Quest #15 "Taking Down Captain Bing"

[Urson]

Luther

We definitely need a scout ahead- I'll walk drag and watch our backtrail.

Alordan- are any of your traps and alarms things we can recover? If so, let's take them along.

Folks- if you have anything to do, I'd suggest you get to it.

While people are getting ready to move out, Luther hunkers near the river's edge, watching the water for signs that the fish haven't been wiped out this far upstream.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan nods and carefully reclaims his traps that he set and covers his tracks when done.

[kruk]

Lerrick CLW roll on Luther [1d8] = 4

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger packs up.

He selects a tree and clambers up 20 feet or so to keep a watch until the call to move is heard.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Yes.We must take the utmost precaution moving forward," says Chauncey. "According to Wes, there were great numbers of them in the camp - his party blundered straight in and was easily overcome and enslaved. We must not make this mistake. They are not our friends. We shall need to find a way to observe them for a time without being seen to determine their habits and perhaps suss out a weakness, perhaps by charming one or more of them. We'll need to find out where this Captain Bing is housed. Who surrounds him. Where the slaves are kept - we'll want to avoid harming them when we... well..." He taps his foot and looks as if he's working himself up to some sort of revelation. "...when we blast them to smithereens!!" he finally exclaims. With that, he reaches into a pocket and produces a wand, holding it in steepled fingers, his eyes darting from one party member to the other to gauge their reaction, barely able to contain his glee.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan considers the warning. "Getting some insight into their comings and goings unseen would be helpful. Not easy to do in this jungle however".

He notices the object he seems to be carefully holding and asks "What exactly are you going to do with a stick? Attack an Ogre?" He shakes his head at the foolishness of this strange person.

[Bigtaff]

Talaris

The half elf casts his final cure spell on Luther

CLW [1d8] = 5

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Looks at the Wizard and his stick and leans over to Luthar. I always heard that every group has a certified crazy person... I think we found him...

[OGRE MAGE]

Emancipation
The Pavilion
Freeday, The 5th of Goodmonth
Morning, Warm, Humid, Buggy

The clerics combine their final healing efforts, praying to Pelor to help the injured hairy ranger before morning. Soon Luther feels as good as new again and the priests are granted new prayers for this day.

A plan begins to form as strategies are discussed. Lightfinger says he isn't soft as he starts climbing a nearby tree to keep a lookout. Alordan retrieves the wire from his traps and mentions that he isn't afraid of taking point on the next leg of their journey north. Monocar agrees to stay in the middle ranks, to protect the mage and clerics.

Luther agrees to take the rear guard position in case they might be followed. He moves over to the river to see if he can spot any fish. He does indeed see a few smaller trout-like fish swimming along in the shallow edge of the river. This gives the ranger a bit of hope that they might be able to get some food if their rations should run short on this trek.

Chauncey gathers everyone around to discuss any final preparations before setting out again. He reminds the others that the way ahead will be dangerous and that a solid plan will need to be put into place once they reach the slavers camp. Then, out of the blue, the mage produces something that the others haven't seen yet. It appears that the adequate wizard has an explosive trick or two up his robe sleeve that he is just now letting the others in on. If the item is indeed what he claims, it might just even up the odds against this far larger band of evildoers.

The others seem...........unimpressed with his revelation, to say the least.

The northern trail into the dark jungle awaits.

Actions?

Luther R3 26/26
Lightfinger T4 19/19
Talaris C1 9/9 3/3 first
Monocar F3 30/31
Chauncey MU3 16/16 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Lerrick C1 8/8 3/3 first
Alordan R3 18/18

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Stands up. Well, let's get this party started

[kruk]

The cleric takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly. She then follows the others determined to put an end to the group of enslavers.

[Urson]

Luther

Luther raises an eyebrow at Chauncey's revelation. A wand, eh? I hope it's got a real kick. Slavers deserve whatever they get.

True to his plan, Luther falls in at the back of the group, making sure to turn and study the path behind them every 10-20 paces. He carries his bow with an arrow nocked, ready to draw down on anything that comes up.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan raises an eyebrow, impressed. "That stick is actually a wand? What does it do? Would be good to know our assets going into a dangerous situation?"

After he gets his answer he'll take point about 25-50yds or so ahead of the group and move as silently and carefully as possible - watchful for trip wires and dead-falls that he is now alert for.

[Bigtaff]

Talaris

The half elf carefully watches his comrades as they prepare to move out. He shoulders his pack and equipment, grunting as he shifts around to find the most comfortable spot.
He looks at the others, "Ready when you are."

[ChubbyPixie]

Chauncey looks to Alordan and pantomimes “BOOM!” with outspread fingers, perhaps lingering too enthusiastically, waggling them, to indicate the fallout of body parts, scabbards, singed boot leather, and buttons from the imaginary explosion. ”Lightfinger is quite possibly on to something, you know. Were we able to set up some sort of gathering, some way to lure them together... a rum party? I must think on this. And when we spy out the camp, we must spy out the storage of lamp oil or other accelerants to increase the efficacy of... my stick.” He smiles gleefully.

[OGRE MAGE]

Emancipation
The Pavilion
Freeday, The 5th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Warm, Humid, Buggy

Lightfinger hops down from his treetop lookout, sporting a smirk of his own that almost rivals the expression of the giddy mage. The group listens to Chauncey tell them about his impressive stick before they all begin traveling north again.

Alordan takes point, slowly creeping along the open trail as cautiously as he can. It is obvious to the ranger that this trail has gotten plenty of use recently, finding lots of heavy boot prints and periodic ogre tracks. Luther stays behind the group as they travel, keeping an eye out for anything trying to sneak up on the party. After about an hour and a half of creeping up the trail, you come to another tiny primitive village. A dozen or so thatch huts are scattered about a small clearing along the river, but again, there are no signs of life here.

Looking around a little, the group agrees that the huts in this clearing haven't been used in several days. There is no sign of life other than the normal jungle inhabitants, mostly made up of the thousands of bugs everywhere. Finding nothing of interest, the party presses on up the trail to see what they will find next.

No monsters, pirates, yellow skinned ogres, traps, or alarms are spotted along the entire length of the trip. You get the feeling that the bad guys don't bother to patrol this central area of the trail since they have already solidified their presence on both ends. After another hours march or so, you stumble across a similar village, this one seems to have had visitors a bit more recently. There are no signs of either natives or smugglers being here at the moment, but the smell of a campfire permeates the area and the huts all contain bedrolls. After a quick reconnaissance of the area, a distinct sound of construction and even faint voices are heard coming from the direction of the river. The noises seem to be coming from the north, the same direction that you are headed.

Actions?

You are currently at the second village (square) past the pavilion on this map.
viewtopic.php?f=446&t=6346#p366477

Luther R3 26/26
Lightfinger T4 19/19
Talaris C1 9/9 3/3 first
Monocar F3 30/31
Chauncey MU3 16/16 CL, DM, RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Lerrick C1 8/8 3/3 first
Alordan R3 18/18

[Urson]

Luther

Sounds like a construction crew up ahead- and this is where they bunk. Alordan- do you want to scout these guys, or shall I? Whoever goes, Lightfinger goes too.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan 'hmms'. "You can go - seems like you have more info on the lay of the land that would be more productive. Definitely bring the big stick. We should be cautious - it's early enough in the day that folks are probably more alert then the evening. What will be the signal if you need us to come forward - other than hearing them scream alarm?"

[tkrexx]

Lightfinger bows deeply, fashionably.

Whoever goes, Lightfinger goes too.

But of course! The Hobbit agrees, and adds, I still have the clicker. If we use it for a signal, those ahead may think the sound as that of a friendly. Won't they be surprised!

[Bluehorse]

Monocar

Looks around on high alert. He looks uneasy. I feel like we are standing in the middle of someone's kitchen just waiting on them to come home and find us raiding the cupboards. Maybe we should move to the treeline? The big fighter does indeed search the cook fires and bedrolls for anything of use, even if it is a metal pot that can make a makeshift helmet for a hobbit, or a big pair of boots that might fit him better. He should have checked the ogres for boots... Right about now he would be thankful for even a reasonably straight wooden shaft he can make into a spear.