Chapter 5: A Dark Light

[PyroArrow]

I can see Victor doing the first gif & what's to come for the Keep's Military for the 2nd one!

[GreyWolfVT]

very true maybe throw in some undead, hobgoblins and what not.

[Pulpatoon]

After hearing about all the trouble the last party had, Idonea and Ewat both have their bows ready, as they ride.

Idonea calls out to the party: "What say you: do we follow the last party's path, or make another way to the Caves?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort "I say we make our own path."

[Nordbo]

Wolfram, now in a completely different tone: "Are we ready to anticipate where contact with the enemy is probable ? Action to be taken should be planned before our patrol moves out."

[PyroArrow]

Fr. Tenebaum to the Adventure Party:

"I am familiar with the path the previous party took, having travelled it 3 times now & the only place where there can be contact with the gathering at the Lonely Tower is on
a path they had made up from the Shrill River."

"Again i warn you of the possibility of, at the least, Gnolls, Bandits, Wolf Spiders & Stirges, in the Borderlands Forest."

Castellan Devereau gave the party a new map when he gave Victor the Note of Credit.

[Pulpatoon]

Ewat says: "Gnolls 'n Bandits 'n spiders 'n all sound like enemies t'me."

Idonea: "Perhaps we should follow the road to the valley's mouth, and approach the caves from the front?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort "Sure if you wish to repeat the prior groups shortcomings."

[Pulpatoon]

Idonea: "I was under the impression that the previous party did the exact opposite: left the road to cross through the woods, and approached the valley from the rear ridge. Father Tenebaum?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort "The way I understood they followed some trail or path that was on a map, and went head first into a cave randomly. But yes let us consult the person that was with the first party. Father?"

[PyroArrow]

Fr. Tenebaum to Idonea & Mort:

"We had drawn a few path options on a map & decided on the one that took us through the Borderlands forest & around to the north facing side of the Caves' Valley."

"Thanks to an Elf fellow named Gus, we ventured into the first Cave opening near us when we first looked over the rim of the valley there."

"Which set off a tarred net trap & alerted what turned out be Orcs."

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort "I'd like to avoid repeating that so let us not go about our travel as they did."

[PyroArrow]

Here is the map handed to Victor:

Borderlands Area Map (Original Start Map): Updated 2/12/2014:

Players can take that & either draw new routes to the Caves of Chaos or stick to the old route:

Last Adventure Party Map with the two suggested routes to the Caves' valley area:

Fr. Tenebaum will look at the new map & trace his finger along it, which would be the red route on the 1st party's map above.

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort "I think the road what about you Idonea?"

[PyroArrow]

Fr. Tenebaum says to the Mort:

"The Sylvanian Elf Rondoel, mentioned of Hobgoblin look-outs near the road enterance to the Caves' Valley."

[Dizlexus]

Mr. Choe,

Sounds like there is danger any way we go. We may as well stay on the road and travel with ease -- all dangers being equal.



Mr. Choe's costume for the ride.

[PyroArrow]

Dungeon Master:

So that 2 for the road so far. I will still need a route drawn on the map so i can see where exactly you wish to travel.

[Nordbo]

Wolfram, eyes fixed straight ahead: "Ambushers strike from concealed positions: taking the road obviates many such risks."

Lutha: "Ah, hrrm, yes! Exactly my thoughts. Road trip!"

[Pulpatoon]

Idonea rides over to look at the map. She agrees with Mort's plan. She then pulls Mort aside for a consultation.

Idonea to Mort: "Keep those eyes absolutely peeled for signs of ambush, and make sure Ewat does, too."

Lowering her voice, she adds:

"If trouble starts, keep an eye on the spell-casters. To my mind, either Lutha or Tenebaum's clerics are potentially implicated in the last party's failure."

[GreyWolfVT]

Mort merely nods not saying a word after hearing the hushed addition. "Right well the hobgoblins are exactly what we are searching for so that does not bother me a bit good Father. Kormak here would be more than happy to slaughter some hobgoblins."

Kormak at the mention of killing hobgoblins smiles a wicked grin "I love to hack off hobgoblin heads."