IC III

[thirdkingdom]

Shmara

"So this shouldn't be here or we shouldn't be here. That calls for more investigation I think."

How do y'all want to go about investigating?

[kalstone]

Svenn

"It seems like collecting this treasure took us to a different place, or, more ominously, a different time. If we have been transported to the past, that would explain the lack of traces of human development. You were right, Shmara, I fear. Taking that treasure was too easy."

[R.R. Brando]

Horatio


Horatio will look around for the highest point. "If we could get some elevation, we could check to see if we came out of the cave in a different place than we went in."

Did we all go into the cave?

[thirdkingdom]

Horatio


Horatio will look around for the highest point. "If we could get some elevation, we could check to see if we came out of the cave in a different place than we went in."

Did we all go into the cave?

Not all the PCs went into the cave, and neither did the mercs or mounts. All of them are with you now.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Somehow we have gone further north or further south as we headed back east because there is no way we could have missed this as we went to the treasure. I say we make some sort of marking around here to keep track of where we found this and head in some direction. I would suggest north since that would take us towards lands near Kimrid and that other small village we found near it."

[Rex]

Shmara

"That makes sense Gardo, we should try that."

[shaidar]

Newton nods , "I agree, a good plan"

He turns to the bard "Horatio, have you heard of any similar odd occurrences in the histories and stories you've studied?"

[thirdkingdom]

Newton nods , "I agree, a good plan"

He turns to the bard "Horatio, have you heard of any similar odd occurrences in the histories and stories you've studied?"

Horatio could likely spend hours retelling tales of similar events, ranging from the mundane and probable to the fantastic and unlikely. Thinking back, however, especially in conjunction with meeting the treants and Oakleaf's comments that "our borders are not easily traced on a map such as this." Horatio knows there are places where the boundaries between the worlds* are rubbed thin, and mortals can stumble into Faery just as easy as walking. The tales never quite agree on how the protagonists return to their own world; some simply retrace their steps, others stumble around until they find another portal, one that perhaps leads to their world but a continent away, while others must find a powerful Faery Lord and bargain for passage. Others, and this tends to be an unfortunately often occurence, never find their way home, and end up being inhabitants of Faery forever.

See this thread for exposition on the planar geography of Absalom: viewtopic.php?p=483136#p483136

Now that Horatio has broached the possibility, the adventurers begin to notice things that had escaped their attention before. The trees seem larger and, well, more tree-like. The heat and humidity are oppressive in a way that seems somewhat unnatural. Everything around them seems more-ish. More vibrant, more present, more . . . meaningful, somehow, as if there were secrets that could be gleaned from studying a single wildflower, or the patterns of bark on an ash tree, or the music of the wind rustling through leaves.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

Realizing the differences around him, Gardo motions for the others to gather around and speaks in a lower tone. "Do you think that we traveled somewhere else when we encountered those weird cats? Can anyone remember what the forest looked like when we were there? Newton, Horatio, do you think you could navigate us back the way we got here if we decide to leave now? Could you do it if we explore and come back here?" He looks to Notai. "Dear cerves, did anyone in your tribe ever come across something like this in your travels of the plains? Any lore that you know of?"

[thirdkingdom]

Gardo

Realizing the differences around him, Gardo motions for the others to gather around and speaks in a lower tone. "Do you think that we traveled somewhere else when we encountered those weird cats? Can anyone remember what the forest looked like when we were there? Newton, Horatio, do you think you could navigate us back the way we got here if we decide to leave now? Could you do it if we explore and come back here?" He looks to Notai. "Dear cerves, did anyone in your tribe ever come across something like this in your travels of the plains? Any lore that you know of?"

Notai

Notai forks her fingers to ward off the evil eye. "There are always tales of the Fair Folk, of course -- their love of bargains, and whimsical nature, and never to eat of food offered, or accept a favor -- but I have never personally been to their world, no."

[shaidar]

Newton

"We could retry retracing out steps. It seems the best option for now, that and keeping an eye out for one of the Fey, perhaps we can do a deal with them to get us home"

[Rex]

Shmara

"Retracing our steps first seems a good option if we crossed into the fairy realm, which now seems likely."

[shaidar]

Newton glances at the road, appreciatively. He looks up and down it, north and south, and then shades his eyes looking to the south.

"Of course, this is an opportunity for adventure, there could be something quite interesting to see around here. They might even know about what happened in the village of the shadows."

[kalstone]

Svenn

"True. This could represent a significant commercial opportunity. If they truly love bargains, we will have that in common."

[shaidar]

Newton nods at Svenn's words

"We could have a look around and retrace our steps later. It would be a shame not to use this fine road"

[thirdkingdom]

Both Newton and Svenn make a lot of sense. It *is* a fine road, one that almost certainly leads to adventure and glory, yet looks to be easy on the heels. It's hard to tell which way is better, but as the adventurers look both north and south, it seems almost as if the road to south glitters; if not with gold, then surely silver, or something equally as fine! And true, all the stories tell of how the Fair Folk strike a hard bargain, but they also never had to deal with the likes such as yourselves.

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Well, which is more important? Making sure that we can find out way back or seeing where this road goes? Seems that some of us are okay with exploring first. Horatio and Feargus, what say you?"

[thirdkingdom]

Mardan Cy's eyes are gleaming. "I think we should explore," he says, breathlessly, "isn't that what we're supposed to be doing, anyway? I don't think I could live with myself if we just left and didn't take a look around. Don't you get the feeling that there's something amazing, just out of view, waiting for us?" Cy is looking southward with a longing expression.

Notai allows that it just makes sense to explore. At least a little. "Where there's a road there's people," she says, "and there's no real way to get lost. All we need to do is mark where we came out of the woods, somehow, and it will be child's play to find our way back."

[shaidar]

Newton

"This could be our only opportunity to explore the land of Faery. Where's your sense of adventure?"

[Rex]

Shmara

"Fate has brought us here for some reason."