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Orgoth

Orgoth moves along, looking for any sign he recognizes that they are on the right trail. Pointing out anything he sees or remembers to the others as he goes.

Armor Encumbrance is on page 27 of the DMG. Chain is Fairly bulky with a weight of 30 lbs and base move of 9". If you have a decent Str score your Move should be 9".

May 3rd 1066.

Barrow Moor, south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.

10.00am. Visibility on Moor, varied, generally good to 30'ft, veiled to 60'ft, obscured beyond.
Cloudy, light breeze. Forecast light rain.
Effects: none.

Journey to 'Standing Stone camp.

After a brief respite, the party trek onwards, guided by the light of the firebrand torch carried by the hireling clerics. Though neither travels this route often, they are confident of heading in the stated directions. You have found little trace of the previously laid pebbles but do occasionally pass, more by luck than design, a tree scratched with an arrow mark inscribed by Sven. Though nothing feels familiar in this place, except the chameleon of Gerdal. It mimics the scaly skin to its surrounds, olive green with mottled streaks. When you stand still, it is very difficult to make out. Gerdal herself fading from view, a disruptive pattern blend which covers her exposed skin and embellishing the fabric of her cloak.

You come to a clearing in the moor. In front of you and spreading to either side is a large patch of boggy ground. Small thickets of blossoming swamp bushes dot the area like little oasis in a sea of mud. Clumps of Mangrove trees border a little creek on the east which appears to filter the spring meltwater draining from the Moorwash delta a few miles away. To the west (and your right), a flock of wading birds peck among the mud, stabbing at mud eels with long stiletto blade shaped beaks. They look like large cranes or herons, black headed birds about man height with tall skinny legs and white plumage stained grey by the mud.

Across from you, large bees take nectar from the variety of shrubbery, buzzing even to a thick prickly cactus type plant that buds with unripened pears. A type of Moorish Opuntia.

Most startling though are several short humanoids, possible primates, dangling by vine nooses from the boughs of some truncated trees that border the fruit bushes.

what would you like to do? Go east around the muddy creek, go west around the feasting cranes, go straight as planned across the boggy ground, investigate the flora?

Sven notices the advantages of the chameleon and its master blending into their surroundings so well, wondering if that ability could somehow be replicated to cover their entire group in times of need. He points out any marks that he had left behind on their last trip, carrying on with his chalk marks, scored tree bark, and broken branches stuck into the mud to act as signposts to mark their path. "If anyone can think of better ways to mark our path, please speak up. It doesn't hurt for any of us to try to leave a few indicators behind, in case we need to follow them on our return trip."

Looking over their current situation, the mage asks around for opinions.

"I would like to avoid any unnecessary combat out here if we can, so I think we better leave the birds and the bees alone for now. Maybe on the way back we can stop to smell the flowers, but our current mission leads us elsewhere."

Live cricket in hand, Sven chances moving a little closer to the hanging humanoids, keeping a safe distance while hoping to get a better idea of what they might be.

"We didn't see this area the last time we were out here, so I think we better try skirting the creek to the east and veer back towards our original path around this mud as soon as we can. What do the rest of you think?"

Gerdal seems to be examining what looks like a rotten, half-eaten pear. It's hard to see becuase as she is focusing on studying it, it blends with the surroundings. After a while the chameleon suddenly appears in sight as it moves to chew off the top of the pear. Seemingly satisfied with its meal, it drops back to Gerdal's shoulder again, making a strange humming noice.

She turns around to face the group only when Sven remarks on studying the flowers later on.

"Very well Sir, the animals are best left undisturbed. Let's follow the creek as per your suggestion."

She drops the pear and instead picks up a small bushel of grass which she smells intensely.

"However, if possible, I would really like to sample the other plants around here later on. This is a rare place indeed."

"If I may ask, Sir. What are we looking for, exactly?"

Steban

Less talkative than usual, Steban agrees to the wiser course of action.

Orgoth

"Yes a good plan." Orgoth stays near Sven as he checks out the humanoids. Then follows around the obstacles.

Isvand shrugs and says this is all new to me, I’ll follow your leads. Should we cut those creatures down?

Gerdal also tries to make out what kind of humanoids that are over there.

Steban

redwarrior wrote: ↑Thu Jul 08, 2021 2:53 am Isvand shrugs and says this is all new to me, I’ll follow your leads. Should we cut those creatures down?

"I'm not sure what put them up there, but my guess is that it is fond of that tree. Perhaps it is close by, or maybe even is the tree itself? Unless that is our end goal, I would say to avoid it," Steban said.

May 3rd 1066.

Barrow Moor, south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.

10.10am. Visibility on Moor, varied, generally good to 30'ft, veiled to 60'ft, obscured beyond.
Cloudy, light breeze. Forecast light rain.
Effects: none.

Journey to 'Standing Stone camp.

We didn't see this area the last time we were out here, so I think we better try skirting the creek to the east and veer back towards our original path around this mud as soon as we can. What do the rest of you think?"

So I will take this as the action of what you decide, choosing to go east around and across the creek instead of west around the feeding giant cranes or straight across to the prickly pear cactus, fruit bushes and primates hanging from vine nooses.

Without getting too close to the humanoids dangling from the tree, some observations are made. The two trees are maybe 8-10 feet tall but look as though they have been lopped short. Each has two thick boughs which sprout a few green leaves at the end of crooked branches. The trunks and boughs are wrapped by long creeper vines and these vines seem to have been twisted into a noose or snare. Four baboon like creatures dangle from the vines, three by the neck, one upside down and snared by the feet. They look very shrivelled, just skin on bones. Flies buzz around the corpses but they are otherwise left to rot.

Deciding not to cross the boggy ground and investigate more closer and perhaps munch on a few tasty berries, the group swerve the bog and circle around to the left, going past the mangrove trees and crossing the creek a bit further east.

cue roll of dice ...

You do so disturbing some large beetles that munch on the rotting roots and grassy rushes which line the creek sides. Their rounded carapaces partially submerged in the mud and looking like useful stepping stones to cross the boggy ground. Despite a chittering of mandibles and waving of sensory antennae in your direction, the beetles and the group maintain a distance to not threaten each others personal space. Bro' Fabian encourages their departure by tossing his rations down the creek for the beetles to sniff out and graze on. After a few moments you can cross the creek, the beetles tolerating your bypass.

Finding your path again you clear the boggy ground and see the higher hillock of bracken and ferns, approaching it from the east. The area is probably 100 metres square so not huge, the Standing Stone camp somewhere in the middle.

From which the smell of a camp fire wafts through the veil of mist.

actions please

Sven quickly makes the hand signal for quiet to the others.

He whispers. "It would appear that someone has already found our old camp sight. Since we don't actually need to camp right now, do you guys want to investigate it? Or should we simply bypass this area and avoid any confrontation?"

"If we walk around to the south, we should be able to continue along the path we took last time to find the mounds. The mounds are our final destination, but I will leave it up to the group if anyone thinks we should pop in and say hello."

If the consensus is to carry on, Sven has Fabian continue on without disturbing the campers.

Orgoth

Whispering, "It would be nice to know if they are other explorers or something else, but I would just as soon avoid confrontation. So, I am for sneaking around south and if we see who it is that is good but otherwise we just keep going."

Steban

"If we go past, and then they come up behind us while we're dealing with something else, it could be fatal," Steban said. "They might be friendly, or they might not. Are we able to approach quietly and find out?"

Glad he asked, Sven nods at the logic, looking to Amos next.

"If we all walk a little closer to their fire, maybe you could sneak in quietly for a better look?"

Turning back to Orgoth again, he continues. "I have a hunch that we might actually know who this is already. They should be friendly with us."

Isvand, hearing "might" and "should" pats his morning star and then flexes his shoulders before sliding an arrow out of his quiver. I am the junior member here and will go with the group he states but things that are behind one can bite one in the behind. I think Steban has the right idea. assuming the party approaches, Isvand will drift a bit to the party's left to try to ensure he'll have a line of sight to shoot past the "bigs." should it come to that.

Steban

If the party decides to approach, Steben made sure his shield was ready and sword was in hand.

Orgoth

To Sven, "Me too."

To everyone, "I am not opposed to checking but I am not the sneaky type."

Gerdal

"If they are civilized enough to set up a fireplace using your old campsite, perhaps they will parley with us if we show good manners? However, it could be wise to let a few of us, including myself and the bowman at least, stay out of sight? Just to have the upper hand, should a confrontation be inevitable?"

After a while she seems to reconsider.

"Then again, if they were truly out to get us, they would let us pass, letting us think we are safe, only to get us when we least expected it? Come to think of it, I consider the wiser move to circumvent. Sir."

To keep things moving, Gerdal will not object if the majority vote is to approach, but she will try to stay a bit back (possibly out of sight) while still having a clear view of the other side.

Sven doesn’t object to a couple members staying back or off to the side, as long as everyone keeps an eye on each other.

After moving a little closer still, he quietly awaits the response of their pious purloiner.

May 3rd 1066.

Barrow Moor, south of Helix. Duchy of Aerik.

10.30am. Visibility on Moor, varied, generally good to 30'ft, veiled to 60'ft, obscured beyond.
Cloudy, light breeze. Forecast light rain.
Effects: none.

Journey to 'Standing Stone camp.

On the outskirts of the camp, a small cleared area of a single large standing stone and three fallen obelisks, the party spread out and inch forward to spy who may have taken up temporary residence at the site.

Amos nods, using his pre-conversion talents to move silently. The mist and thick foilage allows him to creep up within 30'ft and view the figures in the camp.

He sees a handful of tall reptilian humanoids. They have various patchwork armour from scaled skirts and hide gambesons. One has a plumed helm, a red mohawk fashioned crest. Another sports a necklace with a number of scalps dangling from the cords. A couple lean on long spears chatting, oblivious to the scrying. One kicks nonchalantly at the camp detritus, nothing of interest being found in the leftovers.

They cook a gutted raptor on a spit over a fire. They all appear as adult specimens and maybe part of a patrol rather than a random family group.

Amos sneaks back and whispers the above scene to you.

actions please.