Chapter 1: Journey through the Jotens

[redwarrior]

Thank ye kindly, I'll try to put 'em to good use!

[gurusql]

In the Jotens - Did they leave or are they coming back?
Late Afternoon Starday, 8th day of Planting, 597
3rd day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 48[+0=48]/63) SH:10
Androgost (AC -6, HP 55/65, Armor 21/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 31/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2 (1), HP 33/48) (Barkskin 5)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 24/50)
Hex (AC 5, HP 14/27)
Raffi (AC 6, HP 16/21)
Boff (AC 5, HP 49/61)
Franny (AC 4, HP 26/26)

So it seems that all of the characters are coming together (with Qleceec talking to Boff), I will assume that everyone has gathered where Garrant had been on the map to try and decide what to do (since that was the center-ish location of the party). It is perhaps 5:10 in the afternoon not dark, but the sun is hinting of disappearing for the night. Within 40' of Siouxsie there is no wind, but beyond that radius it is loud and noisy. The Wall of Fire is over by this point.

All of the dead Shtelke have given birth from 1-3 babies and with some struggle they fly to the south (it is hard with the wind, but not impossible. Siouxsie tries to search bodies of the dead Shtelke but does not find anything of value on them. She again talks of capturing the babies, but she has no more luck capturing them with her hands than she did the last time. If there is any specific plans to interrupt the babies please include those in your next post.

In addition, the Entangle and Hold Person cast by Siouxsie and Franny respectively will also be ending sooon. Raffi has used some rope to tie up the Held one and had talked about killing the Entangled one, but has not had the time yet to do it.

At this point the only horses that the group has control of belong to Boff, Franny and Androgost. Qleceec's two horses are confirmed dead, Hex and Raffi's horse were lead off by the Shtelke. The other horses location (Nah Olos, Siouxsie and Garrant) are unknown at this time. It is assumed that Nah Olos and Siouxsie's horses headed off west and north respectively and Garrant's horse bolted to the west.

There is a lot of ideas out there. Including making camp, heading back to the trail or having Siouxsie transform into a horse or bat and sneak into an as of yet undiscovered location? None of these ideas have included looking at the stone structure(s) seen by Qleceec a pair of times. What is next for these brave adventurers?

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos stands near the group, but watches to the south where the enemy retreated. "Either we proved too strong, or something else scared them off. Anyone see anything?"

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Not sure why the left but there are some stone structures over that way", she points towards them. "We should check them out first, it is where they came from. I saw the group that tried to surround us come from there."

[spanningtree]

Androgost

To the group: Let's regroup at the rocky area where our first encounter was and plan accordingly.

Androgost will see if his steed still lives and if not what is salvageable from the corpse if there is one.

[Storm11]

Hex & Raffi will follow the others on foot, the gnome slowly, Raffi matching his masters pace and keeping his eyes out for any more dangers.

They are happy to gather with the others wherever, so long as it’s defensible.

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos follows alongside, but keeps a wary eye on their surroundings.

[gurusql]

In the Jotens - Back to the trail
Late Afternoon Starday, 8th day of Planting, 597
3rd day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 48/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 55/65, Armor 21/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 31/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 33/48)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 24/50)
Hex (AC 5, HP 14/27)
Raffi (AC 6, HP 16/21)
Boff (AC 5, HP 49/61)
Franny (AC 4, HP 26/26)

The group decides to ignore the stone structure and the horses that have wandered off and take the half-mile walk back to the trail where they first met the Shtelke. The group starts off very slow as the weakened gnome is moving at a 3" pace. There are only three on horse-back now (Androgost, Boff and Franny). Soon the Barkskin spell on Siouxsie and the Super-Heroism potion on Qleceec come to an end.

The winds stay centered at the point of casting so soon after the group escapes the winds affects, they encounter Siouxsie's horse. About this time the gnome gets his walking pace down at the group is able to increase pace to about 6". About 5:45 PM the group makes it back to the trail and location of the hanging topaz gemstones where the Shtelke were first encountered. The air no longer smells of chorine, but just a nice moist air. The sun is disappearing behind the mountains and it will be dusk within an hour to and hour and fifteen.

[shaidar]

Garrant

"That went well. We need to find a defensible position before it gets dark. Those of us without horses are not going to make it to our destination on time, we may need to split or try and recover the horse, although it's probably to late for that. Hex, you look terrible, have some healing... "

CLW for Hex:
CLW: [1d6+2]=3+2=5

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

Has a think. Her Control Winds, a newly acquired gift from years of study and communing with nature, didn't quite manifest in the way she thought. "Must concentrate more, shape and channel". she chides herself, taking opportunity at the original site to set up some cairn of rocks and balance large stones, one on top of the other as a form of stilling her mind.

I am not usually keen in just repeating the same spells and effects but I could cast Hallucinatory Forest again to help shield the group from view. I doubt a dragon would be convinced by the phantasmal disguise but normal creatures should be.

"I wonder if we can locate a bear cave? Any bears about? I could talk to one, smooth it into letting us stay the night if we can find one. Or perhaps talk to other animals that might aid us".

[Storm11]

Garrant

"That went well. We need to find a defensible position before it gets dark. Those of us without horses are not going to make it to our destination on time, we may need to split or try and recover the horse, although it's probably to late for that. Hex, you look terrible, have some healing... "

CLW for Hex:
CLW: [1d6+2]=3+2=5

Hex sighs a little as the magical healing washes through him. Thank you! That strange hybrid creature really smarted, I thought I was done for. He checks on Raffi to make sure he is ok. The halfling nods as he watches over the gnome.
What do you think they want, the dragon and it’s creatures? Are they just big bandits wanting tribute, or is it something deeper. The illusionary forest might be a wise move if we can’t find anything more secure. I shall put out my warding stones as well. We shall see what the night brings upon us.

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I am leaning towards believing the dragon has something to do with the earthquakes. Just not sure how yet."

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "We still don't know why they retreated. Either they aren't as strong as we suspect, or something else is happening."

[redwarrior]

Boff with the dark falling, I like the idea of finding a cave or other structure as soon as possible. We canna afford to be attacked from multiple sides, especially as two of our number don't see so good in the dark, begging yer pardon. Also, it appears that these things like to separate their prey and defeat - maybe eat - it in detail.

Boff will search the terrain, looking for anything that might indicate a likely cave opening. It's really stretching, but he's gonna try. Though that's maybe more of gnome thing.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

I can speak with animals and via animal friendship earn their trust and help. So it might be helpful to locate a bear (ranger skill?) or get close enough to another intelligent creature (deer, hawk, wolf?) to be able to get some area geology info.

[gurusql]

In the Jotens - Back to the trail
Early evening Starday, 8th day of Planting, 597
3rd day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 48/63)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 55/65, Armor 21/26)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 31/53)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 33/48)
Garrant (AC 8, HP 24/50)
Hex (AC 5, HP 19/27)
Raffi (AC 6, HP 16/21)
Boff (AC 5, HP 49/61)
Franny (AC 4, HP 26/26)

Garrant gets some light healing onto Hex.

The group discusses multiple topics like

1. Nah Olos wonders why the creatures retreated ? Are they not as strong as suspected or is something else happening?
2. Qleceec discusses if the dragon have anything to do with the earthquakes?
3. Siouxsie discusses some spell she could use, but doesn't cast any yet.
4. Garrant wonders if some part of the group should be looking for horses?

The main topic the group seems to agree on is finding a defensible position for the evening, but they are talking about doing this while on the main trail with the topaz gems around the group. A bear cave does come up a few times, but neither the druid nor the ranger have any clues that point to one of those nearby. Boff decides he is going to randomly look for a cave on his own - is there a direction you want to head?

[shaidar]

Garrant shakes his head:

"We should discuss this away from the gems in the trees, they could be scrying on us"

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Yes, an excellent idea." She leads the way back the way they just came until no one can see any of the gems anymore.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie discusses some spell she could use, but doesn't cast any yet.

I am asking what creatures are nearby or can be tracked by a ranger so that I might cast a Speak with Animals or Friendship spell.

[gurusql]

Qleceec

"Yes, an excellent idea." She leads the way back the way they just came until no one can see any of the gems anymore.

Do you mean back down the trail (in the direction of town) or do you mean back towards the location of the most recent battle? Or something else?

Siouxsie discusses some spell she could use, but doesn't cast any yet.

I am asking what creatures are nearby or can be tracked by a ranger so that I might cast a Speak with Animals or Friendship spell.

There is no evidence of larger animals in this area (bear, deer, wolf and the like). There is evidence of the insects and smaller birds. It is likely that there would be smaller mammals or burrowing mammals but this would require some time to prove that this is true.