I ready my blades but don't strike just yet, waiting for the opportunity to arise where I might strike a telling blow.
"I got him!..."
Then Yruch trips ackwardly and fails to get any sort of decent hold on the man.
Indecision grips Laithe for a moment as he is torn between attending to Jirkin's wounds and helping Keildrithe contain the madman. But hearing Keildrithe's yell and then seeing the severity of the axe wound inflicted, he quickly kneels next to the bleeding illusionist.
"My magic reserves are gone" he mumbles to himself. "I'm going to have to do this the old fashion way". Taking out his knife, he uses it to tear a strip of cloth from his cloak and attempts to tend the wound.
Yruch awkwardly attempts to grab the man, but fails to get a very solid grip. However, perhaps his aid will be enough to help the bard hold the man down.
The madman struggles to break free, but at the moment he is in a very awkward position, and has little room to move.
Yruch awkwardly attempts to grab the man, but fails to get a very solid grip. However, perhaps his aid will be enough to help the bard hold the man down.
The madman struggles to break free, but at the moment he is in a very awkward position, and has little room to move.
Yruch awkwardly attempts to grab the man, but fails to get a very solid grip. However, perhaps his aid will be enough to help the bard hold the man down.
The madman struggles to break free, but at the moment he is in a very awkward position, and has little room to move.
With Yruch's awkward aid, Keildrithe manages to secure a better grip on the mad woodsman's arms while sitting squarely on the middle of his back...
Keildrithe, with Yruch’s assistance, manages to pin the man firmly to the ground. Seemingly having realized – finally – that he is trapped, the man stops struggling, although his body shudders a few more times, and he can be heard muttering or mumbling something under his breath.
Speak Karandic plus Listen check 13+
Keildrithe, with Yruch’s assistance, manages to pin the man firmly to the ground. Seemingly having realized – finally – that he is trapped, the man stops struggling, although his body shudders a few more times, and he can be heard muttering or mumbling something under his breath.
Speak Karandic plus Listen check 13+ ** spoiler omitted **
Without loosening his grip, Keildrithe responds to the man in Karandic, hesitantly:
He does not answer, just continues whimpering.
He does not answer, just continues whimpering.
Finishing tending to Jirkin, Laithe quickly returns his attention to the madman, now pinned by Keildrithe. He listens to some of his muttering and shudders at the image created.
He says "I'm not so sure this is going to work, but we could try feeding him the mushrooms now in the hope they give him some respite from this madness. But it could prove difficult as I'm sure he will resist. Otherwise we can try knocking him out and feeding him when he rises. Jirkin can continue on, but could probably use some rest anyway. What do you think?"
[
He says "I'm not so sure this is going to work, but we could try feeding him the mushrooms now in the hope they give him some respite from this madness. But it could prove difficult as I'm sure he will resist. Otherwise we can try knocking him out and feeding him when he rises. Jirkin can continue on, but could probably use some rest anyway. What do you think?"
[
He says "I'm not so sure this is going to work, but we could try feeding him the mushrooms now in the hope they give him some respite from this madness. But it could prove difficult as I'm sure he will resist. Otherwise we can try knocking him out and feeding him when he rises. Jirkin can continue on, but could probably use some rest anyway. What do you think?"
I ready my blades but don't strike just yet, waiting for the opportunity to arise where I might strike a telling blow.
Alton carefully lines up the hilt of his rapier with the man’s temple, says, “Sorry about this,” and smashes his weapon into the madman’s head. The fellow’s head lolls to the side, and he stops his meagre struggles and whispering – apparently unconscious.
As the man is knocked out, the yellow hound barks loudly, twice, then settles down to the ground, head on it’s paws, whining softly, looking at the unconscious man.
Alton carefully lines up the hilt of his rapier with the man’s temple, says, “Sorry about this,” and smashes his weapon into the madman’s head. The fellow’s head lolls to the side, and he stops his meagre struggles and whispering – apparently unconscious.
As the man is knocked out, the yellow hound barks loudly, twice, then settles down to the ground, head on it’s paws, whining softly, looking at the unconscious man.
Laithe moves over to the yellow dog and, if permitted, gives him a comforting pat "Hopefully we'll be able to help your master overcome his madness. In the meantime, we could use your company?"
Standing he suggests to the group, "I think now would be a good time to set up camp, so that we can rest and await for Jarred, assuming this is indeed he, to awaken".
"I think it would be best if Jirkin and I stayed here with him (pointing to Jarred) while you all scouted the area. Jirkin desperately needs rest and healing, and if I could get a better grip, or some rope (nodding toward the rope line over the log/bridge we crossed), then he will be safely secured."
"I think it would be best if Jirkin and I stayed here with him (pointing to Jarred) while you all scouted the area. Jirkin desperately needs rest and healing, and if I could get a better grip, or some rope (nodding toward the rope line over the log/bridge we crossed), then he will be safely secured."
Laithe nods; "It seems to me that the best place to set up camp would be up near the remains of Jarred's home, back the way we came. The only problem with that is trying to lug this man back across the log" he says, pointing to the unconscious form at their feet.
Laithe assess the log across the stream. It is quite sturdy, and damp from the water rushing by underneath it. He feels that if the oil on it is ignited, the surface of the log will char slightly at worst, particularly if he is on hand to splash water or mud to put out any resultant fire.
He strikes a spark, and the oil on the surface of the log ignites! But the fire is soon spent, and Laithe splashes out the few remaining sparks.
Laithe assess the log across the stream. It is quite sturdy, and damp from the water rushing by underneath it. He feels that if the oil on it is ignited, the surface of the log will char slightly at worst, particularly if he is on hand to splash water or mud to put out any resultant fire.
He strikes a spark, and the oil on the surface of the log ignites! But the fire is soon spent, and Laithe splashes out the few remaining sparks.
As the fire dies down, Laithe turns to the group. "Hopefully that will make the crossing a touch easier. Yruch, do you feel able to carry Jarred across by yourself, over your shoulder? I imagine it would be difficult to balance if he is carried by two people. We will accompany you back up the hill to the house and while you set up camp, we can set off for some scouting while we still have light".
Yruch hoists the unconscious man over his shoulder, and the group heads off, back the way they came, with the yellow dog in tow. Getting back across the log is a minor difficulty, but soon enough, everyone is over, safe and dry, and with Alton’s rope stowed safely back away.
As the band passes through the clearing where the “King of Boars” was first encountered, heading towards the trail that leads back up to the hill and the fire ruined cottage, the dog suddenly bounds ahead, to where another, unexplored trail heads east, and begins barking loudly at the mouth of the eastern trail.
Yruch hoists the unconscious man over his shoulder, and the group heads off, back the way they came, with the yellow dog in tow. Getting back across the log is a minor difficulty, but soon enough, everyone is over, safe and dry, and with Alton’s rope stowed safely back away.
As the band passes through the clearing where the “King of Boars” was first encountered, heading towards the trail that leads back up to the hill and the fire ruined cottage, the dog suddenly bounds ahead, to where another, unexplored trail heads east, and begins barking loudly at the mouth of the eastern trail.
"It looks as though he wants us to follow this trail. Yruch and Jirkin why don't you wait here with Jarred and perhaps collect some firewood and things to set up a camp. The rest of us will scout down this trail. Should you come under any threat, shout "Cooo-eee" as loud as you can. Your voice should carry across the valley and we will come as quickly as possible."
The dog leads you down the muddy trail, which twists and turns its way around clumps of trees and large boulders, but heads generally in an easterly direction. After a few minutes, you catch a glimpse of a clearing down a slight slope in the trail ahead, but before it reaches the clearing, the dog leaves the path, jumping up atop a nearby boulder, and barking at you, as if to indicate to follow, before heading off through the scrub in a direction which appears to skirt around the clearing.
Do you continue to follow?
"It looks as though he wants us to follow this trail. Yruch and Jirkin why don't you wait here with Jarred and perhaps collect some firewood and things to set up a camp. The rest of us will scout down this trail. Should you come under any threat, shout "Cooo-eee" as loud as you can. Your voice should carry across the valley and we will come as quickly as possible."
"I'll go with you, Laithe, but I recommend that we keep our King of Boars tied up with Alton's rope. Who knows how long he will remain unconscious and what he will do when he wakes up, especially if only two people are left behind to keep an eye on him..."
The dog leads you down the muddy trail, which twists and turns its way around clumps of trees and large boulders, but heads generally in an easterly direction. After a few minutes, you catch a glimpse of a clearing down a slight slope in the trail ahead, but before it reaches the clearing, the dog leaves the path, jumping up atop a nearby boulder, and barking at you, as if to indicate to follow, before heading off through the scrub in a direction which appears to skirt around the clearing.
Do you continue to follow?
Keildrithe leaves his pack with Yruch and Jirkin and then follows the dog, but very cautiously. He hears little above the barking of the dog and the crashing of canine and human through the brush, but maintains a firm grip on his sword.
No apparent dangers present themselves, but it is slow going off the trail. Tree roots and small rocks seem placed just to trip you, and thorny bushes and low hanging tree branches grasp at your clothes.
However, after a few more minutes, the hound leads you to a small clearing – and a campsite! The clearing is at a slightly higher elevation than the one you bypassed, and indeed overlooks it – a stone bank, with a large oak tree growing at its upper lip separates the two clearings, and a short, steep rocky path leads back down to the lower clearing.
A canvas tent, big enough to accommodate two people (or more, perhaps, if they are friendly) is set up in the center of the clearing, not far from a small fire pit. There is a small mound of relatively fresh earth heaped on the other side of the fire pit.
The campsite shows some signs of mess and neglect; food scraps and the remains of small animals are scattered here and there, and a small pile of firewood has been scattered messily near the fire pit. There is a faint, unpleasant smell in the air, of human waste and rotten meat, but apart from these details the campsite seems quite functional.
A canvas tent, big enough to accommodate two people (or more, perhaps, if they are friendly) is set up in the center of the clearing, not far from a small fire pit. There is a small mound of relatively fresh earth heaped on the other side of the fire pit.The campsite shows some signs of mess and neglect; food scraps and the remains of small animals are scattered here and there, and a small pile of firewood has been scattered messily near the fire pit. There is a faint, unpleasant smell in the air, of human waste and rotten meat, but apart from these details the campsite seems quite functional.
"Laithe, what do you think? I'm guessing that if Grall led us here, then it must have been Jarred's campsite, after his cabin had burned to the ground. It grants a good view over the clearing we just passed through... perhaps we should tell the others to set up camp here instead? Are there any tracks in the area that would make you reluctant to use this area as a temporary base?"
"Laithe, what do you think? I'm guessing that if Grall led us here, then it must have been Jarred's campsite, after his cabin had burned to the ground. It grants a good view over the clearing we just passed through... perhaps we should tell the others to set up camp here instead? Are there any tracks in the area that would make you reluctant to use this area as a temporary base?"
Laithe nods at Keildrithes words, "This site may also be unknown to whatever it is that Jarred seems to fear, whereas his house seems to be known to them". He then takes a few moments to survey the area surrounding the camp for tracks.
Laithe finds fresh boot prints around the camp, prints that may well have been made by the boots that the unconscious man – surely Jarred Hale – wears. There are no other recent prints that he can find.
"Good boy, Grall. Don't worry, we will do our best to nurse your master back to health. He won't be mad at you for long. Laithe, let's get the others, shall we? Then we can carry on with our reconnaissance. Perhaps Grall will be able to show us other things of interest?"
"Good boy, Grall. Don't worry, we will do our best to nurse your master back to health. He won't be mad at you for long. Laithe, let's get the others, shall we? Then we can carry on with our reconnaissance. Perhaps Grall will be able to show us other things of interest?"
Laithe finishes up his searching and returns to where Keildrithe, Alton and Grall. "This appears to be Jarred's campsite and I see no sign of tracks other than the ones I assume are his". He pasues, listening to Keildrithe speak before continuing, "Yes, I'm hoping you will be able to lead us to the ones responsible for Jarred's madness, Grall? But you are right, let's get the others and bring them here and then we can see what else we can find..."
He starts back the way they came, towards Jarred's burnt out house.
At Laithe’s words, Grall barks sharply once, and licks the druid’s hand.
The explorers return to where Yruch stands watch over Jirkin and the still unconscious Jarred, and everyone helps carry the two back to the campsite by the way that Grall led them before.
It is the work of a quarter hour to put the camp in order – regather the firewood, dig a fresh latrine pit and fill in the old one, clear away the rotten food remains, and soon enough the ‘scouts’ – Laithe, Keildrithe and Alton – are ready to set out. The dog, Grall, has settled himself down beside Jarred and seems disinclined to accompany the others back out of the camp.
Are there any other preparations or anything else you want to do here before heading out?
When you do head out – where are you headed? – straight to the hill and the burnt out cottage?
Jirkin at the campsite laying down on the ground tired, listens and looks for anything strange.
Jirkin, you can hear the sound of birds in the trees, and the quiet noises of small forest animals, as well as the soft gurgle of running water somewhere nearby.
You spot nothing that seems dangerous, but two things that seem a little unusual. One is the mound of freshly turned earth near the firepit – you realize that there seems to be no corresponding hole nearby for the earth to have come from. The other is a rope hanging down from the upper branches of the tall, ancient oak tree at the edge of the clearing.
Are there any other preparations or anything else you want to do here before heading out?
When you do head out – where are you headed? – straight to the hill and the burnt out cottage?
"First things first... Jirkin, my friend, how are you doing?" the bard asks with genuine concern. "That's a nasty gash you took there... we're lucky that you're still with us! Try not to cast any wicked spells on Jarred while we're away, eh?"
Looking thoughtfully at the unconscious woodsman, Keildrithe adds: "Perhaps we should try to feed Jarred some of those mushrooms Alton picked? What dosage would you recommend, Laithe, and what preparation? Should he swallow them whole? Raw, cooked, or in a broth? How many of each kind do you have, Alton? One way or another, for the time being, I think we should keep him bound and gagged, just in case he should wake up screaming. We could lay him inside his tent, or perhaps out in the fresh air, with his back against a tree or some other makeshift fortifications...
"But speaking of tents... Perhaps we should see if Jarred has left anything inside his shelter..."
"I think we should prepare some defensive cover by piling up some deadfall 10' from the fire pit in each direction. That way, we can maintain cover as we watch over the clearing and the "path" we followed to the campsite, while also concealing our campfire from unwelcome eyes. Should intruders come, we will be able to defend ourselves on all sides. We should also try to restore the brush we plowed through to get here, and to conceal whatever tracks we might have left behind.
"As for where we should go on reconnaissance, I'm not sure... Laithe, Alton, what do you think? We shouldn't go too far, as I think it won't be long before the sun starts to set, and I don't want to risk losing our way back... Perhaps we'll no longer have enough time left for that, once we've prepared all our camp defences? Or Yruch, are you comfortable preparing most of that by yourself?"
Keildrithe, inside the tent you find two iron tipped wooden spears lying on the ground, a tangled bed roll and winter blanket, an empty wineskin and some food scraps, but a surprising lack of any personal effects beyond this.
Keildrithe, inside the tent you find two iron tipped wooden spears lying on the ground, a tangled bed roll and winter blanket, an empty wineskin and some food scraps, but a surprising lack of any personal effects beyond this.
Keildrithe reports his findings to the rest of the party, waving the spears before him. "The man lives like a pauper... Hmmm... iron-tipped spears... legends hold that certain creatures can only be harmed by cold iron. Best to hold on to these, 'til he is lucid and able to wield them without risk to ourselves..."
At the thought of legends, Keildrithe remembers something Jarred said while he struggled with Yruch, Alton and the bard. "Before he passed out, Jarred had said that he did not want to be taken to the creepy crawly with legs and eyes, or something to that effect... I wonder..."
Keildrithe frowns as he becomes lost in thought, trying to remember local knowledge or tales that would describe a creature similar to the one Jarred so obviously dreaded...
Are there any other preparations or anything else you want to do here before heading out?
When you do head out – where are you headed? – straight to the hill and the burnt out cottage?
"First things first... Jirkin, my friend, how are you doing?" the bard asks with genuine concern. "That's a nasty gash you took there... we're lucky that you're still with us! Try not to cast any wicked spells on Jarred while we're away, eh?"
Jirkin laughts, "still hurt, i just need to rest alittle and i will be fine and i will need to look over my spells, i ran out.Making sure i have spells that will help this time." Jirkin then looks at the tree, "That is strange there is a rope hanging from that tree, i wonder why it is there?" Jirkin ignores the other strange finding.
Keildrithe, local legends sometimes whisper of creatures briefly glimpsed in the deep woods, unnerving things with too many limbs or too many eyes – but these whispers rarely go into much greater detail than that. There is also rumours of monstrously large spiders lurking in some parts of the forest, these too may fit the description of being “creepy and crawly” with (multiple) eyes and legs.
Jirkin laughts, "still hurt, i just need to rest alittle and i will be fine and i will need to look over my spells, i ran out.Making sure i have spells that will help this time." Jirkin then looks at the tree, "That is strange there is a rope hanging from that tree, i wonder why it is there?" Jirkin ignores the other strange finding.
Brought back from his reverie by the wizard, Keildrithe looks up at the dangling rope. "A snare, perhaps? I don't think it would be wise to tug on it. Or might it be enchanted?"
Jirkin laughts, "still hurt, i just need to rest alittle and i will be fine and i will need to look over my spells, i ran out.Making sure i have spells that will help this time." Jirkin then looks at the tree, "That is strange there is a rope hanging from that tree, i wonder why it is there?" Jirkin ignores the other strange finding.
Jirkin laughts, "still hurt, i just need to rest alittle and i will be fine and i will need to look over my spells, i ran out.Making sure i have spells that will help this time." Jirkin then looks at the tree, "That is strange there is a rope hanging from that tree, i wonder why it is there?" Jirkin ignores the other strange finding.
Jirkin laughts, "still hurt, i just need to rest alittle and i will be fine and i will need to look over my spells, i ran out.Making sure i have spells that will help this time." Jirkin then looks at the tree, "That is strange there is a rope hanging from that tree, i wonder why it is there?" Jirkin ignores the other strange finding.
Laithe looks around the camp again, as if for the first time. Despite thoroughly checking for tracks, he looks a little embarrassed that he didn't think to check out the rest of the camp site before now.
Looking at the sun he judges the time left in the day before responding to Keildrithe. "I long to get back out there, as I'm constantly worrying that Gosia's time is ticking away. However, you are wise in your council; we should prepare the camp for some defence. It may be that we will need a place for a base of operation over the next few days anyway, and here seems a likely spot. Let us prepare, and we shall see if there is any time left once done. I will also do my best to cover our tracks in here. I would also like to get a look to the west at night, and see if there are any lights over towards the black rock formation."
At Jirkin's mention of the rope he looks up and tries to see where it leads or what it is attached to "Our friend the fox mentioned a tree-house..."
Looking up into the tree, Laithe can see no sign of any structure. The rope is tied to a sturdy branch about twenty feet up, and seems to serve as a means of climbing up into the tree, as there are few branches lower down.
"Interesting, would this be Jarred's normal abode, or some secondary home to live in while hunting? Or perhaps the home of this Grall?"
"Perhaps Jarred would perch up in the tree for a better view in all directions... Laithe, that may be the lookout you're looking for... perhaps you can see the black rock formation from up there?... But what of this mound? The home of some sort of mole?"
"Perhaps Jarred would perch up in the tree for a better view in all directions... Laithe, that may be the lookout you're looking for... perhaps you can see the black rock formation from up there?... But what of this mound? The home of some sort of mole?"
"Well, I'm not much of a climber, but perhaps I can try and climb up to take a look". Having said that, he reaches for the rope and gives it a hard tug or two, testing for sturdiness, before attempting to climb up it.
Using the rope, and bracing his feet against the tree trunk, Laithe is able to make his way up into the tree.
The tree is large and tall, with a number of wide sturdy branches which make good platforms for standing or sitting. There is a decent view from here to the north and the east, across this somewhat marshy area, and some grasslands beyond, before the grass meets the cliffs circling the valley. To the south and west the view is obscured by low wooded hills. This blocks the view of the rock formation to the west-south-west of this location.