Quest #27 "Detecting Snares and Pits"

[SirOwen]

And I'll answer a question OM asked a while back. Dexter is NOT carrying the goop. He said out loud that he was afraid that it might be alive and dangerous. If another character wants it, they can have it. But I didn't see anyone answer the question and deciding to leave it behind is fine, but I didn't just want to see it get ruled "Oops, left behind." Any takers?

[Paladin]

Once we're out of the fumes, will Narramore regain function well enough to walk again or be out for a while yet?

[Darklin2]

Max

Max agrees to watch the two sickly individuals and carry the goop. OOC- If I have to go back and get it I will wait until after we rest and eat.

[OGRE MAGE]

Once we're out of the fumes, will Narramore regain function well enough to walk again or be out for a while yet?

Everyone still feels somewhat sickly, but the fumes were the cause of the worst of his ailments, so he is able to move around again once they are out of the cloud.

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

Being incapacitated has put the paladin in a foul humor. He curses his own weakness and drinks in the relatively fresh air, feeling a measure of his strength seep back into his bones and sinews.

Narramore sends a nod of thanks to his comrades, then pushes himself upright and snarls like a wounded beast. "Glad to be shed of that place," he mutters. "Mayhap no more dangers will lurk upon our trail home." He gives himself a moment to regain his vigor while the others either make camp or ready themselves to push on, as the case may be.

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz gags and hacks and gags some more, before finally being able to breathe clearly. And then...the Gnome breaks out in a fit of the giggles. And then he doubles over...with wheezing laughter. A few seconds pass of him snorting and laughing and then he wipes the tears from his eyes and manages, "My hacking reminded me of the time my pussy cat, Nob...which by the way was named such because he had no tail; it got cut off by...well, that's another story entirely. Oh...where was I? Oh yes! My cat, Nob, hacked up a hairball about the size of my baby sister, Lilypad, while also firing a stream of shit out his other end, all over the wall! My Ma screamed and ran around the house hollering and looking for something to 'kill that infernal feline and send its soul straight to Heck!' Oh, what a hoot!"

After Dexter poses his plan, Fitz takes another gulp or two from his waterskin and is ready to go.

[OGRE MAGE]

This Place Stinks!
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Late Afternoon, Hot, Humid, Smokey, Bug Free

With the jar of grey goop in the care of Max, the group eventually makes their way back to the area where they left the jungle and entered the wasteland of stinking pits. By the time they get there, Narramore's rope and helm are completely ruined from the residual still eating away at them.

Dexter suggests setting up camp here at the edge of the rocky area, so they will be mostly free from the insect onslaught throughout the night. They move away from the trail a short distance and find a roughly flat area to make camp in the rocky terrain. Washing their mouths out and drinking to slake their intense thirst, it doesn't take long to realize that their combined water supply is already running dangerously low.

I wasnt 100% sure from the description if this is actually what you intended to do, so please advise if I mentioned something incorrectly.

Actions?

Sir William Narramore 9/12 LOH
Cornelius Fitzenbell 5/8 1/1 RM, DI
Drakkar Deepcrag 4/11
Dexter Broadleaf 12/15
Maximus Fleetfoot 5/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

The knight keeps a wary eye open as he rests his bones for a moment, cooling off after the searing heat and taking stock of their water supply with a grim look.

"If we push as hard as we're able in our current state, we might regain the relative safety of Beachtown by sunset," he muses once the group is back together. "A few moments of much-needed rest has made me feel better. What say you lot? Shall we press on soon?"

[Darklin2]

Max

I would rather be in Beachtown or at least on the Beach heading that way instead of stuck here with all these insects buzzing around. I am sure it will get worse when the sun goes down. We are going to need water soon too. We should head back for sure, it will be dark when we get there but at least water is available there.

[OGRE MAGE]

Already drinking borrowed water, Drakkar agrees with heading back to town post haste.

[hedgeknight]

Fitz shrugs his little shoulders and with a disappointed sigh, agrees it is probably best to head back; maybe start out fresh on the morrow...

[OGRE MAGE]

Night Questing In The Jungle
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Early Evening, Hot, Humid, Very Buggy

After a short discussion, (and not just because it involves gnomes, dwarves, and halflings) the group decides to return to town yet today, even knowing they wont make it back until long after sunset. They secure their gear and start heading east again, down the trail they took to get here.

A couple hours of forced marching brings them nearly back to the area where they fought the huge snake earlier. Dexter and Fitz stop dead in their tracks when they hear an abundance of rustling in the bush ahead. Whatever it is, it would appear that someone, or something, has found the remains of their earlier kill. The days shadows grow long, leaving less than one full hour of light left to travel by.

Actions?

Sir William Narramore 9/12 LOH
Cornelius Fitzenbell 5/8 1/1 RM, DI
Drakkar Deepcrag 4/11
Dexter Broadleaf 12/15
Maximus Fleetfoot 5/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz freezes in place and reaches out for Dexter to do likewise.
His eyes are big as he listens to the sounds of something...."something bigger than that snake!" he hisses right in the Halfling's ear.
"We need to warn the others, don't you think?" he asks, turning around and waving frantically at the rest of their group.

[SirOwen]

Dexter Broadleaf

Dexter nods at Fitz' words. He whispers in return, "You fall back and give them a head's up. I'll stay here and make sure we know if it moves. See you in a few."

Dexter drops into a crouch to minimize his already diminutive size. He keeps his ears alert for any change in the sounds coming from and tries to define what he is hearing, listening for the sounds of an animal tearing flesh, or the sawing sounds of someone cutting the meat into manageable pieces. If the sounds change position, he is careful to be ready to fall back if they are approaching him.

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

The large man freezes upon sight of the frantic waving from Fitz, crouching to obscure his tall frame and await tidings from the scouts.

[Darklin2]

Max

Moves to the side of the trail and readies shield and mace.

[OGRE MAGE]

Night Questing In The Jungle
Sunday, 21st of Goodmonth
Early Evening, Hot, Humid, Very Buggy

Dexter waits and listens while Fitz slips back to warn the others.

The halfling hears what sounds like bugs, big ones, sawing and nibbling away at the free meal left behind, their many mandibles clicking and snapping loudly, even from a safe distance away. He isn't close enough to see the diners, but he figures there has to be at least three or four creatures making the disturbing noises.

Actions?

Sir William Narramore 9/12 LOH
Cornelius Fitzenbell 5/8 1/1 RM, DI
Drakkar Deepcrag 4/11
Dexter Broadleaf 12/15
Maximus Fleetfoot 5/8 (C) 0/2 (MU) 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[hedgeknight]

Fitzenbell

Fitz hustles back to his companions, leaving Dexter to keep watch. His eyes are still as big as saucers and he tries to control himself as he speaks.
"The snake! It's being eaten by...by something even bigger than it is!" his voice comes out as if he were being squeezed by a deadly...
"Snake! You know, the one we killed earlier today? Yes, that one > something is eating it. Dexter is keeping watch. Just wanted to warn you.
"What do you think we should do?"

[Paladin]

Sir William Narramore

Scowling, Narramore shakes his head. "We haven't time to lose. We can't afford to spend the night out here, but I have no desire to be eaten by giant beetles or whatever else is gnawing on that corpse."

He growls under his breath and spares a glance for the other members of the group. "Any suggestions?" He then turns back to Fitz. "A better idea what we're up against and how many of them will go a long way toward deciding our way forward, my friend. Can you do that without getting yourself eaten?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Drakkar grumbles about the delay in their return.

"If the things are busy eatin, maybe we just slip past em, all quiet like?"