Delve #1 - The Adventure Begins

[Doctor Crunch]

Niphos

Niphod nods. Indeed. But keep our eyes peeled. If they are expected there could be lookouts.

[Bucephalus77]

Gundren

“They still seem to be another expedition well prepared for entering whats inside those cliffs”

Gundren follows with the main group, too slow to be scouting and too short to be seeing much ahead.

[ravenn4544]

Octavios follows quietly along. Keeping a curious eye on the caravan.

[scottjen]

Alishar
Also agrees to keep following. Did he get a count of their numbers? We should watch for scouts leaving or returning.

[gurusql]

Gelli

Gelli stays with the group and in marching order.

[Rex]

Alishar
Also agrees to keep following. Did he get a count of their numbers? We should watch for scouts leaving or returning.

Athena

"An excellent point, everyone should watch for any scouts."

[BaltoBruiser]

Horasday the 6th of Molivios 2993 AEP 3:30 PM

As the party follows the caravan north along the track heading toward the cliffs, Jintu and Mudlark continue to scout ahead with Mudlark returning to provide the main body of the group with updates. The scouts have seen 9 armored men and 3 men driving the carts.

The caravan reaches a small clearing at the base of the cliff face where a set of ancient but broken stairs begin to climb up the face. It is about 30 minutes before sunset. Shadows have grown long as the sun approaches the horizon. This close to the Falls, all sound is drowned by the roar of the spilling water. One of the armored men appears to direct the others to set up a perimeter with carts in the center creating a triangle. Four men with spears post facing in each of the cardinal directions. There are four men with crossbows who use the carts as platforms to have an elevated field of fire in each direction. The three drivers mill about on the southern point of the cart triangle looking up at the cliff face occasionally with lanterns in their hands.

There appears to be enough cover for the party to approach to approximately 100 yards of the clearing among the trees along the track without risk of detection.

[Doctor Crunch]

Niphos

It is likely that we could creep close enough for my magic to put some of them to sleep. We're not bandits though and I'm not sure an unprovoked attack is wise.

[gurusql]

Gelli

"Perhaps we should back up slightly (perhaps 10 min back) then camp and return at first light?"

[Rex]

Athena

"I agree, we shouldn't attack without cause. Backing up makes sense, perhaps keep one person on watch where they can keep an eye on their camp?"

[scottjen]

Alishar
I concur with the sentiment of the others. Let us find our own camp.

[ravenn4544]

Octavios agrees, "They haven't done anything untoward as of yet, let's observe only. I can take the first watch if that is desired"

[BaltoBruiser]

Horasday the 6th of Molivios 2993 AEP 3:40 PM

The party confers and decides that they will move back down path approximately ½ mile back to set up camp. While the temperature got above freezing for short period of time in the afternoon, the temperature is dropping along with the sun toward the horizon. Please tell me what you do to set up camp? Do you leave Jintu and/or Mudlark or any of the characters to observe the caravan from a concealed position? Also reminder that the noise from the Falls makes verbal communication impossible.

[Doctor Crunch]

Niphos

Niphos will let the others make the decisions about the campsite. We should make sure to keep a watch on both their camp and our own.

Once the camp is chosen, Javess will bustle about making it homey while Niphos studies his books.

[Rex]

Athena

"Yes we should keep a watch on both camps. I can take first watch on ours."

[scottjen]

Alishar
Agrees with the watch both camps strategy & volunteers for 3rd watch.

[Bucephalus77]

Gundren

"I'm no use trudging back and forwards in my clanky armour, I'll take second watch and wake me up for the final watch before dawn"

[gurusql]

Gelli

"I will join the first watch group."

[BaltoBruiser]

Horasday the 6th of Molivios 2993 AEP 5:00 PM

As the sun sets, Jintu and Mudlark stay close to the caravan watching their campsite. While they cannot see exactly what is spitted, they can smell the scents of roasting meat drifting from the cook fire up wind from them. Their stomachs rumble just a bit as they realize that they will be eating cold rations out of Jintu’s pack. In the shadows cast by the fire light, they see that the caravan members have set up two tents and appear to be setting up for an overnight stay.

After an hour or so as the sky turns from a pinkish dusk to an inky blue, Jintu and Mudlark see that there is some movement in the shadows around the caravan’s campfire. One of the shadowy figures lights a lantern and walks out away from the fire light so that they are ensconced in growing darkness of the night. They see that lantern is shuttered with a red glass lens forming a red beacon which the figure shines up toward the sky. After a minute, Jintu sees a red light from high up the cliff face which seems to be signaling to the caravan in short or long flashes of red light which the figure on the ground seems to return up.

Shortly a large basket appears lowering into the topmost of the firelight about 15 feet off the ground and slowly lowers down to the ground. Jintu and Mudlark observe that figures begin loading items into the basket and it seems that 2 figures stay on the basket as it begins to rise slowly off the valley floor into the air in the firelight. Approximately 20 minutes later, Jintu and Mudlark see the basket reappear in the firelight descending from the cliff above. Mudlark signals that she is going to tell the main party of adventures what they have observed. It will take her 10 minutes to travel down the path and find the party camping further to the south off the path.

[Doctor Crunch]

Niphos

Niphos will listen to the news eagerly. He will defer to the experts on the logistics of moving around in the dark, but is especially interested in getting as much detail as possible about the sequence and timing of the lantern signalling. He knows it is unlikely, but he'd like to see if he's familiar with the code from his reading.