Quest #31 "Jungle Beaver"

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric watches the exchange between Andron and the other group. She moves to a position close to everyone in her party and then begins to mumble a prayer of her own just in case.

If things become hostile Lerrick will cast bless.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan watches cautiously as the group emerges - and then shakes his head as the beavers they were hunting scurry off into the forest. "Of course..."

[OGRE MAGE]

At The River (For Experience)
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Morning, (first light) Warm, Humid, Buggy

Apparently just another adventuring group out exploring, the 2 parties close in on each other without incident. Standing on the soft sand next to the river, hails and well mets are made. Andron uses one of his newest magical creations to confirm that the others do indeed come in peace. He sees and feels no indications to think otherwise.

The large half-orc woman says something quietly to those behind her while they approach, holding one thick palm out to the Fellowship. "And also with you, friend. Though I doubt you will get any promise of peace from these damn bugs. They are frickin everywhere out here. Oh, excuse my poor choice of language brother of Rao."

Once both sides are comfortable that there will be no conflict, their obvious leader continues. "We have been out exploring on the other side of the river, but dont have much to brag about yet I'm afraid, as we have found little other than a couple of caves and more bugs than you ever want to see in your life. We tried camping out in the open last night, but after a few hours of sheer misery, we decided to pack back up and get ourselves into a real shelter." She looks over everyone's gear for a moment. "If you don't have a tent of some kind, I strongly suggest you only make this a day trip."

The other members of her group look normal enough, but one skinny human dressed in filthy mages robes seems a little fidgety.

Actions?

Gramble 19/24 Torch: 40'
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 8/11 3/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st
Lerrick 17/20 5/5 1st 3/4 2nd Light stone 40'
Maag 15/17 Torch: 40'
Tlachtga 13/16 3/4 1st 3/3 2nd Light stone 40'

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche smiles warmly at the reply and replaces his holy symbol around his neck. He offers an allaying hand at the mention of inappropriate language. "I have myself considered new forms of vulgarity to describe the unusual number of insects to be found here. In fact, like yourselves, we endured a few hours of early morning torture from the little beasts."

He gestures to Maag. "My colleague here, Mr. Maag, organized what we hoped would be a relatively easy journey to the river to hunt some jungle beavers." Andron gives an exaggerated sigh and points down the trail following the river. "Unfortunately, our arrivals have scared them away." He looks back at Maag and shrugs. "I'm not sure if alternative game was planned, but ..." He turns back to regard the female half-orc. "Please be careful if you intend to return to town. About halfway up the beach we suspect is a vicious, tentacled sea monster submerged in the shallows. From the disturbed sand, it appears to drag its prey right off the beach, into the water."

He casts a surreptious glance at the bedraggled human mage. The filthy robes were not entirely unexpected after a trip into the jungle. However, Andron was concerned with the man's obvious nervous demeanor. The doppelganger creature was still at large, and though he felt no hostility from the group, he was acutely alert for signs of a new host.

Andron smiles broadly and gestures to the mage. "Ah, but I see you have a wizard in your ranks? How very fortunate! I am also a mage of some small skill and have been seeking a fellow professional's opinion." He indicates the shoreline. "My name is Andronichishche, good sir! Could we discuss this matter in private?"

Looking back at the female half-orc now. "It should not take much time. I do not wish to delay you unecessarily."

[OGRE MAGE]

The female nods along to what Andron says. "Oh, is that what we just heard scurrying away? Sorry about that. We really just want to get into a shelter of some kind to escape these bugs."

When Rao's servant suggests he and their mage slip away for a moment, the half-orc shakes her head. "Hey! Were all friends here. No need for secrecy, is there? Besides, Legolust here is also a spellcaster." She points at the elf in her group who appears busy swatting flies away from his face. "Are two heads not better than one? Unless your fighting an ettin, of course." She jokes, unwilling to let the dirty mage leave her earshot.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche blinks in surprise at the objection, but keeps his pleasant demeanor. "Oh, no secrecy intended! It's from force of habit." He gestures at Maag and Gramble. "Mr. Maag and Mr. Gramble often opine rather ... loudly ... about my constant need to talk about my research. I was looking for a quick review of some spell logic." He shifts his gaze now to the elf named Legolust. "An elf wizard, you say? Wonderful! I actually have something of much more importance Mr. Legolust is particularly qualified to help with." He motions to a spot on the beach nearby, but well within earshot. "Gentlemen? If you wouldn't mind?"

Assuming no further objections and the three assemble, Andron pulls from his pack a leather journal and a folded piece of parchment. He hands the latter to the elf. "Mr. Legolust, please review this diagram for a moment." To the dirty mage he opens the journal and indicates a page of research notes on the Psionitropic Matrix. "Oh! I apologize, I haven't even asked your name, yet. I would very much appreciate a quick check of my logic in this section." He points to a random line and produces a pencil from his robe. "Please feel free to add any thoughts you have. This research has absolutely captured my attention for so long. I really could use a sanity check."

He quickly turns back to the elf and attempts to casually insert himself between the two. "Now this is far more interesting at the moment. I recently found that diagram of a magical dais, however, many of the sigils elude me." He slowly reviews several of of the symbols and offers his interpretation. "The best I can determine is that the device summons something. Perhaps a horned animal of some kind? Do you recognize any symbols that reference or identify any natural occurence or creature?" Andron looks intently at the elf with an oddly eager expression for the priest of Rao.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Between talking to the dirty mage and the elf named Legolust, Andronichishche gestures to both the female half-orc and the other members of the Fellowship. To the latter he pauses for a moment longer than would usually be expected, and with a serious gaze evident in his eyes that belies his excited tone of voice. "Please forgive my rudeness, I am just excited for this opportunity. Do continue your introductions, my friends." To the female half-orc, he adds, "Perhaps you've seen other suitable game we could hunt? "

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Speaking up, "I am Tlachtga of the Dreadwood, servant of the Old Faith. And you are?"

[wolfpack]

I am Gramble Thermapolus and we are the Company of the Silver Circle. While we had hoped to bring back some beaver for the townspeople perhaps we can use this time to slay the water beast that has Beset the townsfolk.

[Jernau35]

I wrote several paragraphs last night on my phone, then accidentally deleted them all So I rewrote the whole thing, then woke up this morning to discover that apparently I didn't press Submit. So the whole thing had disappeared again. Andron will never know the zingers that were unleashed behind his back

Maag

"I'm Maag." He nods in acknowledgement to the other party. Then he looks wistfully towards the jungle trail. "Maybe we can track der beavers. Dey 'ave got to taste better dan evil tentacle beast". He looks at Alordan.

[Quonundrum]

Ugh. I hate that. Andron also expects a certain amount of verbal barbs in his back as a result of his rambling pontifications.

[kruk]

Lerrick

She stops her spell and moves over with the rest of the party. And I am Lerrick. She offers nothing more but bows respectfully to the members of the other party. She keeps a eye on the spell casters of the group, ready to silence them at a moments notice.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan nods at Maags suggestion, "we didn't come all this way for nothing.." He will move to where the beavers darted into the bush and looks for any tell-tale tracks that he can follow. He nods at the new comers as he goes about his work.

[OGRE MAGE]

At The River (For Experience)
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Morning, (first light) Warm, Humid, Buggy

The large female looks at Andron with suspicion, but allows the pair to peruse the proffered items. She looks at Maag after a minute and blinks exaggeratedly a couple of times. "Is he always this trusting with strangers? And does he always talk this much?" The dirty mage doesn't offer a name in return as he looks over the notes. Looking up scratching his greasy, leaf covered head, he replies in a tired voice, "what's a sanity check?" He then sighs heavily and rubs the many bug bites covering his dirty face.

Legolust isn't much friendlier, also covered in dirt, bites, scratches, and what looks like dried blood. He gives Andron a sleepy "are you serious" look as he peeks at the diagram, showing no indication that he understands any of it. He looks up with his bloodshot, sleepy eyes and shakes is head. "Sorry, but I'm so tired right now I can barely speak common. I got nothin here."

When Tlachtga makes her name known, the half-orc smiles a toothy grin. "Hello there. My name is Gretchen." She nods at the others intros as well, stopping at Gramble. "These are my friends, but we don't have a catchy name for our group like you do. That's a fun idea, actually. I like it. But I think we are in dire need of rest and recuperation before we try taking on any more monsters, thank you."

Lerrick watches the people behind their leader closely, but sees no indication of chicanery from any of them. They all look a little beat up and extremely tired to her eyes. Alordan just nods, looking for the tracks of the jungle beavers they came here to hunt. He easily finds their prints in the sand, heading towards the open trail that leads north into the dark jungle. He is certain that he would be able to follow the tracks with little difficulty.

Actions?

Gramble 19/24 Torch: 40'
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 8/11 3/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st
Lerrick 17/20 5/5 1st 3/4 2nd Light stone 40'
Maag 15/17 Torch: 40'
Tlachtga 13/16 3/4 1st 3/3 2nd Light stone 40'

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche appears rather crestfallen when Legolust is unable to provide any insights into the mystery of the diagram. He takes the parchment from the elf, folds it, and carefully returns it to his pack. "Thank you, Mr. Legolust. I do very much appreciate it." He sighs while casting an appraising eye on the elf and his clothes. "In fact, please accept my apology, as well! In my excitement I neglected to notice your tired condition."

He turns back to the unnamed human dressed in mage's robes and waits for the man to finish reading and adding any notes. He chuckles at the question. "I'm sorry, it's a bit of scholarly humor. A check on my logic. Is it sane or that of a mad man?" Andron pauses a moment for the laughter ... "Yes, well. I suppose it's a regional witticism." He smiles broadly and collects his journal and pencil from the man. Checking first for any new notes, he returns it to his pack. "My manners need some correction, prodding extremely tired strangers for research assistance."

Andron offers an embarassed smile to Gretchen and quickly shuffles over to join their ranger on the trail. "Here, allow me to assist you, Mr. Alordan. I have a spell that can assist in scanning the path." Focusing his attention on the trail, Andron casts Detect Evil. He then gazes into the jungle on either side of the trail before briefly glancing back at the assembled groups.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag returns Gretchen's gaze. "Trust me. You do not know der 'alf of it. It is more likely dat der beavers ran away from 'im, dan from you, he says wearily.

"Wot is a sanity check? Well when I was younger I used to fink dat a sanity check was der same fing as a sanity clause. But when I got older, I found out dat der is no such fing as a sanity clause".

[ravenn4544]

Alordan notes that the trail heads into the woods and that they are easily followed - for now. He listens a little to the story of the new group and the asks curiously. "You mention caves back that way - any thing interesting there? Did you run into anyone - or anything - out that way?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga moves closer to Alordan, keeping an eye out for anything that may approach the 2 groups.

[wolfpack]

Don't worry about Andy he talks a lot. You should have seen it before Cresty was turned to stone and he was with us to.

[kruk]

Don't worry about Andy he talks a lot. You should have seen it before Cresty was turned to stone and he was with us to.