Quest #35 "Interview with a Dragon"

[Urson]

Daisy
Daisy scratches Sophie behind the ears. Alright, ya'll. this is like that point in the stories where the Bard stops and says 'Everything seemed normal...' All we kin do is stay on our toes. Ah'm ready to go when everyone else is...

[Darklin2]

Whiskey

Continues around the outside of the cleared perimeter and returns to the group.

Is it always this buggy around here. Seems like it would make sleeping around her almost impossible. Are there places to camp further up the trail?

[Paladin]

Cealwyn Blackthorn

His feet as restless as ever, Cealwyn motions down the trail and sets off at the same careful pace (barring any objections from Allissa).

[Urson]

Daisy
Daisy grins a sour grin at Whiskey. Oh, sugar- ya'll don't know the half of it. There's a monk here named Jaxsen- according to his Goddess, this is the bugs' island, and we're just livin' on it.
When the group starts off again, Daisy will send Sophie to scout with the point person. Daisy will stay near the front of the main group.

[Monsieur Rose]

Allissa

She ponders the situation of the abandoned village. "Curious. But we can ask them when we meet. Let's continue."

She chuckles with Daisy. "The bugs vary in intensity. So far I've seen bad, really bad, and blot out the sun. But for camping sites, there was a pavilion up ahead. I think. Maybe we burned it down, I can't remember. Too many spiders. You'd think that with this many creatures, those bugs would be restrained..."

"Keep an eye out, Cealwyn. See if you guys can spot any tracks periodically."

[OGRE MAGE]

We're Off To See The Dragon
Godsday, 26th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Sunny, Hot, Buggy

Leaving the empty village behind them, the group gets back on the trail and continues heading north. Small animal tracks are seen here and there, and occasionally a few bare human footprints are seen as well, but they don't run into another soul for at least one more mile up the trail.

Just as Allissa predicted, the next clearing they find contains a freshly built thatch pavilion in its center. There are still no people around, but this construction appears to have happened very recently. In fact, you can still smell the fresh cut bamboo that make up the support posts of this larger communal building.

Other than the pavilion, here is nothing else constructed in this clearing.

Actions?

Mayor Daisy AC:6 23/23
Sophie AC:4 6/6
Allissa AC:2 19/19 Invisible
Cealwyn AC:3 29/29
Whisky AC:4 12/12
overall map:viewtopic.php?p=345670#p345670

[Monsieur Rose]

Allissa

"This is new. I guess we did burn it down. Very similar, though. Looks like they know what they like." The reclamation agent snoops around, still wary of the lack of natives.

"Don't count on this for protection, except from the rain." Is the new pavilion outfitted with unrollable dividers like before?

"From now on, we must be extra aware. They must have scouts in the trees and traps on the ground. Or maybe not. Maybe something happened to them."

Once the searching is over, she suggests moving along. "Another few hours to the main camp, I think."

[Paladin]

Cealwyn Blackthorn

The ranger's nerves stretch taut at the repeated signs of occupation coupled with the utter lack of inhabitants. Have the Stoneguts already come to enslave the natives? Has some beast from the jungle frightened them off? Or are they simply withdrawing to a more defensible spot?

Cealwyn keeps his eyes upon the trail and the trees, seeking any signs of sentries or tripwires, concealed pits, and other such things before moving ahead. He walks slowly and deliberately.

[Darklin2]

Whiskey

Well it would appear they have moved on again. The wood is fresh cut but no one around. Guess we should move on to see this Dragon.

=========

AC for Whiskey is Studded leather (7) plus Dex -3 so final is (AC 4) for your signature block.

[Urson]

Daisy
Since we have this pavilion available, Ah suggest we take a short lunch break in the shade.

Remembering the concealed cistern under the floor of a similar shelter, Daisy pokes around at the floor.

[OGRE MAGE]

We're Off To See The Dragon
Godsday, 26th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Sunny, Hot, Buggy

The group agrees to a quick lunch break in the pavilion, which to anyone who has been here before, looks to be built exactly as the last one, complete with rolled up matt wall dividers and a cistern under the floor that is filled with cool water fed by a tunnel that leads to the river.

No sticky monster comes calling for them as they picnic out of the sun, and the quick lunch break of rations and fresh fruit goes by uneventfully.

Actions?

Mayor Daisy AC:6 23/23
Sophie AC:4 6/6
Allissa AC:2 19/19 Invisible
Cealwyn AC:3 29/29
Whisky AC:4 12/12
overall map:viewtopic.php?p=345670#p345670

[Urson]

Daisy
Daisy ensures her waterskin is full, then falls in with the others as they head North.
Sophie ranges along the sides of the trail, sniffing for critters.

[Paladin]

Cealwyn Blackthorn

I'll reuse this little bit here, since we stopped for lunch before.

Cealwyn keeps his eyes upon the trail and the trees, seeking any signs of sentries or tripwires, concealed pits, and other such things before moving ahead. He walks slowly and deliberately.

[Darklin2]

Whiskey

Drinks her fill of water from her water skin and refills it from the cistern under the hut. Gathering her gear she falls in behind the others. Stopping every 15 to 20 yards to glance back over her shoulder with long bow in hand ready to fire.

[Monsieur Rose]

Allissa

"Soooo. Maybe it's me and the things I've learned on this island, but this isn't feeling right. Or maybe I should have been invisible weeks earlier, cuts down on distractions."

She packs up and moves to leave. "I have to ask, since the last time I walked this trail with a group it didn't go so well. What is your plan when we do actually meet people?"

[OGRE MAGE]

I will give some time for that rather important discussion.

[Urson]

Daisy
Bless your heart for asking, Allissa. Ah'd suggest you stay quiet until we know who we're talking to, and how they feel about ya'll.
Ah apologize- that probably sounds rude, an' Ah really don't want to be rude. But you don't have the best reputation, an' it would be best not to stir anything up until we know what's what.

[Darklin2]

Whiskey

So who are these people we are looking for? Wait a minute, I thought we were going to see a Dragon. What is the importance of these people anyway?

[Monsieur Rose]

Allissa

"We are going to see a dragon, but as we are also escorting the Mayor, we're going to encounter the natives first." She reassures Whiskey that she will be able to check off something on her bucket list.

"Right you are Mayor. I have no desire to stir up that hornet's nest again. Being sacrificed should be a once in a lifetime event."

[OGRE MAGE]

We're Off To See The Dragon
Godsday, 26th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Sunny, Hot, Buggy

A short discussion is held about what the group will actually do once they encounter the native people. It is agreed that Allissa should probably stay hidden, since her past experiences with them didn’t go very well.

Heading out again, Whiskey and Cealwyn keep their senses trained on their surrounding while Sophie sniffs around at the sides of the trail. After another mile or so passes, a short distance before they are about to reach the next clearing, the ranger starts hearing strange bird-like whistles from the tree tops. Though, when he looks up, he doesn’t spot anything dangerous above.

Actions?

Mayor Daisy AC:6 23/23
Sophie AC:4 6/6
Allissa AC:2 19/19 Invisible
Cealwyn AC:3 29/29
Whisky AC:4 12/12
overall map:viewtopic.php?p=345670#p345670