CHAPTER 7: The Great Mushroom Harvest

[Zhym]

"I...should have acquired some rope," is all that Kurot can unhelpfully offer.

[GreyWolfVT]

Jack "I've still got fifty feet of rope."

[shaidar]

Silvestri goes a little red "Sorry Denslow, Ididn't mean to be rude or anything, I was just unsure of how...um...flexible you are. I think we have 150 foot of rope altogether, so we should be able to make our way down"

[Norjax]

Do you plan to descend down the vertical cliff face or one of the crumbled, sloping areas?

[Mister-Kent]

I think the slope--the cliff would require more rope, but a slope should be fine, right all?

[GreyWolfVT]

Do you plan to descend down the vertical cliff face or one of the crumbled, sloping areas?

I'd be aiming for whichever one looks safer and easier to scale down.

[shaidar]

yeah, the crumbled areas may be more dangerous because of rock slides, so we'd have to choose one carefully

[greyarea]

Let's try that sloped area over there, says Denslow helpfully. I think the crumbled areas may be more dangerous. I'd hate to gnarl my roots by rock slide.

[neurotox]

For a few minutes now, May-Jor has been staring slack-jawed into the middle distance. A muffled "bwooo-EEP" emits from underneath her poncho, and the bear's head jerks suddenly upright. "HAVE ROPE ALSO", she barks at nobody in particular. As her eyes seemingly refocus, she clears her throat. "Sorry. Should, uh... should you require another 50 feet, got some rope at Hagalton. Tied a grappling hook to it and everything. Happy to help." She digs the coil of rope out of her backpack and gestures to give it to... somebody, she isn't exactly sure who started the conversation.

[Mimdalf]

Blixx

"So sorry, I fly, I kinda forget not everyone can, but I have a bit of rope, just 25' or so." Blixx overlooks the cliff edge, he looks thoughtful a moment, then lies prone and takes out his spyglass to view down in the canyon.

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, Day 76

Moving along the edge of the canyon, you find a suitable crumbled area that looks stable enough to descend. You tie enough rope together to make a 175ft line, and then tie it around a rock so Belial and Blixx can hold it secure. Jack, Frekken, Silvestri, May-Jor, Denslow and Kurot safely make their way down the cliff.

MAP:

After the six have made it to the bottom, Belial unties the rope, spreads his wings and glides down to join his comrades. Before Blixx makes his way down, he uses his spyglass to get a good view of the canyon and the nearest grove of mushrooms. He does not spot any animals or movement among the mushrooms or canyon floor.

VIEW:

Actions?

...

[Mister-Kent]

Frekken suggests the party advances to the nearest grove together.

[greyarea]

Denslow says, We have a bit to go down for mushrooms, and I realize that is our goal, but what do you fellas say to exploring some of these caves?

Love the view of the valley with the mushrooms inserted. Very nice.

[GreyWolfVT]

Jack "We might search some of the caves. However we could make some decent profit from the mushrooms."

[shaidar]

Silvestri "We have to pass a couple of caves to get to the mushrooms. We could collect the 'shrooms and then have a quick look in the caves on the way back, to see if they might be worth checking out properly later"

[Norjax]

...

The Gam’A Zone, Day 76

There are two main groves of mushrooms starting at three miles away. The smaller one is to the north and closest to your position. The larger one is to the south. Both groves grow up to the edge of a drop in elevation ending at a dry river bed. You begin the trek towards the fungal forest.

The slope leading down to the thicket is hard-packed and littered with small rocks and pebbles. There are occasional patches of desert scrub brush and heaps of darker dirt mixed with debris. After passing several piles of the dirt, you notice that they are actually desiccated carcasses in various conditions; they range from a few bones to intact dried skin and organs.

Your approach offers a view of the forest showing that it consists of growth clusters separated by the barren sand and rock of the canyon floor. There are paths are between 2 and 20 feet wide that lead in and out of the forest. There appears to be four varieties of the large mushroom ranging from 4 to 12 feet tall, in various shades of red and yellow. A thick mat of soil covers the canyon floor under the toadstool canopy.

You see no movement in this canyon and the only sound is the light wind rolling sand along the canyon floor.

MAP:

Actions?
...

[shaidar]

Silvestri takes in the scene Perhaps we should stick to the wider paths, less chance of surprise by critters. What creature would leave carcasses like that I wonder. Is there a particular type of mushroom we are looking for?

Silvestri will look around for tracks in the dirt. Do the caracases have bite or teeth marks, is there any sign of old webbing?

[GreyWolfVT]

Jack "Well at least they're not alive otherwise we'd be in a battle about now."

[greyarea]

Denslow ignores the dead animals but frets. I know what mushrooms are itchiest, but which ones will bring us the most money in town? He asks.

[Zhym]

"Are mushrooms really that valuable?" asks Kurot, who has no need of food and thus has little understanding of its value.