Quest #28 "Kegenstien's Expedition Over the River"

[OGRE MAGE]

Does anyone want to discuss the fewer tracks coming out than going in?

And the fresh-ish blood and guts smeared around the bars in the grate?

I aint writin all this up for my health here folks!

[Jernau35]

Well, The Knife stated his opinion:

The Knife

The Knife looks at the bloody mess on and around the grate. "Soooooo.... We followed the footprints in. Haven't seen any sign of who made them. Until that." He points at the grate. "Unless they went into the sea or out through the roof. Which I doubt".

Although I recall I think I meant to write "he points at the bloody mess around the grate". Guess I edited it too much.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

He shakes his head a little. There were more coming in than going out... Means something might have used these holes to leave, or they turned into fishfood for whatever that was back there... Or... someone put the bait out there hoping someone like us would come through... but who could that be? And what about those folks we met coming back to town? They all but put a sign on this cave for us saying Go here. And the way the one guy was so sketchy... Dammit I think they know something.

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel kneels next to Darklin. "Easy, Darklin. That thing surely gave you a beating." She produces a waterskin from her backpack and starts cleaning the spellsword's wounds. Then she starts muttering an incantation, while doing some weird rythmic movements with ther hands.

Cure Light Wounds: [1d8] = 8

"There you go. Elenestra surely smiles us elves." She smiles and whispers an appreciation to her goddess.

She then stands up. "On the subject of what we found here... Maybe there are less footprints coming out of the cave because one of the things thatcame in here was killed and eaten by the tentacled thing in the great... What I wonder is how someone coul've ransacked the place with that beast living there under the grate. I wonder if there's anything down there, if the creature has anything to do with what was attacking the water-beares at the beach and if this monster was here before those adventurers we meet came here... We should've talked to their nervous mage. He surely didn't like what his leader was telling us."

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Much better Elnaerel. Thank you. When we return to Beachtown we should make a shrine to Elenestra. There are plenty of areas we could build close to town and we could use all the help we can get from the Gods.

Darklin gets up and adjusts his pack. Checks his bow and sword.

I am ready to get out of here. We can use this place for a shelter just have to stay up front. Don't pass the pedestal room.
I am definitely having a talk with that Mage when we return. Leading us into a trap. Turn his ass into a toad and punt him into the ocean.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dark Cave
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Keg tells the group to get out as Darklin slumps against one rocky wall. Elnaerel prays over the elf, touching his wounds and healing them completely. Keyon draws his sword after a bit more flirtation and begins making his way back to the cave entrance. The Knife points out that the grate in the last room was covered in bloody goo, thinking that whoever it was that came in here, didn't have the best experience either.

As they regroup and move out, plenty of theories are provided. But, whichever one is accurate, this place is obviously no longer inhabited by anything that lives above the surface of the water. The other group of explorers are mentioned again as well, as is the monster from the beach. Though it was clear to anyone who saw them both that, unless the creature is able to change its shape and color, they were definitely not the same monster.

The party is soon back outside the damp cave again, looking around for dangers in the bright light of the midday sunshine. Sadly, the bugs havent forgotten where they were and are soon swarming around the group again.

Actions?

Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Bluehorse]

Keg

grumbles at the bright southern sunshine and the bugs. I'll tell you who the real hero of this whole island would be... someone that figured out how to wipe out most of these bugs. Damn them all...

Looking around. We have plenty more time before sundown. If we had to... and I mean had to... We might be able to use the inside of the cave for shelter still but we would have to keep close enough to the mouth of it to keep away from that blasted monster and pinching crabs but far enough in that these bugs would not bother us... Maybe a good fire would do most of that work either way. For now we have to worry about the ogres. I'd like to get a bead on them to know where they are in any case, it seems we are heading north if no one has objections. I think we should put the cliff on our right as a guidepost, that way we know anything we come across will be from ahead or to our left. Plus we will get a look at what no one has had a look at yet since most have been up and down the river. Thoughts?

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife looks at Keg. "North along the cliffs? That sounds like a good plan." says the gnome. "Like you said, it would LOOK I CAN'T TALK IF YOU KEEP TALKING OVER ME! Yes, alright, I was getting to that. What was her name again? Gretchen? Right. Thank you."

"Anyway, as I was saying before I was INTERRUPTED...we mustn't forget about the ogres. Gretchen said they were camped about two miles north of the sea, along the river. Should we check on them, so we know where they are? Might be better than just running into them in the middle of nowhere".

[Paladin]

Keyon

The rogue sweeps a questing gaze over the treeline and surrounding terrain. "I hesitate to trust anything they said," he admits. "They were clearly withholding information or lying outright." He shrugs. "But most of us do, at some point or other. It seems a good practice to trust nothing you hear and half of what you see. Either way, I like your plan. Ready when you are."

[Karaunios]

Elnaerel looks at TK dumbfounded, wondering why is it that he's the only who can hear his knife talking... She decides not to give it more thought and looks at Keg. "It's a good call, yes. I'll follow." To Keyon. "Keyon, you're right, we shouldn't give our trust to others right away, but we just met two days ago, although some of us have already gone through some experiences... We have to trust in trust... If that make sense. How are we to survive if we can't turn our back on anyone on this island?"

[Jernau35]

The Knife

The Knife falls silent for a moment. Then he starts mumbling, apparently to himself. "Hmm...yeah...yeah...you know, that might be a good idea. Let me take a look". He walks a bit further out along the sand, turns, tilts his head back and looks up the cliff face.

"What about going up?" he calls back to the others. "Could we go up the cliff and see what's on top? I bet we'd get a good view from up there".

[Bluehorse]

The norseman looks up at the cliff and swallows a little. Still he examines it one side to the other and up and down looking for any signs of being scalable.

[Paladin]

Keyon

The wiry rogue turns his gaze upward to assess the difficulty of the climb.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Dark Cave
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Sunny, Hot, Humid, Buggy

Once outside again, the group shade their eyes and swat away at the bugs while they discuss their next possible options for further exploration.

Looking up at the rough black cliff face the cave is carved into, the thieves in the party believe it would be easy enough to climb for a better view of the immediate area.

Actions?

Keyon 6/6
Keg Woodwright 10/13
Elnaerel 10/10 2/3
The Knife* 5/5
Feanol 4/4 1/1 CL, DM, RM
Darklin Sylvanas 8/8 1/1 CL, DM, RM

[Darklin2]

Darklin

Someone should go up and see if there is anything that can be salvaged from all the debris that was seen around the holes in the ceiling. it would also give you a better view of the Ogres if they are about. It may even be easier going if we all climbed up and followed the cliff top. All the vegetation down here makes it harder to see and get around, we may even make better time and would have the high ground should the Ogres spot us.

[Bluehorse]

Keg

Mulls that over and give a shrug. Damn... when your right your right... What does everyone else think?

[Paladin]

Keyon

He sends the Knife a questioning look, then nods toward the cliff. "Shall the two--three of us, rather--climb up and have a look?" If no one objects to the idea, he entrusts his pack to Elnaerel (if she's willing) and approaches the cliff, grabbing the best available handhold and heading up. He keeps a close eye out for biting insects or snakes hidden in the crevices and on the protrusions where he places his hands and feet.

[Ahlmzhad]

Feanol

"That's an excellent idea Knife. Keyon, be careful a fall here would not be terribly forgiving." Then moving over to get a better vantage point, and studying the climb. "One thing if there is room up there, exposed away from the tress with a wind you would at least have fewer insects".

[Darklin2]

Darklin

I will watch the tree line and make sure nothing surprises us while you are climbing.

He takes up his bow and movs to watch the trail and treeline.

[Jernau35]

The Knife

"Does anyone have any rope and spikes?" asks The Knife. "Mine are at the bottom of the sea. Well, except for this." He nods at the 10' length on the side of his pack.

"What? Of course you're coming too. This was your idea. You're not getting out of it. I don't care if you're scared of heights. You should have thought of that before you opened your big mouth."