Chapter 3.1: Away to the Caves:

[imswayze]

Garbonzo to Stormbrow: "Well, we have some decisions to make, Storm. We have no idea when the others will catch up to us, and it is creepin' up on the end of the day. Maybe we should face the possibility that we will have to camp, and prepare for it. No sense in making it more of a chore by waiting 'til nightfall to set camp. Gotta be inconspicuous if we can though."

[MonkeyWrench]

After filling the group in on what they saw, nothing more than birds in the canyon area, he then lets Stormbrow know that Durgan is still there by the edge, waiting for our next move.

[imswayze]

Trindon decides to creep up to where Durgan is to help him scout from the ravine. Might as well let the two anti-social characters sit together in the dark in silence.

[Pulpatoon]

Linos looks to Stormbrow: "Well? What would you have us do? Make camp for the night on our enemies' back patio, or plunge forward and hope we finish our business quickly?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow scratches his chin for a moment then removes his hand from his chin and extends it out with a finger pointing upward "Ah well let us make camp somewhere out here in the kinder normal woods. I dare not head into the caves at night as I suspect that is when evil is a bit stronger. Go get the other scout back and let us make camp."

[Pulpatoon]

Linos wastes no time. He casts "Purify Food and Water" over his spider leg, and begins scraping the contents out of the carapace into an iron pot. "To those who would strengthen Chaos--we break your bones over our teeth. Those who would water the blooms of Evil--we drown you in our gullet. Those who would burn Creation--we roast you in our gut-ovens. We take in all that is foul and wrong and break it down and digest it and purify it before returning it to the world. Let evil be meat for the Righteous. Let Virtue feast and grow strong."

He sprinkles a few sacred herbs from his pack over the revolting spider-mush, and then looks around the party. "Who would join in this repast?"

[MonkeyWrench]

Boc Maxima sits down with the cleric, "Everything eats everything else, if you're offering I'll take some."

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow "You are a intriguing man Linos, strange but interesting. So does that mean when we dispel the purified evil from our bodies that it is holy waste?" he laughs.

[Pulpatoon]

Linos says to Stormbrow, "You laugh, even as you speak the truth. We It is our gift to filter out that which would defile the word. It is our duty."

Totally unaware of any homophonic puns he might have just made, Linos scoops up some of the glop, and passes the pot to Boc. "Hmm. Not unlike urchin. A little more acidic--brighter on the tongue, as it were."

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow "I'd rather not eat that. I cannot recall if I have that fruit still or not...." he rifles through his backpack not wanting to eat the spider remains. It's in the notes but not in the inventory so not sure what is up with that.

[imswayze]

Garbonzo, still busy on lookout, smells the peculiar odor of stewed spider leg wofting his way. Garbonzo loves the chance to try any new cuisine he can get his mouth on.

He pleads with Linos: "Brother, that smells an awful lot like brain food to me. I'd love to try some of that on for size, if the offer stands. I can keep lookout for hours when my stomach's needs aren't tugging at my attention. Though, I hope we don't draw attention to ourselves with the smell of cooking traveling through the air."

[Pulpatoon]

(Linos hadn't actually cooked the spider mush, just added some herbs and divine blessings. Think of it as spider ceviche.)

Linos passes the pot along, looking uncharacteristically at peace as he licks his fingers clean.

[PyroArrow]

When it is about 8:15 pm, the party begins to discuss about night watch.

I will need to see when you decide to start to sleep & whom is on watch when.

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow "Well I'll take first watch if you all don't mind. After that I think anyone that has a good chance of seeing or hearing noise in the dark better than most of us should take the next watch."

[PyroArrow]

It is about 9:26pm when Stormbrow hears noises in the woods, due west from the campsite!

[GreyWolfVT]

Strombrow "Who goes there?! he half shouts and half asks. Trying to indicate to the others it is time to rise and be ready as something is near.

[PyroArrow]

Stormbrow, hears a response:

A voice just audible enough is heard saying:
I'm Stormbrow Oakenfell. Who else would be so brave as to crash through these woods alone at night?

A loud bird call is then heard.

[GreyWolfVT]

"Oh it's you.... and I'm Strombrow you dunce."

[Pulpatoon]

The expression of spider-induced peace on Linos' face disappears with the arrival of the second party. "The carnival returns," he mutters just a little too loudly. He huffily follows the other Clerics to the circle where they are making their final prayers for the night, refilling their spiritual tanks before sleeping.

================================================

Story Continues in:
Chapter 3.4: Reunited & On The Edge!
If you are a player with the group going to the Caves' Valley,
otherwise just read the chapters in numerical order!