charm person or mammal
Lauranna: sleep
M.O./Location:
Standing over by the longboat with the charmed soldier: Emm
Standing nearby: Caelvanna , Lauranna , Cutler

[tkrexx]

Then it is time we return, the Druid nods at Cutler's experienced observation, that Chaska's arrival with a warning could prompt at least a visual inspection. You can no longer stay here, it will not be safe for you, nor for us if we leave without you. I will explain all later, now we must move quickly and silently!

[Argennian]

~ The party confirms the new plan and Emm moves back over to inform young Tal Brevins that he's about to become officially AWOL. The young Karagonian corporal looks incredulously much more at ease now and even smiles at her as he nods his understanding. If the druid didn't know better, she'd think he just had another spell cast on him, or was perhaps drunk or maybe even drugged. She looks over to Cutler, who quickly vanishes a fiendish smile he'd been wearing but maintains the wicked gleam in his eye.


Whilst Caelvanna remains on guard at DefCon2 and provides readied missile fire support, the party deltas from the small cove, leaving the navy longboat & gear behind but taking the charmed soldier along with them. They move away from the beach and up onto the trail headed north for about 20 yards before Cutler takes them left (west) and leads them through a thicket of hard brush and bramble. Lauranna scrubs the party's tracks where they leave the game trail while Caelvanna covers her in rearguard. Within another handful of moments, the southern trail strike team are out of sight like they never existed. Once through the thicket, their grizzled cook companion takes point and leads them back west towards the hidden cove...

***************************************

~ We'll pick up the action back in the About the Ship & Cove thread here: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1576&p=172728#p172728

[Argennian]

~ Mighty Hazara is still hitting the snooze button when the strike team departs the protective spell bubble around the ship and cove and disappears into the southern treeline...

Sorel takes the lead and proceeds down the path with Caelvanna right on his heals. Both the specialized archers have their missile weapons to hand, loaded and ready, lest they be confronted by anything other than brush and low-hanging branches. The going is slow, even for those with infravision, as the path becomes more smothered on each side by the flora and obstructed to view, even when looking straight down. The pace is slowed enough to get everyone through safely.

The trail follows somewhat parallel along the base of the cliff (roughly about 45-50 feet away on the left), and rises ever so slightly as it progresses away from the cove. After a few hundred feet, the smothering floral canopy breaks open and reveals a small stream flowing from left to right (north to south). Barely visible in the approaching twilight is the small, freshwater pool (about twenty feet off to the left, roughly 8 feet in diameter and a few feet deep). As the islands prolific bird and bug population are still sleeping, the going is eerily quiet...

Sorel crosses the stream and enters the thick brush again, this time turning more eastward than southeast and descending slightly. After about another 120 yards or so, the chocking underbrush and bushes begin to break open for the clearing dead ahead. The stealthy elf and Half-elf duo stop just short to peak out from the cover before walking out in the open. Once satisfied the area is uninhabited or at least free of obvious danger, they proceed.

The others follow, stepping out of the brush and into an open area at least 150 yards long (west to east) by at least 80 yards wide (north to south). The twilight reveals the lagoon where the giant monitor lizard attacked the former beach-goers and tried to eat Lord Jovak. The massive reptile is absent and the area appears deserted...

The game trail splits here and continues on on either side of the lagoon. Straight ahead to the right is the first small beach, which extends about 25 yards along the southern edge of the lagoon. At the far end of the lagoon is the other beach, which is much larger and looks to encompass the entire eastern side. That is also where the salt water lagoon is fed by the sea to the south via a small inlet.

Sorel stays to the left side of the lagoon and moves forward in a crouched yet steady cadence. The other team members follow and collectively make it to the treeline at the eastern side within a minute. The Half-elf makes sure everyone is there behind him before proceeding to follow another game trail further eastward. The larger, more well-worn path makes it's way into an area of larger trees and rises in elevation. The knocked down trees and underbrush that was trampled by the giant monitor lizerd are still evident to both sides.

The flora soon begins to thin out more but it's still dark under the thick canopy some 30-35 feet above, so the team proceeds further east with the slower pace. The ground continues to climb and becomes less sandy. The trees get larger here with the canopy ceiling rising to over 40 feet in some spots. After another 100 yards or so, they arrive at the area where the crew felled a couple of large trees for ship repairs the week previous. Sorel takes an offshoot trail here to the right (south) towards the beach.


~ The seven member strike team then make their way in a mostly southerly direction, dropping in elevation as they approach the coastline. They have to slow their progress here and there to pass through and over a few thick clumps of brush, but eventually arrive at an intersection to a larger and apparently more well-traveled game trail that goes left and right (east & west). Sorel halts for a handful of seconds here to look and listen around for any potential danger. He sees and hears none and signals the all clear. He steps down onto the trail and turns left (east). The others follow, weapons ready, senses peaked and scanning for trouble in the near darkness. The trail starts to descend again and within the next five minutes approaches another cove up ahead.

At the edge of the treeline, the party stops so the vanguard can make a proper look & listen check over the dark cove just ahead. All appears empty and quiet save the surf softly lapping the beach there. They proceed out of the trees and downhill through the tall grass, cutting a trail eastward as they go. The going is much easier here and the team quickly yet quietly approaches the thicker brush at the western side of the cove. The pace is slowed and again the team is stopped for a look & listen check.

Another minute passes uneventfully and after a few hushed words are exchanged between the vanguard, Sorel and Caelvanna step out of the bushes and into the cove with missile weapons raised, fingers on bowstring triggers and ready to fire. Nothing appears to make itself a specialized target. The navy longboat is right where Cutler and the others left it yesterday and there are no obvious signs of current occupation: Karagonian soldier, animal or otherwise, that can be noticed in the growing light.

With the cove apparently secured, Cutler and Lauranna make a quick circuit around the beach and tree lines to confirm their emptiness while the others stand guard and provide cover. The grizzled cook and High-elf magic-user/thief return to the team and report no new signs of occupancy. With that confirmed, the party makes their way northward out of the cove and along the game trail that the soldiers used to head out on and approach the cliffs. Cutler remains at the cove and takes up a position in the tree line right by the trail head.


~ The path rises quickly in elevation and soon the team is up above the coastal tree canopy and able to take in a broader, more encompassing view of the beaches and southern side of the island behind them. A look ahead up at the cliffs reveals no obvious light from any campfires or other potential sources present. The Half-elf easterner signals the others and continues on up. Soon the path begins to jog left and right and back on itself again in an ongoing, continuous Z-shape as the terrain becomes steeper and steeper.

After some switchbacks and another hundred feet of elevation, the party approaches what looks to be a small bluff on the side of the cliffs just up ahead. Sorel starts to approach the more level area of topography, as if confident there's no one there waiting, but then suddenly halts and ducks down just before cresting the trail and making himself invisible to anyone or anything that might be present. The party huddles down and remains quiet, weapons ready and senses piqued while he and Caelvanna get nearly prone and crawl up to take a look. They reach their respective positions and take a look-see and listen. Even before the elf and Half-elf duo return to report, the others catch the whiff of what must be a campfire nearby.

Sorel and Caelvanna remain on station for another few minutes before carefully and quietly falling back to report what they've heard and observed. The cave that was their destination is just up ahead at the back end of the bluff in the cliff side. There appears to be a slight flickering of light and a trail of smoke from what must be a dying campfire emanating from somewhere just within the entrance. Caelvanna adds she's pretty sure she heard someone or something snoring within.

After the information is relayed, Sorel poses the question of how they should proceed in a very low whisper.
"... perhaps they've already fallen back to the cave? ... or it could be that missing soldier... Regardless, there's about 55-60 feet of mostly open terrain on the bluff approaching the cave from the trail head where Caelvanna and I just were...

"She and I could work our way around each side of the bluff and get into fire positions to cover anyone's approach, if'n you think we should move on the cave. Either that or we wait here for 'em. Twilight is growing and it'll soon be light enough to see by. Should we try and catch them sleeping or wait them out here on the trail?"


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

OOC: okay gang, not sure how you'd like to proceed here so we'll see if a collective plan of action can be reached. Please confirm WIH as listed below & let me know if there are any changes or updates needed.

POP: It'll be light enough to see by in @ 15 minutes; TOD & M.O. adjusted

TOD: @ 6:00am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - Dual daggers of death / SC ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: none
Lauranna: none
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
On the trail just below the bluff: Sorel , Caelvanna , Bogdan , Emm , Lauranna , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Nuke66]

Lauranna finally speaks up. "I will go in and take a look, or maybe more depending on what I see." She prepares a pinch of sand for easy access and hefts her dual daggers. "Try and get in a position to see into the cave."

She moves away from the rest of the group, trying to blend into the limited undergrowth as she heads to the cliff face. From there she moves up along the rock toward the opening. She is more worried about moving silently than hiding, but she does both. As she approaches the edge, she takes out Wily from his pouch and sets him into the cave for a little exploration.

OOC: Ok, here we go.

[Alethan]

Bog, being neither quiet nor stealthy, makes himself ready to assist if needed, but stays hidden with the rest of the party.

[tkrexx]

Emm becomes agitated as Lauranna takes on the reconnoiter by herself. She attempts to move thru the undergrowth, using her Druidical ability to pass the unpassable, yet does not get too close, just close enough to be of some assistance if needs be. She would love to get close enough to see, but will take no action that could endanger her Elven friend.

[SocraticLawyer]

Bog, being neither quiet nor stealthy, makes himself ready to assist if needed, but stays hidden with the rest of the party.

Ulrich does likewise, gripping his mace and saying a quiet prayer to Moradin.

[Argennian]

~ With twilight growing ever brighter and the dawn soon approaching, Sorel and Caelvanna report back to the party. The Half-elf easterner queries the rest of the team for their thoughts on how they should collectively proceed...

Lauranna quickly offers to use her stealthy attributes and class skill set to quietly approach the cave for a look-see, so they can be sure whether or not there's a lone soldier within or the entire Karagonian military owl-hunting contingent. No one proposes a counter plan or argument, so the team moves into position.

Sorel and Caelvanna depart the trail and move along the steep sides of the small bluff in each direction. The archer specialists find clear fire lanes on the cave entrance and take up positions in the brush about halfway between the trail and the cliff side. Once they're reloaded and ready, the wave is given to those back on the trail.

Lauranna moves out next, climbing up on the bluff from the trail head in a crouched position and stepping behind a small thicket. She quickly studies the terrain, picks her route and begins approaching the cave entrance in a wide arc. The High-elf makes nearly no noise as she moves gracefully on her target. Bogdan, Emm and Ulrich move up to the edge of the bluff to watch the action and be ready to back their teammate up, if needed.

After a mere handful of moments, the druidess finds she cannot wait back with the more heavily armored members of the contingent and moves up onto the bluff herself. She begins to follow Lauranna's general path, sticking to the available floral cover as she can and moving through it with seemingly magical ease. It appears her intention is to be positioned closer to the High-elf magic-user/thief should she need assistance.

It takes less than two minutes for Lauranna to make it to the cliff side just right of the cave. She crouches down and blends into the shadows barely 10 feet away from the entrance. There's a brief pause here, perhaps while she again makes a listen check, but there's still no movement nor additional sounds emanating from within.

While the others quietly hold their readied positions, the magic-user/thief deploys her weasel familiar to make a quick reconnoiter inside the cave. Wily makes an acknowledging squeak and slinks through the shadows to disappears inside...


****************************************************

OOC: need to get a pm out to Nuke for Lauranna and will do so asap today; TOD & M.O. adjusted

TOD: @ 6:05am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - none but DDDs & pinch of sand SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: none
Lauranna: none
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Just to the right of the cave entrance: Lauranna
Approximately 25-30 feet behind Lauranna: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Argennian]

... While the others quietly hold their readied positions, the magic-user/thief deploys her weasel familiar to make a quick reconnoiter inside the cave. Wily makes an acknowledging squeak and slinks through the shadows to disappears inside...

~ The southern trail strike team remain fixed in their current positions, weapons ready and senses straining for any new inputs. The twilight is growing ever brighter and the soft, damp kiss of morning dew has settled on the surroundings. The view of the southern end of the island and surrounding waters from what must be the 300-350 feet of elevation is impressive, and surely more so in the daylight. The distant sounds of the surf on the beaches serenade in the background from below.

About two long but uneventful minutes transpire before the rest of the party see Lauranna lean out of the shadows just to the right of the cave entrance to pick up a returning Wily...


****************************************************

OOC: yesterday was a Charlie Foxtrot at work and got stuck covering a double shift yesterday, so just got that pm over to Nuke this am. Let's go ahead and wait for his response and Lauranna's action(s) before everyone gives me their character's declared actions; TOD adjusted

POP: description of the small bluff: shaped mostly like a half-circle with the lower cliffs on the northern edge being the straight line and the trail coming up to it on the southern side (at @ the 6 o'clock position); the bluff is @ 140-150 feet wide (east to west) and @ 60 feet long (north to south from trail-head to cave entrance). There are a plenty of small bushes and a few thickets and small trees here and there on the bluff. The trail continues up to the left side of the cave entrance (opposite Lauranna) and proceeds to ascend in a mostly z-shape as it did before. Another 250-300 feet up looks to be a ledge or perhaps another small bluff. About 500+ feet up (200-250' above the ledge or next small bluff), is the outer edge of the crater at the center of the island. The cliffs gets very steep there and would appear to be hard to traverse without mountaineering gear.

TOD: @ 6:07am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - none but DDDs & pinch of sand SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: none
Lauranna: none
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Just to the right of the cave entrance: Lauranna
Approximately 25-30 feet behind Lauranna: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Argennian]

~ While still maintaining held and readied positions on the outskirts of the bluff, the party watch Lauranna lean down and pick up Wily, just right of the cave entrance. She returns the weasel familiar to his pouch before looking around, spotting Emm and waving her up. The druidess creeps up when beckoned, trying her best to do so quietly.

The two of them huddle down and share some whispered words, perhaps discussing details of what the mage familiar's reconnoiter produced. When the hushed discussion ends, the High-elf steals into the cave and out of sight. Emm waits a few moments before slowing stalking up to the cave mouth and peering in. Less than a dozen segments later, the druidess makes a somatic motion with her free hand, as if casting a spell, and then proceeds to step inside the cave and sit down with her back to the entrance. Another few segments transpire before those around the bluff see Emm lean forward, followed by a startled cry and nervous query from someone further in...


****************************************************

OOC: continued PMs going out to Nuke & Rexx for Lauranna & Emm! TOD & positioning adjusted.

TOD: @ 6:10am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - ??? SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: ??
Lauranna: ??
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Inside the cave and out of sight: Lauranna
Sitting just inside the cave entrance with her back to the party: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Argennian]

~ Following the startled cry and subsequent query, those outside can hear Emm hissing for quiet and apparently continuing to communicate with or perhaps question someone inside the cave in a hushed yet stern tone.

A gruff male voice answers the druidess, just loud enough for those outside to hear. "Tally? Alive ya say? Where be that miserable lout?! The lieutenant be wantin ta speak with him!"

A few moments later, the deep, gravely male voice continues. "And just who in tha nine hells you be, lass? I didn't get yer name..."


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

OOC: continued PMs sent out for Lauranna & Emm, but wanted to post the above and see if any of the party members outside wanted to take any action(s) or are still resolved to wait for a signal or something further to occur first; TOD adjusted.

TOD: @ 6:11am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - ??? SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: ??
Lauranna: ??
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Inside the cave and out of sight: Lauranna
Sitting just inside the cave entrance with her back to the party: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[SocraticLawyer]

Ulrich glances around nervously, gripping his mace. His instinct tells him to rush in, but he remains, trusting in his companion's abilities.

[Alethan]

Bog shakes his head no, also willing to give the two women more time to accomplish their task.

He does, however, begin looking around to make sure the noise doesn't attract any other attention.

[Argennian]

~ Although tempted to move up in support of their two comrades in the cave when they hear a gruff male voice respond to Emm, the remaining party members out on the edges of the bluff exercise discipline and faith in their companions' capabilities, and hold their current positions...

Ulrich grips his mace and shield nervously, looking about at the others to see if they're moving up and then to Bogdan while his instincts do battle with his better judgement to remain stationary. Bog nods back in the negative to the cleric's unspoken query, in an obvious attempt to ease the dwarf's inner turmoil. The big fighter then begins making a visual reconnoiter about the bluff and surrounding area to ensure they aren't being snuck up on or set up themselves. Other than his fellow strike team members, he sees nothing new. Caelvanna and Sorel also remain in their current positions, both the specialist archers keeping fingers on their bowstring triggers and undivided attentions on the cave opening.


The southern cliff strike team again hear the druidess hiss for quiet and then proffer a rapid, muffled dialog to whomever she's addressing just inside the cave entrance.

Again the deep, gruff male voice responds. "Druid of this isle, ya say? Hmm, don't know nothin bout no Great Owl, though. We's here for that treasure..."
Another handful of pressure-cooked seconds pass and the voice continues. "No need fer threats, lass! Let's be friends then, yeah?"

Emm jumps to her feet and takes a step back towards the entrance, brandishing her spear and this time speaking loud enough for those outside to hear. "Mind your manners, Sir, do not approach with weapon drawn on one who would save you. You should know I'm far from helpless."

Whilst those outside the cave wait with held and baited breath, there is a sudden commotion inside the cave, including a single, unintelligible word or phrase, followed by the sound of something heavy thudding against something solid. Immediately following this action, there is a brief flicker of illumination just past the druidess, as if someone kicked the embers of the fading fire...


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

OOC: continued PMs sent out for Lauranna & Emm, but again wanted to post what the party members outside are seeing; TOD adjusted.

TOD: @ 6:13am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - ??? SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: ??
Lauranna: ??
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Inside the cave and out of sight: Lauranna
Standing at the cave entrance with her back to the party: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Alethan]

Bog continues to wait.

[SocraticLawyer]

I don't like this, thinks Ulrich. The hand that grips his mace is sweaty, but like his half-orc companion he waits silently.

[Argennian]

~ Less than a minute after those on the outskirts of the bluff again decide to continue holding their current positions, Emm turns around and steps out of the cave entrance. She lifts her free hand and waves the all-clear signal before motioning them to move up.

Once she's been acknowledged, the druidess will head back inside...


Actions?

Questions?

****************************************************

OOC: PMs completed for those in the cave; TOD adjusted.

TOD: @ 6:14am noon of Day 10 on island (Total time since departed Karagonia: 20 days)

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

HPs/Status: Bog 34/34 ; Caelvanna 32/32 ; Emm 13/13 , Lauranna 16/16 , Ulrich 22/22 , Sorel uninjured, Cutler ??
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – Karagonian masterwork spears / longsword ; Caelvanna – short bow* / short sword (arrows fired: 0) ; Emm – spear & shield / SC ; Lauranna - ??? SC ready ; Ulrich – mace & shield / SC , Sorel - short bow* / short sword (SC = spell component/spell to cast, * indicates loaded and ready to fire)
Spells cast:
Emm: ??
Lauranna: ??
Ulrich: none
M.O./Location:
Inside the cave and out of sight: Lauranna
At/by the cave entrance: Emm
On the outer edges of the bluff with bows readied: Caelvanna , Sorel
On the trail at the edge of the bluff: Bogdan , Ulrich
Back down at the cove: , Cutler

[Alethan]

Bog nods to the cave entrance, "Check and make sure they're alright. I'll stay out of sight out here and make sure nothing surprises us."