Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[silifi]

Is the entire party on shore now? Cyril not left in the water?

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril makes sure he is clear of the water and on dry land.

Torch removed from inventory...

Cyril looks at his dead torch and tosses it in the water. "I have just two remaining torches, but I don't like the thought of not having light here. I will light one now but we really must thing about returning to Xambaala or at least some place with some natural light."

[silifi]

Assuming everyone is out of the water

Sik motions for the party to follow Magda and Akhilleus. "Xenos! Guard the rear with me!" he shouts. He attempts to light a torch, but is unsure if it will take after he was submerged.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Everyone here? And Alive? Good. Let's follow the cliff face until we reach the path to the fortress. The hut is just past that."

[shaidar]

Xenos

Xenos forms a rear guard with Sik.

[OGRE MAGE]

Is the entire party on shore now? Cyril not left in the water?

The shallow water at the shoreline was easy enough to navigate for anyone who was already in the water.

Of course, anyone who wishes to remain in the river is more than welcome to do so.

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

Gets ashore and watches for the others to get there as well. He will fall in at the end of the line as they head up the shoreline.

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Mushroom Hut
No Idea On Time Or Day

Staying away from the edge of the water, the group moves along the cliff face towards the path they took to enter this underground area. They can hear the sound of wood being smashed and torn apart behind them as the beast they escaped crushes the raft they left on the shore, still trying to find something easy to eat.

Without incident, they pass the slippery sloped tunnel that leads back up onto the Warlords Palace basement.

As they approach the Matrons mushroom hut, something odd can be seen near the shoreline. There are three distinct spots upon the gravel shore that appeared to have been burned or charred in some way, the stones there clearly stained with soot. These patches are not round or even symmetrical in any way, but it is obvious that they weren't here when you crossed the river in the Matrons skiff earlier.

Fortunately, no monsters or other danger is present between your current position and the hut you intend to rest in.

Actions?

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Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

The warrior hands two torches to Cyric. "Here, take. I've still have three more."

2 torches deducted and given to Cyric.

When they arrive where the remains of the campfires are, he squats next to the burnt spots, trying to determine if any glowing coals or embers remain. He places his bare hand above them, feeling for warmth. Afterward, he searches the shoreline for any tracks that might have been imprinted. With some luck, they may carry traces of soot.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

He moves to Akhilieus' side. "Interesting. Any traces of wood or ash, or did the stones themselves get burnt?" What size are these spots? Body sized?

Kain motions to the nearby hut. "Perhaps we will find answers in there. Keep your guard up."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus, to Kain, while looking at the black stains on the ground: "Either one would surprise me.

If there are wood remnants, I wonder who would bother bringing it all the way here, and from where. And if the rocks themselves were burnt... well, that's something more unsettling."

[silifi]

Sik sniffs about the area and examines the burnt patches, looking for tracks and trying to sense if any sorcery is afoot.

4:12 sense sorcery, 3:12 tracking in a dungeon

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril accepts the torches and adds them to his remaining torch.

"Not the first time I've been called Cyric...I truly don't understand why that keeps happening."

+2 torches

"Akhileus - you appear to require the most healing. Once we are settled for a rest, I will heal you if you so desire."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus snorts. "Sorry. I meant Cyril, of course.

About the healing, it's fine by me if it's fine by Xenos. He needs too."

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Mushroom Hut
No Idea On Time Or Day

Looking over the teardrop shaped burnt patches on the flat gravel near the shoreline reveals no new clues. There are no tracks leading to and fro, and the patches retain no fuel source other than a nasty chemical stench left behind on the stones. No longer warm to the touch, Kain guesses the shapes to be around human size. No other evidence to why they are here is discovered, and Sik is convinced that these were not created by the evils of vile sorcery.

Actions?

Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 9/17 CT
Akhilleus (F4) FA:4 AC4 14/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP

[shaidar]

Xenos

Akhilleus snorts. "Sorry. I meant Cyril, of course.

About the healing, it's fine by me if it's fine by Xenos. He needs too."

"That's fine, as long as I get some in the morning."

[silifi]

Sik continues sniffing around the burnt stones. He looks up towards the cave where they came down from the stronghold what feels like days ago.

"We should scout upstairs and see if there is any activity before we settle down for a rest. That seems like the most likely location for an ambush."

Does the chemical smell remind Sik of the oil that the dwarfs used on us before?

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Yes... Let’s continue." The warrior draws his sword again, just in case.

[The_Wanderer]

Xenos

"That's fine, as long as I get some in the morning."

Cyril smiles warmly at Xenos. "Of course. I will ask Azathoth for an extra dose just for you." He follows along, taking up his position near the end of the marching order.

[shaidar]

Xenos shivers.