Lachen comes back to the group, unhappy that the badger escaped. To make of for his unsuccessful hunt, he picks up dead wood for tonight's fire
"Mais nous représentons pour lui de meilleures chances de survie que si il était seul, alors il va rester avec nous, pour l'instant. Nous sommes également des chances d'amusements potentiels plus importantes que si il devait rester tout seul."
"Si je voulais me ..rouler dans le foin, pour ainsi dire, alors je pense qu'il serait très heureux de me rendre ce service - ou vous, ou peut-être l'une des autres femmes ici. Mais si cela n'arrive pas...Je ne pense pas qu'il va en perdre le sommeil."
"Merci pour l'avertissement, Lilith - vous êtes une bon amie. Je ferai attention, promis."
Flynn catches up with the group as they settle down for a midday meal of berries and scavenged roots.
Sparse meal again. he says, without judgement, simply observation. This can't go on.
That village I was talking about, it's about 2 days South. But I saw smoke in the forest and I don't know whether it's worth checking out. If we all go we won't get to the village for at least another day. But if I can take a few extra supplies I can make it there and meet you all in the village.
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Lilith nods. Rest here as long as you need then go. If your flight is easy and you do not face a threat at the smoke then perhaps you can catch up to use before we reach the village and report your findings. And take this with you in case things become dire for you. She pushes a potion bottle into Flynn's hands. It is a potion of Invisibility. Only use it if you must as I cannot replace it.
Flynn tips Lenneth a wink and a roguish grin.
I'm always careful.
Melo stands looking over the group thinking on what Flyn reported. "I only give you my thoughts on the matter as I have only just joined your pack i hold no sway. But this smoke, i know bandits have been around these parts while it might be a trap it could also be a camp with all the supplies we might need." He thinks a moment not wanting to step on anyone's toes. "But a sure thing is better than nothing, and you have decided i just wish to state my mind." He finishes and then starts on chewing a piece of bark.
Flynn takes to the sky, and it takes several hours to close the gap between party and the smoke he spotted this morning. He arrives in the area around dusk.
There does not appear to be any sign of other creatures in the immediate vicinity. Checking the area for tracks might be possible if you had some light, but here under the trees it is very dim and neither your own vision or Skyfall's is much use.
The rest of the group trudges onwards through the forest towards the promise of the village's shelter, however as dusk falls there is no choice but to camp out again in the middle of the forest.
The group looks apprehensive about the frozen ground and lack of shelter.
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Survive in the Wilderness
You can keep yourself and others safe and fed in the wild. See Table: Survival DCs by Task for DCs for various tasks that require Survival checks.
Action Varies. A single Survival check may represent activity over the course of hours or a full day.
Retry? For getting along in the wild or for gaining the Fortitude save bonus noted in Table: Survival DCs by Task, you make a Survival check once every 24 hours. The result of that check applies until the next check is made.
Table: Survival DCs by Task Survival DC Task
10 Get along in the wild. Move up to half your overland speed while hunting and foraging (no food or water supplies needed). You can provide food and water for one other person for every 2 points by which your check result exceeds 10.
15 Gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saves against severe weather while moving up to half your overland speed, or gain a +4 bonus if you remain stationary. You may grant the same bonus to one other character for every 1 point by which your Survival check result exceeds 15.
Lachen tries to find a secure spot in the forest,some place providing some natural shelter from the elements, and hopefully some water or food nearby.
He puts down the dead wood he found so far, and speaks to the civilians, with a rude and coarse humor
As you already know, we need to make a fire tonight, to keep us warm. All the valid men with me, we'll need more wood. We're in the forest, so the good news is that won't be hard to find. I want you to keep sight of your companions. We're going 30 feet into the forest, and I want no much than 10 feet between each of you. We'll need a few good and big rocks too, to contain the fire, so keep some of your strenght.If you find something edible, like nuts or berries, bring them to the ladies of the camp. I'm sure they will be happy for your wood and nuts!
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Lachen, let us prepare to have a fire. I think we will need it. But let us lay it and only light it later when we know we are getting too cold. While you and some of the men gather wood I will lead the others in building some debris shelters. They really go up quick and with 5 or 6 people crowded into each and the doors closed off mostly with packs and other gear it can be quite warm without a fire.
Lilith takes a few moments to fine a good spot with the right saplings. Let me show you all how to do this. Valex, use that new sword to cut this tree here, but only cut it about 3/4 the way through then bend it down, yes like that. As he does this she will start clearing some of the branches that are either in the way or not contributing to the lean-to shelter. and as these branches are cut she will place them onto the shelter, even weaving some of them between the others for strength. This can go quite fast with everyone helping. Find branches to add to the walls and then rake up and gather leaves to thrown over it. With a layer of leaves inside to insulate us from the ground this shelter can be quite warm.
She then indicates 3 or 4 other good trees, making notches for where they should be cut and supervises so that all the shelters face inward where the fire ring will be built. She can use her Dancing Lights spell to provide just the right amount of illumination to help with the project.
Melo nods, at Lechen. A fire will be needed... but i only hope for a quiet night. "I'm with you."
Melo moves as told following Lechen and the others, Cyn follows in behind him. He moves around gathering all he can only to move closer to Lechen in an attempt to strike up a conversation. "Lechen I heard you're new to this group to? It's quite lucky you found them."
The warrior seems unhappy at Llith orders, but then the druid speaks, providing a welcome change of topic
The name is Lachen, not Lechen, actually. No offense taken. Yeah, I just meet these folks last night. It seems so far away already... These folks need food, and if we have a fire some cooking can be made, hopefully. Better for the troops morale. So if you can hunt something big with your lion, that would be welcome. I nearly catched a badger earlier but slipped on the ice, and it ran away. It was more for its fur than for its meat, but I failed anyway. Can't succeed all the time, huh? I must leave a few success for someone else. Besides, I'm not that lucky, quite the contrary. But I don't care that much.
He shrugs, and seems nearly happy in the small chat, rousing the able men in action for "wood and nuts collecting"
Well in for a penny.... Flynn thinks, already believing what he is about to do is a bad idea.
He circles Skyfall down toward the steaming mess of a corpse and as she slowly glides around he lights a torch before dropping it down nearby, hoping it will illuminate enough that he can see what might have transpired here.
"I'm truly sorry Lachen, im still getting used to this... form again, it's strange talking to people remembering names. I think it was for the best you all came along i was starting to loose myself." He bows his head. "Most of the big is gone. But nature will provide, it might not be the best tasting but it will do." He smiles at the talk of the tricky badger. "He wouldn't have survived this long if he was easy to catch. It's very kind of you to let some of us help around here and i'm sure you will get a second chance on that badger someday." He continues along collecting all he can.
Can't say I can relate on the form-changing issue... As for bad tasting food, well... You never ate at my mom's. Even the army rations were an improvment, after that.
He seems a little bitter,then adds
as for the badger, its no big deal, I guess. I tried and failed, good luck to it.
Spotting Lenneth as she fumbles with the shelter-building, he excuses himself to the druid
Sorry, got something to say to Lenn before I go wood hunting. But if you don't go hunting, could you and your lion keep guard for the men while they forage in the forest?I guess you would be better than anyone of us to spot any potential threat, and the men will be able to concentrate more on the task at hand, without havin" to check their back fearfully every now and then.
Walking to the black haired woman, he whispers something in her ear, as his index softly caresses the back of her neck
Flynn tries to control his breathing as he circles down near the steaming mess of the corpse.
What is this thing? Surely, it's a dragon. What the Hell could bring down a dragon...?
Easy girl. he whispers next to Skyfall's head, worried that she might be picking up on his nervousness. We've been in worse spots than this. This is what we do, girl.
He has the sudden feeling of being very much alone. It occurs to him that if the dead find the camp and over run them, killing them all or scattering them to the four winds, how would he know? Would he be out here on his own forever, or until the dead finally catch up with him at least? He swallows hard at the thought and leans tighter into Skyfall, taking in her familiar smell.
He smiles, brushes his thighs from any dust-or was it to get Lenneth attention on his body?-and rises, joining the men in their quest for wood so the group can get some fire tonight
The dropped torch sputters and almost goes out when it smacks down on the cold hard ground, but flares back to life casting an orange-tinged glow over a large area. Flynn can see some tracks around the lake, clearly embedded in the mud. Several sets of bootprints can be made out, three medium-size and one small-size. Oddly, Flynn also makes out actual footprints as well. The tracks entered the area from the north, and exited going south. From the appearance of the churned ground, scarred trees and broken arrows scattered about, the beast put up a fair fight before it succumbed to the wounds inflicted on it.
The spirits of the tribe seem to be brighter as you take charge and start giving orders. There is some reluctance at first, but as soon as they can see the first shelter coming together using nothing but the terrain and easily found detritus, grins break out and the enthusiasm doubles. Having such an easily achievable solution to one of the issues facing them appears to have really helped.
There is a mix of grins and eye-rolling at Lachen's humor, but no shortage of volunteers to gather firewood. Things are tense as the group sweeps the woods, but after only half an hour there is easily enough wood to last the night. It also seems at least the immediate area is clear of undead.
Rolling his eyes at Lachen, Valex smiles back at both Ashleigh and Tabitha, who glance at each other with appraising stares, then shrug and carry on with their work preparing the shelters. The returned bard sits and stretches, watching as Melo digs out a firepit with skill, just right to be hot enough for warmth and cooking, but with the glare hidden from sight.
Leaning in and talking softly so as not to startle the others with recollection of such a traumatic event, he asks
So what can you tell me of this underground place under Solace? You've described those blue runes, but was there anything else to indicate what it was? It's function or who built it perhaps?
He smiles and nods at Lachen. "Go speak to Lenneth, me and the men will be fine i'll keep a watch on them. We'll speak again." He continues to watch as Lachen matches off to Lenneth. those two seem to be getting very close. He then turns and gets back to the task at hand.
While keeping an eye on the surrounding area Melo sniffs at the air expecting to pick of a scent but realising the form he's currently in he smiles and smooths Cyn. A nagging feeling hits him, while on his own it was strange not to find at least one undead straggler lost in the woods. But now with a group this size, they should be seeing more at least attracted to the noise. I will have to bring it up to the others.
After awhile he calls the the wool collectors in and moves back to the camp where he begins to construct a fire pit something most of the camp seems excited about. As the wood is stacked Melo clicks his finger a spark then forms in the wood stacks and beings to take light. Smiling he moves back and sits with the others, listen to Lenneth. "This castle you came from had a device that could hide you from undead? I've never heard of anything so powerful."
He then stands and looks around at the others. "I need to speak to you all, it's not right that we haven't encountered any undead. While i'm not complaining it's just strange a group our size should at least attract some small stranglers"
Valex turns to Lilth
It must have been crazy under there with everything you were doing, but did you see anything of the mechanisms or perhaps any hints on who or what built the place?
he opens the question to all of you.
It is well into the night when Flynn finally returns to camp, illuminated as they are by the light of a gibbous moon.
After hours and hours of flight and riding with barely enough food between them both he and Skyfall are exhausted and he is dimly aware of some gasps from the Solaceites as he stumbles into camp, probably looking bedraggled and far too much like the walking dead for comfort
Smoke was a creature, dragon probably. Someone killed it and headed south, maybe toward the village. he mumbles to whoever is still awake, collapsing in a heap of his furs. Be headed out before dawn tomorrow, probably won't be back tomorrow night... Sleep out there somewhere... Need to check village.... See what...... We.....walking....Into.....Zzzzz
He is asleep barely after he finishes speaking.
Melo watches as Flyn flies in hard, catching him and getting him to a bed. "Sleep Flyn we have a lot to talk about tomorrow." Then then makes sure Sky's is settled and fed before she falls to sleep next to Flyn. "It seems we have a strong group also heading south... Let's see if he has more information about it tomorrow. Tonight everyone should get some good rest, i'm going to take Cyn out for a patrol around the camp it's to quiet." Melo then jogs off towards the edge of the camp.
Lachen looks at Lenneth, and finishes removing his armor a little away from the fire, where everyone is huddled. His weapons are on the ground, near his bedroll, close at hand if the need arise.
He sits on his bedroll, and waits for the dark haired woman to come and talk.
No trouble arises during the evening, and things are uneventful. Even Melo's suspicious senses find nothing amiss during his patrol. It is quieter than he can ever remember.
Lilith considers for a moment, then responds to Valex's question about the underground area.
Aside from the magical apparatus, there were paintings on the wall of the main chamber, faded with age but still vivid with imagery. Warriors of light standing against a horde of darkness, beams of light lancing out from crystal towers to obliterate hordes of the dead. There was a motif repeated multiple times, across the shields of the warriors, on the robes of the mages, on the towers themselves... that of a scarab beetle with an eye on its back...
she looks around the camp fire to engage her impromptu audience
In the paintings there were nine towers in total, and there was a small keep in one of them, set on a hill, it looked a lot like Solace would have before it fell to ruin.
There are gasps from those of your group who have yet to turn in, their faces caricatures of shock and awe. Lilith continues
Judging from the landscapes, the towers each seemed to be in different areas of the world, there was an icescape, mountains and even one that looked to be located on an island in the middle of a sea.
The elven wizard pauses for a moment to take a pull from a nearby waterskin.
There was tower surrounded by desert which seemed to be bigger and more impressive than the others, with eight smaller spires each pointing in a different cardinal direction.
she shrugs apologetically
That's all there was time to see I'm afraid, the only other piece of information I can volunteer is about the scarab beetle symbol. I vaguely recall reading something about that symbol being used by a secret society, perhaps in Ustalav? There was not much written about it aside from it being a staunch opponent of the Whispering Way. Perhaps Solace was one of their strongholds or bases of power. One of many it seems if the other paintings are anything to go by
Valex listens carefully to Lillith, amintaining a carefully neutral expression.
When she finishes, he is silent for several minutes, seeming to weigh whether or not to speak for some time.
"There was such a society. A few hudred years ago, in Ustalav, the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye was founded, largely to study and oppose the servants of Tar-Baphon and those that would gain by his hideous methods, the Whispering Way."
More silence follows. Valex is studiously NOT looking at her...
"I was a member of that order. I had not been for long - a couple of years - when the Harvest came. But my position in the University gave me a good look at those that might be seeking forbidden knowledge. :
Another pause. A tear glistens at the corner of his left eye, his face haggard. His voice drops to a hoarse whisper.
"We failed. One task...one! Keep the Tyrant imprisoned. And we failed. And here we are...."
After a few minutes - in which Valex is quite appreciative of Lilith's usual detachment and patience - he speaks again.
"However, it seems that the paintings you observed might be cause for hope. We must examine your memories of such. If we can find a system or device such as was under Solace intact...who knows? Perhaps ther are even means to pierce through the black veil that seals us off from the gods?
There were rumours - my sponsors generally dismissed them as self-serving or self-aggrandizing - that the Order was formed fromteh dregs of some much more ancient organization. Usually they referenced Osiron, but soem claimed it hailed back to Azlant. I must wonder, though, if the discovery of such a location in ruins - obviously far older than the Order - does not indicate some kind of connection to ancient Thassilon?"
With a weariness deep in his bones, Flynn rises as the first rays of weak light climb over the horizon. He eats an unfulfilling breakfast of dry berries and offers some to Skyfall who gives him a look almost of disdain.
Suit yourself girl. We'll find something for you on the way.
He has no parchment to write a note so with the blackened embers of the fire he scratches a compass with a circle around the arrow south. Beside it he draws a rudimentary collection of houses to represent the village.
After Lives had gone he accepted this was his role in the group. He wasn't smart like the others, or a master of nature like Melo. He was a scout, a sky-rider. Nothing more.
He mounts Skyfall once again and girds himself for another grueling day of flight and searching.
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First thing first... I promise to tell you the truth, Lenn. Never been very good at lies anyway. I was hoping you'd come closer to me, maybe even put your ear on my chest to check if my heart beats strangely. Kind of pillow talk... You know, I had time to think about this talk between us, try to find what to say, how to say it. I imagined I could tell you the last girl I hold in my arms was dying, and that I wanted to hold you in my arms to wash away that bad memory... But that would be a lie, so I'll tell you the truth: I'd like to hold you in my arms while we talk, and enjoy it. Your choice.
He smiles quietly
I know that women likes to ask questions. What they don't like sometimes is the men's answers. Let's face it, Lenn, it's not easy for you to be the one asking questions, and with my temper, it's not easy for me to have to answer questions... So "people" don't buy my story of being an ex soldier? You can tell Lilith she's wrong. I have been a soldier, in Cheliax army, Thirteen Legion, for about a year. I hated every day of it, and I still hate Cheliax, for many reasons. People were put in jail because they steal, or fight and kill, and just because you were in the army, you were officially encouraged to kill, steal, rape? You were no longer a criminal, but an hero to your kin? What hypocrisis! Beside, I never raped a girl.I think people should be free to make choices, and to say no..
He tries to calm down, but fails
You say you want to know who I am, "really"? My name is "really" Lachen Amborian.The childless one, killer of men, lover of women, and not your typical Chelaxian. I hate my own country, I hate slavery, I hate the devil-worshipping thing. Never owned a slave myself. I enjoy my own freedom, why would I steal it from someone else and use people like tools or furniture? People in Cheliax took better care of their animals than from their slaves, sometimes. Yeah, I had to keep my hate to myself, to call halflings "slips" in public or in private, like everyone else. I have my bad side, like everyone else. I had my mistakes, my failures, my sins, like everyone else. In Cheliax, I had to bow my head to people more powerful than me, to pay lip services to the devils, like everyone else. I hope Cheliax is no more, I hope to be the last of the Amborian, and I'll do my best to keep it that way. You shouldn't be proud to be from Cheliax, in my own opinion.
Lachen eyes are hard
The rise of undeath freed me from Cheliax, in many ways. I was in a prison, Lenn, as a prisoner and not as a guard, when the undead attacked, cause I tried to ran away from the army. I already had a criminal past, cause when I was younger,if I was good at breaking things and jam mechanical devices, I never was good at subtelty or stealth, and so I get caught. So long story short, I fought the prisons guards, my inmates, the undead to get out. I stole this uniform, grabbed whatever weapons, armor and equipment I could, and I ran away again.
His muscles twitch with anger, then he looks at Lenneth, and finally calms down
Since my jailbreak, I try not only to survive the cadavers, but to live as a free man, to get pleasure and fun while I can. And when I'll finally die, I will know I had spat in undeath's rotting face until I ran out of saliva.That's the man I am, Lenn.
Lachen surprises Lenneth, lifting her long black hair to clear the nape of her neck before kissing it softly.
Then he talks again
I'm quite cynical about people, and it's a good thing I have not much self esteem, or else I would think I'm better than everyone, and be a real pain in the a**-More than right now, of course. I would have feed Lilith to the undead, without remorse, not because that would have saved the life of five persons, but because that would have saved my own life. So you're better than me, on the moral standpoint. Besides, she wouldn't have badmouthed me anymore, and saved me some troubles. I wonder what other things she told you about me... Because I note you didn't contradict me when I said she was the one who didn't trust me
He sniggers and hugs the girl-if she lets him do
What you must keep in mind, Lenn, is that the rules have changed. There is not many good guys, and I'm not one of them. I'm not too much of a bad guy either, but even before the Red Harvest, as you call it, I was a criminal and a soldier in the most oppressive, tyrannical country, so I have done my share of questionable things, and then some. I've done bad things because I was ordered to or because I thought I had no other choices, I've made bad decisions on my own, just like everyone else. I'm not a religious man, so I don't care if other see me as a saint or a sinner. Why should we bother with the past? We don't know yet if there is a future. All we got is NOW. I'm sure there are intellectual or moral people that wouldn't agree with me, that things aren't so simple. I'm a survivalist. As a soldier, I faced death more than once. You got to tell yourself you're not afraid, that all you got to do maybe to kill this guy, and then this bloddthirsty madness will stop. But there is this guy, and then this other guy, and yet another... They all try to kill you before you kill them, and you try to kill them before they kill you, even if maybe you'd be pals around a few beers in a inn, if there was peace. And you put your heart, your reason, your morals aside, because if you stop to fight so you can think for a second, you're dead meat. That's what war do to you. Thats what the army do to you.You learn to fight, and to fight dirty...
He pauses and whispers something in Lenneth's ear
and continues as if nothing happened
I've never been good at relationship, Lenn, or at accepting authority or getting along in a group. I'm too much an individualist. I care only for myself, unlike you. Yeah, you had your moments of doubt. So what? Nothing wrong with that. The world has changed, Lenn. We HAVE to be rougher than before, we HAVE to do things we'd never want to do if life hasn't changed. It's the price we have to pay to be still alive. Some of us, like me, accept it quicker than others, but I'm not sayin" it's a good thing. We are alive, and we have choices to make: that's another thing that separate us from the dead, who have no mind, no purpose, no choices.
He looks at Lenneth
I don't plan to get liked by everyone in your small tribe, Lenn. I tend to rub people the wrong way from time to time, sometimes even on purpose. With me, what you see is what you get, and if you don't like what you see, you get my trident up your arse. If you like what you see.... you can get something else up your arse.
He grins at his crude joke.
Now, to your second question, Lenn, if you're not blushing too much right now at my coarse humor... Who knows, maybe I can make you laugh again? I'd enjoy that.
Bone-tired from the few hours of hurried sleep he has snatched, Flynn climbs aboard Skyfall's back once more and takes to the skies again. After several hours of flight he almost smells the corpse of the lizard-like creature before he spots it. A brief scout around reveals that aside from a few rats already harrying the dead body, there is nothing moving down there. Landing to follow the tracks, the mud around the area makes them initially easy to track, however once they lead in to the forest proper it becomes more difficult.
The tracks weave back and forth, definitely headed towards the same village your group is heading towards
There does not seem to be any deliberate attempt to make tracking difficult despite several 'double backs'. In fact you feel that the group in question simply aren't that good at navigating the woodland terrain. That they are able to head unerringly towards the village and are having to deal with the natural terrain as they find it speaks of magical guidance rather than woodcraft.
Everyone else has turned in, leaving Lachen and Lenneth to take first watch as they continue talking in low voices.
The night passes uneventfully, and the folk in your group seem animated, their spiritis buotyed by a good night's sleep it seems.
Mallis stretches, then brushes some dirt off himself
Well it's not the finest feather bed in an opulent inn, but I'll happily take it over the freezing ground! he grins
Sacha's boy tentatively approaches Lachen, staring keenly at his armor, but not saying a word, just watching the man as he makes ready for the day.
It doesn't matter how tired he is, how deep that ache has settle in his thighs and lower back, he has to do this.
Lives, I wish you were here to help me, brother. he thinks idly again, the now familiar feelings of anger and shame washing over him at the thought of his lost friend.
He swoops down beside the corpse and searches the area, hoping to find anything of use.
Then he decides to follow the tracks and see exactly what there is to see about this village, even if he is out here all night.
Valex sits up late with anyone that will listen, spinning whatever tales he can remember from a classical education, trying to keep spirits up. His occasional glances around catch Lenneth and Lachen, and a bit of a smile steals across his face.
He also makes a point to be friendly - not yet TOO friendly - with Ashleigh and Tabitha, while making sure there is no trouble brewing with or between them.
IN the morning, smiling ruefully at memories of his ineptitude in prior wilderness endeavors, he once again makes an effort to find food along the way.