Xaeken doesn't check his gear, being in possession of so little. It occurs to the small wyrwood that he had not considered things like rope or other such tools, this might be a problem.
The small bush like creature moves towards the area with the bulk of the commotion and attempts to discern if the tracks are clear enough for him to see...
The wyrwood apparently notices little...
Terex finds a hole that has a convenient hollowed out stone next to it, easy to place over the hole to hide it. Inside, he just catches a glimpse of goblin butt as it scuttles around a corner about 10 ft in. The small tunnel he's stuck his head in goes back that 10 ft, and then splits at 90 degree angles, going left and right. The goblin butt went left. The tunnel is small enough that Terex can move without too much issue, but even a goblin would find the first 10 ft slightly claustrophobic. The medium sized people in the party couldn't fit.
Terex looks back to see where the rest of his squad is.
He stands awkwardly on his hind feet and waves at them, hoping some of them will get within telepathy distance--he hates actually speaking aloud.
Xaeken wanders towards the psuedodragon to see what has him all aflutter.
Rokas grumbles about the fact that he lost a flask of acid and repack his rope. Once done he follows Xaeken, since he is also curious as to where Terex went.
Look at the small Wyrwood. "Can you see him? We shouldn't split up out here."
Just beyond there. He gestures to us emphatically. Its not far.
Terex flies off the 35 ft from the fire to the wall where they disappeared to. The small dragon is about half the size of the hole. Xaeken could just squeeze through, while Terex can walk upright.
Hey! They went down in here, on the left! It's too small for most of you, though, Terex announces. It's almost too small for goblins, even. I could fit, but... I'm not sure I should go alone in case they're dangerous.
Worried that the tiny pseudodragon might get cornered and outnumbered down there, Kincaid replied softly "No Terex I think you should let them go, unless they're really dumb I think we've seen the last of them for tonight. We'll mark this spot on the map and move on."
"Should we try to block it temporarily, just to make sure they don't come back tonight. They didn't look like the brightest of the bunch, so... they might come back."
Kincaid shrugs, "Seems a lot of effort, considering they didn't really do that much harm. Honestly I doubt they'll be back, you didn't see their faces when I stood up. They where absolutely terrified."
Yeah, probably not. The little dragon yawned wide. Let's go back to sleep. Except for whoever's on watch.
Agreed. - said the weretiger, shaking his head positively.
Xaeken nods as the designated course of events...he had no interest in scrabbling through small tunnels after goblins at this point but didn't want to seem uncooperative...
Rokas looks at Kincaid. "Effort? I was more thinking of dropping a bomb in there to partially block the tunnel. But if you think they won't be back, might as well go back to finish the night and get ready for another long day of walking." Rokas head back to his sleeping spot, but make sure that everything he as is tied properly and secured.
The rest of the night passes without major incident, and then the group trudges south through the forest primeval.
As they travel, things begin to look up more and more. The dread of not being in the city begins to ease as nothing leaps out and attacks them. The walking through the forest is fairly easy, the canopy overhead keeps the light from reaching the underbrush, and that keeps the forest relatively clear.
After a week, things are becoming almost normal.
On the 8th day after leaving, the group is walking along under the trees, when Terex, who's been scouting around from the air, notices something off to the east. Getting a bit more height, he realizes that he's seeing what looks like a stone tower sticking up out of the trees to the east.
The tower has an odd mottled pattern to it, and it takes Terex a moment to realize that it's mottled because someone has repaired it extensively. Some of the stone looks old, while other bits look new.
By now Terex has gotten used to the feeling of being outside walls. In fact, he's starting to enjoy it, swooping back and forth and teasing his 'slowpoke' squadmates as he weaves back and forth between the trees.
Seeing a tower immediately sobers him, however, and he looks over it as thoroughly as he can from a distance.
He can't make any more detail out without getting closer than he cares to, however, so he dives back down beneath the forest canopy and reports.
There's a tower over to the east, he reports seriously. A tower only a week's travel from Kotelia doesn't seem like good news. It's still a ways away, so I couldn't really see anything else.
Kincaid was througherly enjoying the hiking. Sure he had a few blisters, but the mountain air was agreeing with him and with a start he realized he hadn't had a cigar in several days. The city had been all he'd known since adolescence, like his comrades he was sworn to defend it with his life. It would always loom large in his life, but the simplicity of life on the march suited Kincaid.
His introspection was interrupted by Terex's report. His voice like gravel rattling around in a tin, Kincaid remarked, "Probably some ancient ruin. Good. This seems like a perfect excuse to practice a stealthy approach!"
The weretiger was getting used to the gloom. Large, strong and constantly angry looking, he was actually loyally worried about his friends, but glad most of them were surpassing their fears.
We can definitely try to scout, my friend. - says the Fashtali - Despite my size, I imagine I can use the shadows. Plus, some people have a tendency to disregard animals if I'm caught. - completed, reminding the others he could travel as a common tiger.
Feeling more sure about himself, Rokas starts to enjoy the walk in the forest. It did have its charms. Though he still prefers the life inside the city with worked stone building and protection for the walls. The life outside didn't seem so bad. Only a few silly goblins so far. When Terex reported a tower in the distance, Rokas felt that they should explore it and was happy to hear Kincaid suggest it before he did.
"I'm not really good at hiding. And my favorite weapon isn't what I would call discreet. That being said, there is no harm in practicing some stealthy coordinations tactics"
I'll go! Terex telepathically proclaims. He darts ahead, and then hesitates a moment. Should I wait for anyone else to come too?
Let's move together but keep those of us easily hidden out of sight. Terex can move ahead and we can travel in a rough but open formation?
All right! Terex darts ahead, staying low to the ground and moving from cover to cover.
Rokas follows the group, staying low and avoiding all the dead branches of the ground. He keeps an eye on Terex if he can to guide him to the tower, but the small Pseudodragon soon disappears. With his bow in hands, he continues on, staying near the back of the group.
Moving west, toward the tower, Terex glides from cover to cover, staying within a few feet of the ground, occassionally scooting up a tree to make sure he's still headed to the tower.
Terex scoots right on past two creatures patrolling the forest, missing them entirely. Fortunately for him, they miss him as well. Rokas, on the other hand, 4 feet back, just notices the creatures before ducking behind a bush.
Two canine creatures, both with leather armor and bows move with silence and assurance through the forest.
Terex continues on, oblivious to the two creatures he missed, and reaches a point 200 feet from the tower. There, the forest suddenly ends, and there's nothing but a very open field between him and the tower. A few dozen of the canine creatures are scattered around. Also scattered around are four legged furry animals, all on tethers, chomping on the grass in the area. The open area has short stumps scattered all around. There's no cover at all between Terex and the tower, and there are more creatures, each armed with a bow, on the tower.
Terex freezes as he spots the first of the creatures around the tower, then very carefully looks around, trying to get a count of exactly how many there are. He tries to think if he's seen anything like them before.
After he's done counting, he carefully checks to see if any of his other squadmates have gotten as far as him before stealthily retreating to meet back up with the rest of the group.
This muscular hyena-headed humanoid is a gnoll, an evil race of creatures that typically prefer intelligent beings for food because they scream more. Gnolls usually only speak their own language. They are humanoid creatures. Gnolls are nocturnal carnivores, driven by hunger and little else. They dislike giants and most humanoids, but will sometimes make alliances with such creatures so long as it means a plentiful supply of food.
There are some gnolls in Kotelia. Gnolls in Kotelia prefer archery, and the ones in front of you appear to have the same preference, as most of them are carrying bows and arrows, in addition to other weapons like swords, cudgels, and such.
There are, as near as you can tell, about 20 gnolls. 5 on the top of the tower, and another 15 scattered around the clearing tending to the 50 or so animals.
The gnolls that Terex has a good sight on appear gaunt, as if they are not eating regularly.
Terex sneaks back to where the rest of the group is. Again he doesn't see the gnoll patrol, and both sneaking groups slip past each other.
Terex glides in to land near Kincaid. There's gnolls at the tower! he proclaims. At least twenty, and they have a lot of animals, too. It looks like somebody fixed up that tower recently, too.
He pauses a moment, then adds, The gnolls looked like they're not eating well. They're probably hungry, which means they might be dangerous. But maybe if we can convince them not to attack we might be able to talk. Maybe we could even get them to join Kotelia!
Upon hearing Terex's report, Kincaid grins, "Good work Terex." He's silent for a moment while he considers the implications, "So there's at least twenty hungry gnolls, with livestock. Sounds like they intend to stay, hopefully they're open to diplomacy... Still before we try anything rash, we should report this via that fancy scroll."
Very well. - said the Fashtali - Let's approach as a group, then, and deal with them slowly. Maybe we can argue with the first ones we find, and they might be willing to intercede for us diplomatic thereafter.
Rokas look a bit unsure when Kincaid mention that he wants to try diplomacy first. But then, Rokas isn't really the people person, so what does he know. He stays on his guards just in case this turn for the worst. With the mention of the reporting device, Rokas can't seem to remember how the thing work and remains quiet, trying to get his brain working. Weren't we just suppose to write on a scroll and insert it in? Or was there something more? Why wasn't I paying more attention?
It was settled they would attempt diplomacy first. There was no guarantee this would work, but Kincaid agreed with Terex that it was worth a shot. Kincaid quickly scratched something on a piece of parchment and popped it into the scroll case.
8th Day: Found an old tower at ... . Recently repaired and occupied by at least twenty Gnolls, plus live stock. Gnolls appear malnourished, will attempt to ascertain their intention.
-- Kincaid
Kincaid nods at Abbo, "Yes lets try that. We should stick together in case they don't feel like talking. I suggest we amble towards that tower and stop a little beyond bow range, that ought to get their attention."
If folks agree, Kincaid will start walking.
Well, if we wanted to be more careful, I could hide and talk to them, Terex suggests. With telepathy, they wouldn't even know where I was! Unless they spotted me.
The possibilities afforded by Texex's unique abilities never ceased to amaze Kincaid, "Mmm that's an interesting idea... I wonder if suddenly hearing a voice in their head might prove upsetting to the Gnolls? If not then it seems worth a try."