Angeus helps to tie all that was found in the spider lair to the horses, then checks with Saren once more "You sure you're alright to continue, Saren?"
Kevros helps Angeus with the Travois, "Now I wish we brought the wagon." Kevros laughs. Afterwards, he gathers his things and packs them, then helps anyone else in need. Then mounts his horse, "Ok, I am ready. Everyone else ready to move out?"
"I'm ready"
I have been ready, yes...
Once everyone is ready, Kevros heads out with the party.
"Lead me in the right direction." Walter is ready.
Angeus rides over to Nightwing and the other monks, "Lead on..."
She then settles in beside Nightwing and continues her bantering conversation with him.
Saren is still out. His mount is nowhere to be seen.
Walter as of now you don't know of any religious significance of the statue of the succubus.
The group moves Southerly, continuing to explore and search for a monastery.
The next day is spent searching and little is to be found. An old lightning-struck oak tree stands atop a low hill at this spot—the only tree in a 2-mile radius, in fact. Approached from the north, the tree looks eerily like a claw reaching for the clouds.
The following day is spent looking again, likely to not show up anything as well.
down 20 feet to a 30-foot-diameter cave.
This is a strange looking tree out here in the middle of nowhere all alone. Hmmm
After hearing the roar
I don't know what manner of beast that may have been but everyone be on guard.
Tristan dismounts and readies his shield and a javelin.
Perception
"Look there's a cave at the base of that craggy bit" Angeus says, pointing to the landmark.
Her head swivels at the sound of the roar, frowning...
Knowledge (nature)
"I wonder what that could be?" she asks, hoping someone knows.
Something large, not sure need to see it and well that may be sooner thanlater. I think this tree has some metal in it. Don't know why but that seems to be what brought the lightning.
Tristan will inspect the tree
If nothing is found he will take 20 to check it out unless the beast comes upon us in the next 2 mins :)
Please keep your words and actions separated for the different times.
1. Tree
2. Crag and cave
3. End of day 'Roar'
"That tree is fairly isolated." Quince takes time to note the location on the map.
"That sounds big . . . and fierce."
1. Tree:
I shall try to aid in the search of the tree
2. Craig and Cave:
(+5)for being pointed out?
"Where? I can't see it. Do you think it is worth investigating?"
3. ROAR
"I think setting up a 2 person watch would be good"
S'ala looks around in vain for any sign of the monastery the others had talked about. So far the search had been fruitless, and it looked to stay that way. He like the shape and solitude of the claw-shaped tree, but was not expert on the natural world to know anything more about it.
Kevros rides along with his crossbow out does not notice the crag and/or cave.
Kevros had been living too long around humans has dampened his Elven green-thumb abilities if there were any and takes no interest in the tree or that it is odd.
Kevros nods at Tristan's suggestions, then looks at Angeus, "It sounds like Quince knows" ... Kevros turns around to find Quince, "Quince, do you have something more we can work with besides big and fierce? ... Kevros smiles.
Kevros stays mounted for now to give him some height for viewing and perhaps look more intimidating by being larger and taller? In addition, he does not want to lose his horse if it spooked by the roaring creature and be left behind.
Quince looks toward Kevros some what powerlessly, Its a roar what does he expect me to add. "I am not sure what I can add other than 'loud' given that we cannot see it. Who knows the wild is full of creatures we might not want to meet, bears, owlbears, . . .dragons. Perhaps we should keep our eyes peeled and be ready to run if needs be."
Tree: Taking 20 to examine
Crag: Didn't see it.
Roar: Yeah no way to know for sure until we see it. Just be prepared
Kevros nods at Quince and laughs, "Oh, you came to same conclusion as us. I thought you knew because of your statement. That's OK, even our ranger colleague is having trouble recognizing the roar or he is keeping it to himself."
Angeus joins the others in giving the strange tree a thorough examination
Perception (take 20) = 29
"Look the cave is right there!" Angeus says, leading the others to stand before the opening.
"I'll check it out." she whispers, moving forward at a crouch, examining the ground and rocks for dangers
Perception
Stealth
Angeus stays alert to any signs of the owner of such a terrible roar.
Perception
Quince nods to Angeous as she says she will check it out, "I will keep an eye on your back. We don't want to get isolated from each other like at the spiders."
Just looking around at the tree reveals nothing much. There is no apparent metal in the tree. But some of the earth looks to have been disturbed. The passing of time has made most of it look normal.
"Well ,thats interesting, the ground's beend disturbed. What could that mean?" Angeus muses from atop her horse.
"I wonder if the tree is landmark . . . for something buried. What do you think." Quince dismounts as he speaks and squats down to poke at the dirt.
Kevros shrugs on top of his horse, "I didn't know the tree or the disturbed ground was a focus of concern. However, perhaps whatever created the roar we just heard also disturbed the ground here? There is a part of me that feels we should see what it is so what we know what is going on in these lands and there is a part of me that states to leave it be and focus getting to the monastery."
Disturbed ground is weird. I mean a tree in the open like this would be a good landmark to say pace off in a direction to bury something, but to bury something right beneath it seems obvious. We don't have any digging tools with us do we?
"I don't have any digging tools but I will help excavate to see if anything is in the area"
Angeus reaches back and unties her spade from where it was secured to her horse. Holding it out to Walter, "Have at it, Ser." she says with a brilliant smile.
At the TREE
Walter takes the spade from Angeus. Soon he finds what must have been a hasty deposit. For only a foot down he finds a cloak covered bundle. What do you do?
Strange, must have been left for someone or someone needed to hide something quick.
Tristan will start to unbundle the cloak to see whats inside.
"Hmmm I would imagine it was hastily left or would be deeper."
S'ala waits to see what has been left so hastily as Tristan unwraps the bundle.
Despite her excitement to see what secrets were buried under the tree, Angeus remains on her mount, vigilant in case whomever buried the cache may come back.
Percpetion
Returns the shovel. Anxious to see what is in the bundle.
Kevros also stands guard with Angeus with his crossbow out and remains mounted. Once in a while, he checks the group's progress in the digging process and what the digging may reveal.
Tristan opens the bundle with his hands and feels acid burning through his gloves.
Ah, it burns!!! Tristan drops the bundle shaking his gloves off and looking at his flesh dissolved hands.
Damn it that smarts. Guess there was a trap in there.
Kevros winces then looks at Angeus then Walter, "Angeus is the bundle indeed trapped or is it something else?" ... "Walter, can you please see if Tristan can be helped?" Kevros remains watchful.
The acid continues to burn, per round until some thing is done to remedy the situation or until it ends...
Quince turns his attention to the bundle. He takes a stick and tries to finish unwrapping the bundle.
S'ala takes out his waterskin and tries pouring the water over the acid burns on Tristan, trying to dilute or wash away the burning liquid.
"Ah...no! Kevros,keep watch! " Angeus exclaims, sliding down from her horse.
Running up, she shoo's Quince away from the bundle and pull her tools from within her tunic. Extracting a telescoping rod, she attaches a hook to the end and crouches down to investigate....
Perception
Disable Device
Due to Sala's actions the acid is diluted and there is no more burning. Just the burning sensation just no damage.
Angeus does not see any trap, such as a magical rune on the wrapping that looks to be made out of some cloth like scales. Though she does see a book within, a waterlogged book with a steel clasp on it. There appears to be several different items as well, a dagger, and a stick with a ring on it.
masterwork silver dagger, a wand of burning hands (CL 2nd, 4 charges), a silver ring worth 75 gp, and a spellbook. Unfortunately, rain seeping down into the cache has damaged much of the spellbook, but five of the spells (identify, mage armor, reduce person, silent image, and unseen servant) remain intact.
Thank you S'ala. That helped. So if this was just a bandit stash what the hell was the acid... I wonder if that ring may be Svetlana's. Her wedding ring had been taken.
Tristan you might want the healer to take a look at your hands and put your burns at ease, otherwise you feel like you would not be able to hold a weapon without penalty.
"Tristan let me see those hands. I can help."
Kevros sees a few prairie dogs pop up, but nothing threatening.
The monks have kept out 200 to 500 feet away as you have been searching to watch a greater length of space. They have circled the tree once now and are waiting to move out now.
The clouds are moving in, possible rain tonight.
There is an infrequent warm breeze.
Saren fidgets and sweats on his stretcher still propped up behind, _____________'s horse.