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Newton nods

"Agreed, we don't want to be looking for a spot in the dark. With light I can be sure we haven't chosen to camp on a animal trail or on the route used by monsters"

Assuming no disagreement he will go looking for a good campsite to the west.

Feargus

"Any thoughts of splitting up to cover more ground? With two squads of cavalry and more than enough of us otherwise, we may be able to double our chances."

Newton

"One option in the morning would be to spread out into a wider search pattern and look for any hints of the trail. We could do this on either side of the road.

Gardo

"Let's not split up, don't know if there are other bands of orcs and such around here. Wider search area? I'd say we limit it to the west side of the road since we are going to head west. I think we just point ourselves in what we think is the right direction and head that way. Only to go to one side or the other if we find something interesting."

Sixthmonth, Fifteenthday
Hex 237.188

The adventurers leave the main road and spend an hour or so searching before finding a decent campsite. A small brook runs near a low rise, affording a good view in all directions.
Sixthmonth, Sixteenthday
Hex 237.188

The night passes uneventfully and the adventurers rise to greet the new morning.

Newton

With the dawn light, and advantage of the low rise, Newton casts his eyes to the west hoping to catch a hint of a trail before the group heads off.

shaidar wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 1:05 pm Newton

With the dawn light, and advantage of the low rise, Newton casts his eyes to the west hoping to catch a hint of a trail before the group heads off.

Sixthmonth, Sixteenthday
Hex 237.188
9:00 am

Newton spends the better part of an hour searching for a trail. Alas, he is met with failure, and is unable to find a trail. He is pretty sure, though, that with the map and his woods-sense he should be able to find the location indicated on the map.

Feargus

"Shall we push westward in that case? Maybe when the terrain allows it, we broaden into a wide column to spread out our search a bit."

Newton

"Let us see if Ardath's idea works, if I find a bird that will be of use to us."

Using his wilderness survival and creature knowledge skills he is going to try and locate some birds (or other flying creatures) that have a territorial range that would reach to where we think the treasure is.

If there aren't any birds with that kind of range, what is the maximum range we can expect?

shaidar wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 4:07 pm Newton

"Let us see if Ardath's idea works, if I find a bird that will be of use to us."

Using his wilderness survival and creature knowledge skills he is going to try and locate some birds (or other flying creatures) that have a territorial range that would reach to where we think the treasure is.

If there aren't any birds with that kind of range, what is the maximum range we can expect?

Nothing with a 60 mile range, but probably some with a couple hex range.

Newton assesses the avian opportunities in the area before looking at the others

"These birds are likely to have knowledge of ten or so miles. Do we want to use a spell now or wait until we are closer to our target? I'm confident I can guide us to the general area of the treasure, but the birds may provide useful information on what we might find on the way."

Ardath

"It would also give us practice," Ardath said. "I know little about birds; the more we learn now the more it will pay off later."

Now that I actually take the time to look, Ardath already has a SwA spell for outdoors. He'll work with Newton to figure out the best way to use the various creatures they may find.

Sixthmonth, Sixteenthday
Hex 237.188
9:30 am

Newton casts his gaze around and eventually spots a hawk, sitting regally in a tree not too far away. Surely, if any bird was to have a large range, it would be a hawk.

Newton carefully moves into range of the hawk and casts the spell.

"Good morning friend. I was wondering if you might be willing to answer some questions for me?"

shaidar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 7:48 am Newton carefully moves into range of the hawk and casts the spell.

"Good morning friend. I was wondering if you might be willing to answer some questions for me?"

The hawk looks sidelong down at Newton, somehow managing to convey a smug sense of superiority with but a glaze. "I suppose," it says, "but what's in it for me?"

Newton smiles at the hawk

"If you help us I'll catch you a nice plump rabbit, or similar"

Feargus leans over in his saddle to whisper to Gardo. He keeps his face as straight as possible as he says, "Do you know why Newton is staring into that tree like that?"

Hawk

"Hmm," the hawk says, tilting its head to regard Newton with his other eye, "I suppose that will be satisfactory. What questions have you?"

Newton

"Have you seen other creatures like us, or their nests, in the direction that the sun sleeps?" he gestures to the west, roughly where we plan to travel