IC III

[Bouv]

Tratiln will study the trail for a moment and then dismount off of his horse and look around to see if he sees any recent tracks, animal or otherwise. Afterwards, he'll say, I'm not sure if the cart will fit up the trail. We can leave the cart here and take all the horses with us. I hate to leave one this far down on the trail. We would have to make sure we take everything off the cart though

Doing a tracking check. Also I'm pretty sure we still have the cart though I'm unsure what is stored on it, if anything

[thirdkingdom]

I have been unclear about the cart as well. If you guys do have it, taking the trail will prove rather difficult and time consuming if you decided to bring it with you.

[rremedio]

Meagnor the Elf

"Let us find a safe place to hide the cart. People from these lands must be really scared of that tower, since this trail seems to be forgotten for a long time."

[thirdkingdom]

Here's the overgrown path:

[Makofan]

...

[thirdkingdom]

Jake will dismount. "I;ll scout ahead if I can get a companion"

Please check your PMs.

[Makofan]

Jake has second thoughts. He turns to his companions. "You have been great fellows, but I have made more money than I ever could have dreamed of. I wish to retire while I still am alive to enjoy it." He parts from the company at the elven village.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers are soon able to uncover a fairly secluded location where the cart may be hidden, at least for a short while. The mountains are known to be a dangerous locale, full of predators and their ilk, and it would most likely be unwise to leave the mules unattended overnight in such a place.

Main trail:

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny views the winged horses through his spyglass.

"Amazing... They are beautiful creatures indeed. I wonder if they are in some way affiliated with this tower? Have any of you heard of such stories, of wizards employing these creatures as guardians, or for some other purpose?"

Lanny is basically asking those with the Arcane Lore skill if they have any special knowledge of these magical creatures.

When the party finds the overgrown trail, Lanny recommends a cautious approach.

"Let us recall what is known about this tower. The innkeeper in Jessup claims it is cursed..."

Here are the exact words of the innkeeper: "That tower, now, is cursed! Everyone knows that. It's old -- don't know quite how old -- thirty, forty years ago this wizard moved in, claimed it as his own. Didn't bother nobody, least not at first, then folks started disappearing. Slow-like. One at a time, the old and feeble first. My own grandpa was taken. Then one day it stopped. The mage was never seen again; no one disappeared no more. Who knows what happened! We stay away, though, in case that wizard returns."

Lanny assists Tratiln with examining the trail for recent tracks. If none are found, he suggests moving forward on the trail towards the tower.

Tracking (WIS+1=16). Spells Prepared: Magic Missile x 2

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad imagines that the winged horses are wild. Oh, to one day soar the skies upon a mount such as those!

TK, does Bregalad know anything of winged horses? Using Arcane Lore and Nature Lore skill (1) and INT (15).

Retconning a bit, but if there are scribing materials available at Lemarr's place, then Bregalad will purchase some, so that he can scribe Magic Missile into his spell book. I guess that means the spell is not available for him to use yet. Sorry, still somewhat ignorant to the whole spell acquisition piece of the game.

The elf is prepared to continue down the trail, if Tratiln and Lanny deem it clear. Onward to Drudsa's tower!

One other thing. Lanny, Bregalad recalls giving you his two Traladaran arrows. He figures they would be much more useful in your hands.

[thirdkingdom]

The overgrown trail appears to be devoid of tracks. There is much talk of the winged horses; the more knowledgeable claim they are the fabled pegasi. Legends say they are more intelligent than normal horses, and while they cannot be domesticated one can befriend such glorious beasts. There are older, more esoteric legends that speak of a magical bridle, forged by the Immortals, that gives one dominion over the pegasi.

[Luis]

Saul thanks Grey Jake for his friendship and wishes him luck.

He caresses Castanha while the others spy the flying horses.

"I wonder what you would do with some wings. Would you like that, girl? Nah, I agree, you like to ride through the woods too much to be up there."

He notices he's talking out loud in front of his friends, blushes and offers to scout ahead for traps.

"I'll be going in front. Jake isn't here now and somebody has to keep you guys safe."

[frobozz]

@All: I am 99% sure that we had decided to leave the cart and mules in Threshold and stable them there while we were gone. If we had not done so, it would have taken us almost twice as long to make it to the elven village (mule/cart speed is 40' compared to the 70'/80' pony/horse speed that we used to get there.

[thirdkingdom]

@All: I am 99% sure that we had decided to leave the cart and mules in Threshold and stable them there while we were gone. If we had not done so, it would have taken us almost twice as long to make it to the elven village (mule/cart speed is 40' compared to the 70'/80' pony/horse speed that we used to get there.

You are correct.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers make their way along the overgrown path, here and there spotting signs of a once wide and engineered road, likely large enough to allow a cart or wagon to travel with little difficulty. Broken and uplifted paving stones can be seen here and there, poking through the weeds.

The undergrowth begins to thin slowly as the group approaches the mountain, until eventually the path opens up into the open. The mountain looms ahead, with the crumbing tower balancing precariously on the side. A path can be seen working its way up the side of the mountain, employing multiple switchbacks as it swiftly climbs in elevation.

The trail itself appears to be a good fifteen or twenty feet wide all the way up the mountain. An indistinct, dark opening is visible in the side of the mountain just before the tower itself; a cave of some sort?

Can I find out what y'all are doing with the horses? Hobbling them down below, riding them up, leading them up on foot?

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny takes a look at the dark opening through his spyglass, hoping that perhaps he can catch a glimpse of something.

"I think we should hobble the horses here. The path up the mountain looks steep."

Lanny will surrender his claim to Thordin's rowan shield, preferring someone else to have it or for the dwarf to keep it on his back 'just in case'. Instead, Lanny would have purchased a replacement normal shield (to keep on his back) while they were in Jessup.

[Luis]

Saul had been leading Castanha by hand until now but he will take Lanny's suggestion.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Let us check if the cave is safe before we leave the animals."

[Bouv]

Tratiln , who rose his horse till the path got dangerous and started leading the horse on foot agrees. We should inspect the cave before entering. I do not feel good lea unf the horses here without doing so.

Tratiln will do a checking check to see if there are any signs of prints by te cave.

[thirdkingdom]

Lanny peers through the spyglass; the angle is awkward, but he can see the opening is wide and fitted with wooden doors, one of which stands ajar. He cannot see inside the opening.

Drudsa the dabbler

"Let us check if the cave is safe before we leave the animals."

The cave is way up the mountain, at the base of the tower.