Quest #28 "Kegenstien's Expedition Over the River"

[OGRE MAGE]

The Black Cliffs
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Noticing no signs of the tree dwelling phanaton on this side of the river, the group looks around along the beach area before heading into the foliage.

Feanol mentions out loud that this area might make for a much better spot to dock ships, wondering why it wasn't utilized earlier. Keyon agrees, and depending on the depth of the water off shore, he too wonders why the people who built the town initially decided to ignore this area.

The Knife offers a pretty good suggestion on how to deal with any powerful creatures they run across, but he gets little support from the others.

The one thing that is certain, there are more than a few members of the group who are still thinking about that ruined tower off in the distance.

Actions?

10B27479-3A68-43ED-92F0-3520FE5A45FF.jpeg (76.13 KiB) Viewed 547 times

overall map:
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Bluehorse]

Keg looks between the others. Despite the cave which can be walled off, at least the back of it, we have found a good spot to move the town and I think it would be a more defendable spot. We just need to see that it is cleared of dangers like these Ogres or anything else. We should check the soil too, if anyone has any kind of expertise in that sort of thing to make sure we can grow crops.

To The Knife I like the way you think. Setting a trap or traps along the way, assuming we don't stumble into them ourselves, but some trip wires would certainly be good against those brutes.

I would hope to slip upon them for a look and retreat without a real fight until we have numbers one our side. Better yet... he gets an evil gleam in his eyes. You know... that seabeast in the back of the cave... seemed awfully hungry, don't you think? I bet a nice ogre meal would be right up his ally. And if the brutes kill him? either way is a win. How would you think we could lure them into the cave?

He muses some more... seems he has done this sort of thing before... What if our knife were to lure them out to here...? A couple of us could be reading up top, with ropes hanging down through the cracks we spoted... he runs them into the cave, there are a couple trip wires along the way to get them good and riled up, he is ahead of them when we hoist him up through the cracks, hopefully before they realize it and they charge into the back of the cave where our friend is waiting for them. Bam! And we can wait outside for them if they try to flee... up on the rocks over the entrance with bows at the ready! he chuckles darkly. What do you all think?

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

Responding to Keg. "Very interesting. If Knife doesn't want to take the risk I would, but the distance I have to run would need to be fairly short. Maybe one to lead them down here and me for the final stretch into the cave?"

She waits for the discussion to develop. Slipping over near Keyon "Thanks for your thoughts on this as a harbor. I know you were doing it by eye at a distance so no harm if its not a good option, but no since in planning on it if you could tell it wouldn't work." She touches the back of his hand, smiles and then moves on.

Approaching Elnaerel "Well sister where do we need to be to grow things. How far away from the beach and how much jungle must we clear? I know you don't like that, but I think it has to be done if we're going to survive on this Island."

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

To Feanol. "You're right I don't like the idea that much, but I understand the difference between cutting down trees for survival and doing it out of greed." She smiles at her friend. "You and Keyon are both right, it seems strange that they didn't use this area as a docking bay, plus the river as a water source, and there must be a good reason for it. I bet whatever was living before in that cave might be a good reason. Also, the fact that this part is wild and dangerous. We just have to think about the ogres."

She then turns to Keg and The Knife: "All that sounds good to me, but you have to remember there are, according to what Gretchen told us, four of them. What if we only get to lure some of them and another takes a more cautious approach? They may even stop after springing the first trap. We have to be careful. We would have great difficulties fighting even against one of those brutes. If we're to do this, and take them into the cave, they have to have a good reason to follow us, or the The Knife, or whoever gets them into the cave."

[Darklin2]

Darklin

How big do you think these Ogres are? Do you think they would even fit in the cave? I have seen hill giants and they would not even fit in the cave entrance. Let's recon first and see what we are up against.

Knife I like your idea of traps. A couple trip wires and maybe a couple pits with spikes around the edge of the clearing. Might help us in two ways if they fall in them they could be immobilized and if they don't it would allow us to direct them where we want them.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Nods Of course. Recon first. I have less experience with Ogres. It was more of a troll problem back home... But I like the idea of first figuring out where are they and what are we really up against. Then we can make plans to deal with them. Anyone have a general bead on which direction we saw the smoke other than north of here? I would like to come from the cliffside if possible if only to have one side safe as we move inland.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

"I'm not sure I could outrun ogres", The Knife says pensively. "Though I like the idea of luring them into the cave and escaping through the roof. Very daring!"

"Getting an ogre in a pit would be great if we could do it. But how long would it take to dig a pit big enough to trap an ogre? Tripwires that drop stuff on them might be easier. Or one of those nooses that they step in and it pulls them into the air". He grins.

[Paladin]

Keyon

The elf looks pensive. He thinks back to the slick interior of the cave and the likelihood of escaping a pursuing ogre without getting snatched by a tentacle beast. It sounds like a death trap. Sounds nearly impossible. And it sounds exactly like something he'd do.

"I'll do it, if we try that angle," Keyon says.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

She smiles as she hears Elanaerel's reply. "Yes, there is a big difference there. Maybe they were steered away from here by the beasts. However, observing Beach town and its occupants I think it was haste and greed. That's where the boat came so they got off and went ashore. Then they returned there as it was where they'd gotten off, and they were more focused on finding a quick treasure, than in building a settlement. The settlement just sort of happened there. And, if no one looks for a better site, it will just sit there and die. Let us find that better site. Here with plenty of fresh water and a harbor, simply finding land that can sustain agriculture nearby will be a major improvement."

Hearing Keyon, she moves back close to him, and again touching his hand says "You're bravery will get us someplace yet. I'd fight you for the honor, but I know you're better at it than I. Let's go scout out these Ogres and find out what we are up against."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Black Cliffs
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Mid Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

It is decided that the group will head into the jungle, skirting along the black cliffs, to see if they can find the source of the smoke or the alleged yellow ogres. One of the first things they notice is the lack of animal activity in the area near the cave. There are almost no bird noises and no tracks along the ground whatsoever. Looking up in the trees shows much the same, with little to no signs of anything calling this section of the jungle home.

Kicking around in the dirt as they travel, anyone with knowledge of such things can immediately tell that the soil here is much less arid and sandy than the area surrounding Beachtown. The Knife surmises that the ground here is less battered by winds and rain, due to the cliff walls partially protecting it. He also wonders if the erosion from the cliffs themselves, or whatever is growing above them, also helps to keep the soil here more fertile and less dried out. It would take a good deal of time to clear a large enough area for a town, but it does indeed look like this place would make a much more suitable location for a long term settlement.

After about 2 hours of uninterrupted exploration due north, cutting their path through the thick trees and plants as they travel, the sights and sounds of normal jungle wildlife returns. Sweating profusely in the midday heat and being harassed badly by the many insects, a few of the party's members start to smell a hint of smoke on the air coming from up ahead.

Actions?


overall map:
viewtopic.php?p=366477#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Bluehorse]

Keg will pause a moment and speak softly. Smell that? Anyone have and idea what direction?

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Maybe Knife or Keyon could climb a tree and see better. Or maybe the cliff face to get a better look.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

Takes a good look around to see if she can spot anything particularly smoke. She also goes to a guarded position prepared to react.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel draws her morningstar just in case, attentive at whatever might surprise them.

Just so I got this straight, the cave we've just seen in the jungle is a different one from the one on the beach, right?

[OGRE MAGE]

There is a cave near the beach, yes.

I never mentioned anything about finding a cave in the jungle.

Did I?

[Bluehorse]

Teacher brain is apparently contagious

[Paladin]

I took his mention of the cave to mean the one we'd just left.

Keyon

The young elf glances back at Feanol with a very faint smile. "You keep touching my hand and I'll get the wrong idea, milady." He drops his pack to the ground--"Will you keep an eye on this, please?"--and selects the tallest tree nearby, leaping up to grab a branch and pull himself hand over hand toward a position which affords him a better view of their surroundings. He moves slowly and remains as close to the trunk as possible so that he won't stand out too clearly to any prying eyes nearby.

He sweeps the jungle with a keen look in search of the source of smoke.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife looks at Darklin. "Well, actually tree-climbing isn't really a gnomish thing, we're more sort of..." He turns as he hears rustling behind him and sees Keyon hauling himself upwards. "Ah! There you go. See, much better at it than I am".

"Now then...lets see what we can find around here". The Knife starts to pull on hanging vines and creepers. He goes slowly and carefully, not wanting to suddenly dislodge any dangerous wildlife lurking up above.

"If we gather up some of these, we can use them to make tripwires and things. Harder for ogres to spot and easier to replace than a coil of rope." He glances ruefully over his shoulder at the side of his backpack where his own 50' coil used to be.

"What's that? Oh yes, of course...those would be very nasty. I might have known you'd think of something like that". Looking around the group, he asks, "Can anybody see any bamboo around here?"

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

With a slight blush she says "Yes I'll be happy to watch your gear", then watches as he ascends the tree hoping for a safe ascent and a good view for him. Then hearing The Knife "Yes I've heard the same, aren't you more adept at conversing with animals particularly burrowing ones?"

[Bluehorse]

Keg

seeing the climbing scout doing well enough will hear The Knife and start looking around for a stand of ratan or something similar.