Quest #4 "Rescue Mission One"

[OGRE MAGE]

Quest #4
Rescue Mission One (The Search For Jack)
Sunday, 21st of Reaping, 1389
Early Morning

Bonnie has her mind made up that she will be leading a group of as many as she can find back into the dangerous jungle to check on the well being of the others.

Lightfinger wanders around by the head of the loggers trail, still injured, but also extremely concerned for the well being of little Jack and the others.

Raythan and Franny are there as well, willing to lend their skills, possibly feeling a bit guilty for leaving the others behind in the first place.

Keilif also badly wants to help find Bonnies missing friends since this kind elf woman basically saved his life just one day earlier. He still wants to go with the others to show them the way to the river and beyond, but will not abandon Bonnie if she wants him to go with her instead.

Saracen is there too, but he tries to convince the group to wait one more day before they leave as he will not accompany them without his full compliment of spiritual blessings.

I will get this mission started out first in case there are any others that want to tag along. Then I will start the river mission out once this group has departed. Thanks for your patience!!!

[Monsieur Rose]

Bonnie
Beachtown

Bonnie looks around at the few people who agreed to join her. She notices Brufig on her way out of the treehouse and lets him know her plans. "You would be most welcome to join us. We've been up the trail just yesterday and are fairly confident we can do so without incident."

To Saracen:"I understand your concern about leaving without preparation. I feel time isn't on their side, so I think waiting may be the difference. Thank you for showing compassion for the others."Bonnie bows slightly and resumes, "I respect your decision, and intend to see you this evening. Hopefully with a good story to tell."

"Keilif, I would be most grateful if you would accompany me on this trail once more. The people at the end of our journey may need some healing, something I am not up to."

Bonnie nods to the others with a smile, thanking them wordlessly. "One idea. How many torches do we have? I'd like to see if they could keep the bugs away a bit."

With that, she grabs her gear and starts up the trail.

[Storm11]

Saracen nods at the elf's kind words. "I fear that if those in need cannot wait the extra day they are already lost to us. And without my magic I would be no use to those who may need healing if you can recover them. Pholtus protect you all. I hope you aren't rushing in blindly and ill prepared to meet the same fate!"

With that he bows and leaves the gathering, heading off to the treehouse.

[Scott308]

Brufrig Granitesunder

Hearing Bonnie's plan for heading back up the trail in attempt to rescue the missing adventurers, Brufrig replies, You are right to be concerned for your missing friends. The jungle here is filled with all sorts of deadly creatures, and we never even found the zombies who are out there somewhere. If they didn't make it back last night, I hope we will not be too late. I will join your search, Bonnie. Everyone should make sure to have water. I have a canteen and a wineskin that I filled. It is easy to run out of water out there.

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger pipes up.

Five, The handsome Halfling replies to Bonnie's well-thought out question, I have 5 torches. Saracen, I wish you'd reconsider, He turns to the orange Half-Orc, It might not be your blessings we need, but your good right arm! If something has happened to our comrades, Bullfrog is strong enough to carry that big oaf Monocle out, maybe with some help, but if Loomis is hurt also, he's no small guy either. I could haul out the Mistress, that shining Elf Lass... In fact, I'd like to haul her out. Anyone could carry Jack. But if both of those big Men are hurt, no way we get everyone back here without you.

[Hotgoblin]

Franny Buurlslamer listens quietly at first, then gets annoyed when Lightfinger is questioning the parties abilities.You'll have me battle-axe and stout strength, so we're good? Brufrig, I as well have fresh water and some whiskey, come along. She turns to follow behind Bonnie.

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey follows Bonnie's party out to see how things are shaping up. When he sees that Saracen feels unable to go, he has a change of heart, deciding that perhaps the water mission can wait. They don't need fewer able bodies on this island. If his ultimate plans are to come to fruition, he'll need all the help he can get in the years to come... Clearly rescuing these fellow islanders is in his interest. And, not insignificantly, he likes some of them.

"Bonnie, my dear, I will accompany you as well, if you will have me. I'm sure my magics will prove invaluable, as they did yesterday in the harrowing 'centipede incident of 1389,' as I'm sure it will come to be called..." he says, magnanimously.

[OGRE MAGE]

This mission is shaping up nicely so far.

Bonnie
Lightfinger
Raythan
Franny
Keilif
Brufrig
Chauncey

If there are no others interested in going along, I will make some rolls and get something written up for this. If anyone else still wants to accompany this mission, speak up soon. Thanks!

The river expedition mission will begin as soon as this group departs.

[Monsieur Rose]

Bonnie
Trailhead

Bonnie welcomes the mage to the group. "Glad to have you Chauncey, I've been meaning to ask you something anyway. The long walk should give us ample time."
"Thank you as well Brufrig, hopefully this is just a waste of time. But better to be safe."

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger is sure to fill his skin with water before the rescue party leaves.

[OGRE MAGE]

Quest #4
Rescue Mission One (The Search For Jack)
Sunday, 21st of Reaping, 1389
Early Morning


Bonnie welcomes her friend Keilif as well as all the other newcomers to her rescue expedition. Seeing all this help willing to accompany her, the elf starts to get excited to tear back up the trail once again this day. She immediately gets the party moving, initially making good time walking up the wide open path. The party visually searches all around the surrounding area carefully now since they have already seen first hand just how dangerous this jungle can be.

Three hours or so pass before the sky starts to darken with signs of obvious rain clouds that hang high and ominous above the tall trees lining each side of the jungle path. After another short walk, Chauncey, Brufrig, and Lightfinger spot the difficult westerly path that they all explored just one day earlier. The handsome halfling visibly shudders as he rubs his injured shoulder where the big black cat tried to eat him. The path looks just the way they left it the night before and there is no evidence of anyone or anything else traversing it since their short absence.

Other than the earsplitting cacophony of the usual jungle noises along the way, and the disgusting swarming and biting bugs that constantly fly around your heads, crawling down into the openings of your clothes and armor, so far the trip has been rather uneventful. With no greasy protection applied this trip, the tiny insects seem almost unbearable to deal with. The trail looms off up ahead, winding and turning into more darkness at the edge of your vision.

revised map

Just wanted to pause here for a bit to give everyone a chance to act if there is anything that you want to do before venturing further.
I will also need a marching order. You can easily travel two or even three abreast on this trail.
Here is the list: Bonnie, Keilif, Chauncey, Lightfinger, Raythan, Brufrig, Franny.

[Nuke66]

Raythan hides in the middle of the pack

[ChubbyPixie]

Raythan hides in the middle of the pack

Chauncey will do the same, but after a while will fall in next to Bonnie. "You wished to speak to me, Bonnie? Is there some way in which I may assist you with my unsurpassed magical prowess? I assume this is the sort of assistance you require. " he says.

[Monsieur Rose]

Bonnie

"Ah yes, about that. Let's step up here a bit." Bonnie picks up her pace a bit to create a small distance in front of the rest, and lowers her voice.

"I, um, have come into the possession of something that is a mystery to me. It was covered in a blue powder of sorts and, I'm embarrassed to admit, has colored my hands a brilliant blue." She peels back a bit of one glove to show Chauncey the color. "What I'm curious about is whether you have heard of such a thing, or if you think it may just be mundane."

Bonnie plans on trying to take point, like Jack did. All quiet and elf like.

[Scott308]

Brufrig Granitesunder

The dwarf will move to the front of the main group of adventurers, behind Bonnie and Chauncey.

[Hotgoblin]

Franny will be at the tail end of the marching order. She will spin back and forth watching behind the group for anyone/anything sneaking up on them.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sunday, 21st of Reaping
Mid Morning

The group decides to ignore the familiar side trail, keeping their focus on the current task at hand. Bonnie and Chauncey talk amongst themselves as they lead the way back up the trail just as light drops of rain begin to fall through the gap in the trees and onto the party.

Another hour or so passes as the group slowly closes in on their destination. Suddenly, there is action on the trail up ahead as a bunch of 2' long giant brown ants crash out of the jungle on the east side of the trail. They are about 30 feet ahead of you and moving across the trail from right to left. It is difficult to determine their numbers but it is definitely in the dozens or more. They carry along sticks, leaves, and other items that are hard to make out from this distance. It seems initially that they don't appear to even notice you are there.

florida-carpenter-ants.jpg (40.55 KiB) Viewed 711 times

Please include a normal Wisdom check with your next post. Thanks!

Actions?

[tkrexx]

For some reason Lightfinger recalls an old song about marching ants.

Let them pass! He hisses, They are minding their own business, so should we.

[Hotgoblin]

Franny has never seen such huge ants, but would rather watch them from a distance, than get any closer.
[1d20] = 20 Wis (10)

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey's eyes widen a bit at the sight of Bonnie's brilliant blue hands. "Oh. Goodness. I... hmmmm. I don't believe I've ever seen the like... but I may be able to find out the cause. Perhaps. Given a little time to consult my sources. In the meantime, my dear, I will keep your "secret." Consider it betwixt you and I, alone." He pats her reassuringly on the arm and resumes his place in the order.

At sight of the ants, he stops with the others. "Perhaps it would be wise to back up a bit. Until they've passed?" he suggests.