(4) The Ritual Isle

[OGRE MAGE]

Grom

"Time is definitely not passing according to the normal laws of nature here. I hope we can still meet up with our transport again once we wish to leave this place."

Keeping an eye on this mysterious light in the distance, the Magician mentions an idea he had while sleeping peacefully inside the bird clearing.

"I want to try something once it becomes light out again. I will have Dreary fly off to the edge of the impassable wall we found to see if it can be traversed from the side. Perhaps all we need to do is to slip around it at its terminus?"

[Karaunios]

Caradoc

"Yeah, let’s head that way. I wonder where that flare came from. Maybe we’ll finally find intelligent life here…?"

[Rex]

Zosime

Zosime will light and carry a torch.

"Good idea Grom, might as well head that way now."

[Darithe]

Graeclose.jpg (25.57 KiB) Viewed 247 times

Grae

Grae retrieves a flask of oil and lights up her bulls-eye lantern hoping to shed a little light on the situation. She remarks that she thinks Grom has a good idea with Dreary scouting the area unseen.

[silifi]

Night, Unknown Day and Year - likely Winter

Whilst the group discusses possible options for getting around the wall, Kordrak follows the deer tracks which head south by southwest, ignoring the strange dancing light for the time being, and the others follow him.

Caradoc glances behind them, noticing that the strange blue light has multiplied - now there are six or seven lights in the distance, seeming to get ever closer, and in the quiet of their hunt, he begins to hear the unmistakable sound of human humming coming from the same direction as the lights.

Meanwhile, Kordrak slows down ahead, finding his prey - a doe, frozen in confusion as Grae's bright glares in its eyes. Kordrak slowly pulls his bow to aim, but then hesitates.

He notices that this doe is carrying extra weight - she is pregnant, considerably far along, probably just weeks away from giving birth. As a huntman he would usually eschew killing fawns and pregnant does, hoping to keep the population flourishing - but on the other hand, they do not know how much longer they'll need to survive here.

I'm assuming you're all following the deer tracks with Kordrak? It is in the general direction of the wall (southwest)


Caradoc Lvl4 Bard - 19/19 FA 3 AC 5
Akrisios Lvl4 Mountebank - 18/18 FA 3 AC 4
Zosime Lvl4 Cleric - 22/24 FA 3 AC 4 Torch: 30/???
Grae Lvl4 Death Solider - 27/27 FA 4 AC 6 Bullseye Lantern: 30/360
Grom Lvl4 Magician - 13/14 FA 1 AC 9
Kordrak Lvl4 Huntsman - 33/33 FA 4 AC 3
Cían Lvl4 Druid - 23/23 FA 3 AC 4

[Rex]

Zosime

Zosime will leave the decision to shoot up to Kordrak but draws her bow back and aims in case a follow up shot is necessary.

[Edeldhur]

Kordrak

Kordrak’s breath stops for a moment as he steadies the bowstring. The doe stands still, the light of Grae’s magic glinting off her wide, uncertain eyes.

He exhales slowly... Then lowers the bow.

“A mother” - he mutters, just loud enough for those behind him to hear - “Life begets life and sustenance”

He glances toward the growing blue lights behind them, jaw tightening - “We’ll find another way to feed ourselves. Let’s move”

[shaidar]

Cian

Cian nods as Kordrak lets the pregnant deer live.

"Let's see who these people are."

[OGRE MAGE]

Grom continues to watch the distant light getting closer, and more numerous.

"Humming? Could this be more of those strange monsters we encountered in the woods? They did say they would come after us again."

The Magician will suggest 2 ideas. The first is to shine the lantern towards the anomaly to see if there is any reaction from them. If that fails, he will suggest they make haste towards the wall again, to see if we can outdistance the pursuit.

[Karaunios]

Caradoc

Will wait to see if there's any reaction from the lights.

[Rex]

Zosime

"A good plan Grom."

Zosime will wait to see what happens with the lantern light.

[Edeldhur]

Kordrak

"Ready"

[silifi]

Night, Unknown Day and Year - likely Winter

Kordrak decides to leave the deer be, hopeful that perhaps one day life can be restored to its prior state here, though he is heartened that at least some large animals have managed to survive.

The party turns their attention towards the dancing lights, which have drawn closer. Grae points her light towards the lights, and at first they seem to get closer, the humming louder.

Cían recognizes the tone of the humming as an ancient druidic prayer tune, a sort of ode to Daegraed sing in the night to encourage his return.

But after slowly approaching for a few minutes, the lights stop moving towards them at about a hundred feet distance - still too far for them to see clearly behind the many shadows cast by trees. The humming continues and the lights still move about, swaying up and down and back and forth to the rhythm of the song, but they come no closer.

Actions?


Caradoc Lvl4 Bard - 19/19 FA 3 AC 5
Akrisios Lvl4 Mountebank - 18/18 FA 3 AC 4
Zosime Lvl4 Cleric - 22/24 FA 3 AC 4 Torch: 40/??
Grae Lvl4 Death Solider - 27/27 FA 4 AC 6 Bullseye Lantern: 40/360
Grom Lvl4 Magician - 13/14 FA 1 AC 9
Kordrak Lvl4 Huntsman - 33/33 FA 4 AC 3
Cían Lvl4 Druid - 23/23 FA 3 AC 4

[Rex]

Zosime

"They seem more inquisitive than aggressive."

[shaidar]

Cian

"It could be a trap, or perhaps just some mindless echo of the rituals they used to do here."

[Karaunios]

Caradoc

"I'm more intrigued by the dancing lights now that by what we could see beyond the wall. Should we go there and investigate the wall later?"

[Edeldhur]

Kordrak

"Completely agreed Caradoc - we cannot simply ignore this" - Kordrak nodded.

Ready to go investigate the lights

[shaidar]

Cian

"Yes, we need to go look. I was just voicing some thoughts on what it might be."

[OGRE MAGE]

Grom is also willing to investigate the lights first, but remains at a safe distance for now.

"Do you remember the lyrics, Cian? Perhaps one could sing along with the humming to see if it has any effect?"

[shaidar]

Cian

"Good idea... Let me think."

If he can remember the lyrics he will start to sing them.