Ill news is an ill guest

[Dram]

Craxzus takes the coins handed to him and secures them.


BeastShape(Hawk)
Knowledgde Arcane(55%)[1d100] = 44


I do not remember if I used a spell to fly last time or a potion.

[tooleychris]

overhead.png (710.65 KiB) Viewed 438 times

You're current location places you closer to the Town of Charlotte which would require over an hour of fly time. But it is much closer than Midway where you sent Tyrion.
As you ascend above the trees you see smoke climbing in many columns from the north. Clearly visible is the outline of either an ancient volcano crater or the sight of a falling star impact.
Craxzus used the potion as he would not have been able to keep up in bird form.

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios's curiosity is peaking at an all time high, he would like nothing more than to explore the crater, "S-should we take a detour...? I mean it's very close and the orcs aren't gonna rise overnight", he laughs awkwardely

[Blazeguard]

Thorgrim furrows his brow, "He did mention a crater. That smoke means that something is happening there. Maybe we can cut them off there or at the very least we can get a better idea of what we'll have to deal with. I'm with Eirenaios, I wouldn't mind taking a peek at what's going on there."

OOC:How far away is the volcano in relation to the 2 towns?

[GreyWolfVT]

Throm "Very well then crater it is eh. Lets move on then yeh?" the surly dwarf says after putting his weapons away after cleaning the gore from them on the dead orcs.

[Dram]

Craxzus- We should warn the village. I can fly there and warn them. I then can come back and join the group.

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios is excited, "YES! It is decided then, anything can be there....oh the possibilities", a sinister smile illuminates his face.

"It's up to you Craxzus, we will meet you in the village then, take care", he excitedly flies to the crater .

[tooleychris]

*The crater is about 1/2 hour fly time while Charlotte is a little over an hour, I know this is a random and open sandbox but I really didn't think you'd go to the crater just yet *

Flying north toward the crater, you see the wisps of smoke are not from an active volcano but from many small fires within. You can see the tiny dots of humanoids moving around its rocky floor and a few actual structures. The eastern part of the crater has eroded away leaving a cleft in the wall, allowing access.

orchoard1.JPG (102.62 KiB) Viewed 431 times

You have to fly quite high in order to use the smoke and clouds as concealment. You can guess there's over a hundred tiny figures moving around the various encampments. But those are just the ones moving and that are easily visable. The dwarves smell the unmistakable odor of smelting iron.

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More detail would require a much closer look.

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios can't contain himself and gets closer to see the city by the volcano

[tooleychris]

Eirenaios begins a descent toward the encampment, through the obscuring smoke for a better view.
Does he go alone?

[GreyWolfVT]

Throm avoids the crater and tries to fly towards the town.

[Blazeguard]

Thorgrim quietly calls to Eirenaios, "Come on, as much as I'd like to wade in there with me axe swingin', there's too many for us. Let's get to the town where we can warn them and gather reinforcements."

Thorgrim will follow Throm and start heading back towards the town.

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios stops in a moment of clarity and sighs after barely sedating his curiosity, "Very well, priorities", he follows the two to the town.

[tooleychris]

The group makes its way east towards the town of Charlotte, followed grudgingly by Eirenaios. Gaining height you can see the town in the distance surrounded by a mountain range on all sides but south.

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The town looks bigger than the town your ship docked in originally, but dirtier as well. Definitely more of a rural feel.
A couple miles from the road leading north into the town you start to feel the gentle tug of gravity and slowly descend to the ground as the potion runs its course.
The road into town is used by men with wagons hauling goods into Charlotte.
A couple miles of walking finds you passing large grain mills and windmills to the walled town.
Inside one of many gates you see a bustling marketplace with hundreds of people conducting business, blissfully unaware of the gathering storm.

charlotte market.JPG (101.05 KiB) Viewed 408 times

The towns keep can be seen along the water in the distance.

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios tries to forget about the town in the crater and focus on the task at hand but he finds that hard to do, "Shall we split up? I am gonna go and try to collect information, you go on ahead and go to the keep, tell them of what's going on

Eirenaios will ask around for the nearest tavern and go to it, he will sit across the barkeeper and sling a gold coin his way, "A glass of ale and a few words if you don't mind", he will take a big swig of it then asks, "What do you know about the goblin tribes in this area?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Throm agrees with Eirenaios "Good idea. I'll go warn th a town guard an the be back fer a good mead." the dwarf sets off to warn the town guard of the oncoming orc army.

[Blazeguard]

Thorgrim will tag along with Throm to warn the town guard.

[Dram]

Craxzus flew ahead to the village to warn them. Should they not be at high alert?

[tooleychris]

The group splits up.
Thorgrim and Throm make their way to the keep through the crowds.

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A guard wearing thick splintmail and carrying a heavy crossbow stops you at the bridge leading to the entrance.
"More hired mercs, eh? Come to report to Master Ryan? Lemme see yer contracts."
The dwarves produce the contracts lady Angela provided in Elizabeth Bay. He looks over them briefly then:
"Alright. Proceed into the keep. There's a waiting room there. Someone will come get ya."
You walk into the structure, both noticing it could have been made better were a dwarf in charge of its construction. As you were told, there is a waiting room just inside the door where Craxzus, who arrived only a couple hours before you still waits to be seen as well.
He explains that he tried telling the guards about the orcs but every one of them just scoff, claiming the island has no native inhabitants and the guards reminded him that inciting violence is rewarded by having your tongue removed.

Eirenaios is pointed to the Nothwoods Inn, where he finds a jolly fat man behind the counter, happy to take his coin and bend his ear to the elf, between serving other patrons.
"Oy!" says the fat man pouring him an ale, "There be no natives in these parts. Goblins? Ha! They all be back on the main land." He smiles broadly then leans in to whisper:
"I been pourin drinks 'ere awhile now and I be hearin you mercenaries talkin about such things. There be people here before fer sure, but our betters don't like such talk, see? Want everyone to know they be safe an all. Mind who ya say such things to, eh?"

[thesniperknight1]

Eirenaios smiles hiding his discontent for what he perceives as a naive man but continues because even the naive have information, "Thank you for the kind advice, is there anything interesting that you can tell me about? Something that happened recently perhaps? Or a tale of a town atop a volcano maybe?"

Eirenaios looks around the inn to see if anyone stands out.