Quest #28 "Kegenstien's Expedition Over the River"

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

With the prospects of the river crossing Feanol becomes silent and just hangs near Darklin awaiting her time.

[OGRE MAGE]

The River
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Those with an eye for such things don’t spot any areas of significant danger below the swirling waters, so the party attempts a crossing. With no halflings in the group, luckily Keg keeps his blatant racism to himself. He takes a rope and crosses through the shallow water alone, eventually tying a safety line to a nearby tree that the others can use to aid their crossing.

Tying 2 long lengths of rope together, it reaches across the span, allowing the remainder of the group to cross over one by one. Darklin has all he can do to aid the much weaker Feanol across, but eventually everyone gets to the other side half soaked, but otherwise unscathed.

Some normal animal tracks are seen in the sand along with a few larger cat tracks, but the majority on the western side of the river all look the same, tiny three toed tracks that appear to belong to many small bipedal creatures. These tiny tracks move into the jungle and then back out in a few places, while several prints lead off away towards the cave opening in the dark cliff wall to the west.

Actions?

map: viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477
Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 13/13
Elnaerel 10/10 3/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel studies the other side of river before looking for a shallow spot in the water. "If we are going to use the cave to rest, we should go there first and make sure it's safe." She pats TK on the back. "Don't worry, I'll cross the river and tie the rope to somewhere on the other side." She starts tying a rope around his waste. "Keg and Darklin, could you hold the other end for me?"

This is strange. Nobody saw this?

Edit - Crap, I typed around his waist, not her (own) waist.

[OGRE MAGE]

I blame the language barrier.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

Though hardly necessary, The Knife crouches low to inspect the tracks."We should probably stay inside the treeline ourselves", he suggests. "If whatever made these is inside the cave, they probably have a view straight down the beach. They'll see us before we see them if we stay out here."

"Now I'm no expert at tracks," says the gnome, "but these seem to suggest two groups of creatures. We need to watch out for those too." He stands up again, waving all the bugs around him. "Ugh. I don't know what's worse: these things or all the sand that gets everywhere."

"Anyway, I'd vote for pushing on to the cave. But some of you," he says, looking mostly at Keg, "undoubtedly know more about it than me. Sorry. Us."

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

"Yes, I think taking cover in the forest is a good idea. This is too open.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

I think the cave may be inhabited now. Lots of prints running around here. Be on guard.

He moves back to Feanol to help protect her.

You any good with throwing a dagger? Be ready to throw these when we first see danger.

He removes 2 daggers from the horizontal sheaths on his back and hands them to Feanol.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

Taking the offered daggers she adds them to those she's already carrying "Thanks, its the one thing I can do a bit of when it comes to combat". She'll follow the others into the tree line.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Grinning on the other side happy to have the fresh water dip.

Once they are to the cave, he draws his sword and readies his shield. Not sure what is in there, but better ready than sorry.

That said, he takes a readied stance and slowly eases into the entrance, giving his eyes as much time as he can to adjust and then take in his surroundings.

[Paladin]

Keyon

The elf opens his mouth to offer to scout the cavern, but closes it when the big man eases forward. No arguments from me, the self-interested rogue thinks. He scans the area for potential threats, drawing his sword and making ready to attack should anything accost Keg.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Draws sword and moves shield around to the arm. Eases forward behind Keyon.

Feanol stay close behind me. I will give you time to run if it comes to that, but do not hesitate if I tell you to run.

[OGRE MAGE]

The River
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Staying near to the jungle side of the soft sand leading up to the cave, in case they need cover, the group tries to move in for a closer look. They find strange totems, animal skeletons, and other bizarre items of offering hanging from tree limbs just inside the jungle along their way, but none of them appears to have any value. The normal jungle noises seem a bit stifled here, as if the animals and birds don't come too close to this area.

Once they are within about 50 feet of the cave they notice a few shiny and colorful adornments hanging above and around the cave entrance. The items wave in the breeze, like a shiny fishing lure that spins under the surface of the water. Any cloth wrappings or flags appear to be well worn, faded, and tattered from the elements.

A wide alcove or inlet into the tall black cliff face can now be seen next to the dark opening. There is no sound coming from the cave, but there are several tiny three-toed tracks that lead from the beach and head right up into the cave mouth. It doesn't take a ranger to see that there are more footprints entering than exiting.

Actions?

map:

0318FA54-F48B-41E3-B5F5-72DAAACA8091.jpeg (80.36 KiB) Viewed 1274 times

Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 13/13
Elnaerel 10/10 3/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Bluehorse]

GM... Are these Kobold tracks?

[Karaunios]

What kind of skeletons are they? Big, small beasts?

[OGRE MAGE]

The hanging bones appear to be from small jungle animals, rodents mostly.

The tracks are small, with three clawed toes, but Keg wouldn't know what kind of creature made them.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Eyeing the tracks he makes it a point to point to them with his sword before turning and easing to just inside the entrance, alert to trouble as he checks for more signs that might tell him what is moving in and out of the cavern as he eases inside.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel

The elven cleric says in a low voice: "Couldn't these be the tree dwellers someone mentioned earlier?" She looks at the tree branches, to see if some of them are cracked, leaves on the floor, scratches on the tree bark, and if those scratches were made by three-fingered claws like the ones making the spurs on the sand, or any signs like that.

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Darklin will try to recall if the Tree Gliders had 3 toes and what their feet looked like.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

When Elnaerel mentions the tree-dwellers, The Knife nods in agreement. "That's a sound conclusion," he says, peering upwards too. "There can't be a whole bunch of different things that live in trees, can there?"

Gripping his walking stick in one hand, The Knife takes a dart out of his belt with the other. "You know, a sentry up in one of these trees could warn his little friends in the cave..." He starts to walk slowly towards where the trees meet the cliff-face.

[Bluehorse]

Keg stops in his tracks and turns around. Wait... you think these are phanatontracks? he puts away his sword and comes back out into the sunlight.

My understanding is they are friends, right? I won't barge in on a neighbor armed for a fight. Do we know how to talk to em?