[IC] Into the Unknown

[Julius Sleazer]

26th Springmonth I, Remainder of Day

The wishes of Alfius and Cadmus sway the rest of the party. The adventurers spend the rest of the day lounging in the dwelling, aside from a few trips back up the ladder to check on their mounts. There are no signs that any of the dwellers appear to be plotting an amoral absquatulation with one or more of the steeds.

The youths from Durans Well are offered more food and drink during the course of their stay; the old woman does not seem as particular about any of the further foodstuffs offered. The adventurers turn in for the night after being escorted to a chamber in which they may sleep. As per their previous decision, they keep a sharp yet surreptitious watch. No threats present themselves during the hours of darkness.

27th Springmonth I, Dawn

The adventurers break their fast, and then return to the surface. Their horses appear to be in fine condition. There are no signs of predatory animals or human wanderers (hostile or otherwise) nearby to the goat-enclosure, line of trees, and the surrounding area.

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"Let us depart while the weather is good"

[thirdkingdom]

Decimus Numerous

"Let us depart while the weather is good"

Cadmus the Confused

"Yup."

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"This sounds like the kind of place that might be cursed or warded in some sorcerous wise. Do you know of any manner of protections it might have? Are there settlements near it? It is possible in many ways to go off course for a journey of three hundred miles, although the tree would likely be visible from some distance off, unless it is surrounded by similarly supernormal growth."

"Also...would it not be prudent for us to ensure we would have the ability to resupply on our journey, or to do so here? Are there roads or tracks that lead the way?" Tacitus has been waxing talkative for some time, as he hems and haws with various concerns. "The gold and gems are a great temptation, though. Perhaps we should take a pack horse to haul away any excess acquisitions. Never leave money on the table, you know?"

He also takes note of Selenia's lissome figure out of the corner of his eye. "And it would not be amiss to rest our feet and our horses for at least a day. We have ridden a great distance in the past few weeks."

[Julius Sleazer]

Selenia

"My mother has spoken of no such spell-spawned sentinels, sir," replies the goatherd. "As far as tracks or roadways, you shall find none, unless you come across a few broken paving stones which harken back to a bygone era. In terms of resupply, you should find game more plentiful the further north you head in the Desolate Country. Slaying a few stags ought to provide meat aplenty, and if you are a swift shooter, hares and the like could be added to the cookpot."

"I know of no settlements, nor does the peddler that comes around speak of any in this region. You may find a few families of dwellers here and there, as well as isolated recluses and the like. Of these latter, I would perhaps beware. Some men who seek a solitary life in the Desolate Country merely wish an anchoritic experience or entire existence. Others are partially or wholly deranged in their wits, and still others are outlaws, oathbreakers, and the like."

"I would not fear any bands of bandits---any such would perforce find it more profitable to skulk around the edges of the Desolate Country, and so raid more populated areas before melting away into the empty lands. This deep into the Desolate Country, there are not enough folk to support any great gatherings of greedy, grisly grafters. When faring forth in this land, you have more to fear from wild beasts than wily men, although truth be told, my brothers complain more of isolation and boredom when they go a-hunting."

"As for becoming lost, you have but to navigate by the sun and stars, sir. Look around you and behold a sere tableau. The land is not overgrown with vegetation, nor distinguished frequently by remarkable features, so anything such as a tree of enormous size must surely stand out like the proverbial sore thumb."

"As far as finding a packhorse...other than the horses you have with you, such creatures are scare indeed in these lands. And as to staying and taking your ease....well, you have already given your word to make a concerted effort to retrieve the bowl, have you not? Surely any loitering or loafing would be an obvious violation of your oath, good sir."

She then offers up bright and blithe blandishments. Viator comes over and breaks into a bleary barrage of bombastic bloviation. Overall, the group of adventurers seems ready to immediately head forth into the wide wilderness. Operating according to the principle of majority rule, they do so without undue hesitation. Selenia, Viator, and the young male dwellers all offer well-wishes as the youths from Durans Well mount up and ride out into the northwest.

There's a majority vote to head out, and no one's changed their votes, so that's what I'm going with. I did provide answers to Wyzard's questions; I operated under the assumption that the rest of the party would not be so literal-minded as to mind a bit of questioning before heading out.

The adventurers ride northwest for half a day, progressing two dozen miles. As they stop for the noon meal, they notice a copse of trees three or four miles due north of their present position. Some unnatural stone structure seems to be half-obscured by the trees, but it is difficult to make out any fine detail at this distance.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"I say we go investigate yon strange structure."

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"Hmm? Oh, I agree," replies Alfius, who has conversed little with his comrades since leaving the rustics.

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"We may as well."

[Julius Sleazer]

27th Springmonth I, Noon

The adventurers advance three and a half miles and reach the small copse of trees. There are signs that birds and lapins dwell or have dwelt here recently. The structure itself appears to a strange, architecturally elaborate well which rises almost neck-high. A very tall man indeed might find that the lip of the well was only chest-high.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"Interesting, but I think we should press on."

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

Alfius looks down the well to see if anything can be seen.

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

Tacitus grabs Alfius about the ankles, in case anything should try to snatch him down the well.

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

Decimus keeps a watch around them in case anything approaches while the others investigate the well.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

Cadmus draws his holy symbol from out beneath his cloak and holds it at the ready should some undead gribbly emerge from the depths of the well.

[Julius Sleazer]

27th Springmonth I

As far down as he can see, Alfius see nothing of interest. The well is deep, descending down beyond the point which a man can peer into the dim darkness without the aid of a torch or lantern.

[thirdkingdom]

Cadmus the Confused

"It may be worth investigating this well on the way back, but for now I think we should press on."

[Wyzard]

Tacitus the Multiloquent

"Fair enough. Let's go."

[Vektunaxa]

Alfius the Aeviternal, Fighter

"Very well," Alfius says wistfully. "Let us ride."

[Julius Sleazer]

27th Springmonth I

Cadmus sways the rest of the party to his will. Rather than conducting further investigation of the abandoned well, the adventurers ride forth towards their primary objective. The remainder of the day's travel is uneventful. The terrain which the travellers traverse is unexciting and seemingly free from human habitation. Animals and trees are also in short supply.

As the youths from Durans Well make camp for the night after a full day's worth of riding, they can faintly see semi-ruinous stone structures several miles ahead of them, roughly west-northwest of their present position. As the sun sets, they observe the distant buildings. There are no obvious signs of habitations such as lit fires, smoke, voices carrying upon the wind, or signs of herds of domesticated beasts.

I am going to take a bit of a liberty here and assume that the PCs just head northwest directly from their present position (remember that y'all had gone 3.5 miles due north of your appointed course). Heading northwest three miles north of your original course is roughly half a hex of distance; that's not enough to throw off line of sight on what's said to be a gigantic-ass tree on flat, clear terrain.

Since my posting's been a bit slow recently, I decided not to slow things down further by getting a vote on "head north from present position or angle back to earlier heading?".

The party's travel for the rest of the day comes to 22.5 miles along the present NW course.

27th Springmonth I: Random Encounter?: 1d6 3

No random encounter for the day.

[MonsterMash]

Decimus Numerous

"Let us keep a careful watch tonight, then go closer in the morning. Looks like this domain was not always desolate".