Tukonen looks Jack square in the eyes and replies in a flat voice, "It seems we have the same Uncle, imagine the chances"
"Cousin! Did you screwed out of your inheritance, too?"
Amelia will look at Kimeon and mouth "Honored"
Amelia will say to Gronck: "I prepared one magic for you, so you don't feel the wet."
Taking 20 on spot as we move, while riding very carefully. Spot total 23.
Amelia
the sheer harshness of the realm before you
overwhelms your senses and instinct, as if you
had suddenly entered another world: A world
of dismal landscapes and rocky wasteland, of
calling winds and unnatural gloom. This country
has an ancient, hostile feel to it; you cannot help
but feeling like an intruder in a realm of such
silent, pristine desolation. For a moment it feels
like the land itself is trying to make you feel
unwelcome.
"Dreary place, don't think I'd take my vaction around these parts"
To Tukonen:
"It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but I like it. I'm sure there are many places to explore, to plumb the secrets of the land. Danger brings rewards I want."
To all:
"In a world of dismal landscapes and rocky wasteland, of
calling winds and unnatural gloom, I can only imagine what there is to uncover. It feels like the land itself is trying to make you feel
unwelcome, I say let it come. I estimate the journey taking aproximately 3 - 4 days. I will be looking for any opportunity to present itself."
"3 days? Of riding these?!?" Jack groans, hunches over his horse and pulls out a small flask.
Kimeon shrugs at the priest and murmers,"People have different ways of being ready."
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"It be good dat ye be givin me yer magic", replies Gronck to Amelia as they continue on their journey, "do we be gettin t eat dese horses wen we be gettin t de mountain?"
He too will look around as they travel using his survival instinct to ensure that they avoid any of the obvious hazards.
"Dis be lookin like were me tribe be livin... me be likin it ere." he says to Amelia after they've been on the road for an hour or so.
To Gronck:
"It is not a problem, helping others while pursuing ones goals go hand in hand. Don't eat the horses, for now, we may need them to come back."
To Kimeon:
"Did you discover what it is that you seek in life, a purpose? If not, I am willing to assist you with that if you wish."
Amelia will attempt to read the Mount Moru guidebook while riding carefully (take 10), effectively cutting her awareness down. She will look up every couple minutes to be sure she is with the group.
Time passes on the journey. A constant drizzle seems to follow your route.Ahead and growing closer by the hour sits the imposing dark ediffice of Mount Moru. Your solitude in this empty land is telling; so much in fact, that, on the second day of your travels you all spot a lone wolf quietly padding towards you, walking at the side of the road. As you approach, it raises its head, it's ears sticking up. Looking you all over, it continues it's walk apparently unconcerned by your approach.
If Gronck wishes it, I will cast Endure Elements on him to remove the feeling of wetness(it doesn't say in the spell specifically, just flavor textual).
While traveling, Amelia will try her best to keep the Mount Moru guidebook free of water or anything else that would damage it.
As to the lone wolf, Amelia will eye it warily at first. As it continues walking with them, when camp is made, Amelia will try to coax it close with a small offering of food and pet the creature. Amelia is prepared for the creature to react naturally and as such will move her hands and anything else away at the first signs of hostility from the wolf.
Amelia prepares Bless for the next morning, just in case.
The wolf responds well to Amelias aproach and even gingerly takes scraps of food when you stop to camp. But he does keep a fair distance at most other times, never coming to sit near any of you.
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Gronck seems happy for Amelia to cast Endure Elements on him and perks up when she has do so.
When the wolf first appears Gronck will eye it suspiciously and loosen the tie holding his great club to the saddle. Once he realises that it poses no immediate threat he relaxes enough to continue watching the countryside as it passes by, though he does keep an eye on the wolf.
Jack watches the wolf with interest for a while, then yawn and goes back to juggling his starknife.
"This is the worst part," says Kimeon to no one in particular.
"None of the comforts of home, none of the excitement or danger or reward. Just....dirt." He pulls yet another sweet roll out of his pack, grimacing as he finds it's the last one, and takes a bite. A look of relief comes over him as he chews quietly.
Thavian rides fitfully changing positions on the saddle constantly. "This certainly isn't like riding in a carriage. I think I'm going to be quite sore in the morning."Since the wolf doesn't seem to be a threat of any kind he simply ignores it.
so....ummm.....
"Sorry??!!??"
Finally, after traveling for another day or so, you approach the ominous shadow of Mount Moru itself. The mountain looks like
a thousand rock needles trying to pierce the sky, a grey mass of jagged points and spikes ready to stab and bleed any living thing that touches them – and among these peaks, there is a winding path
leading up the mountain, meandering through the sharp rocks like a grey snake. A large gathering of crows, that circle overhead is the only sign of life that you can see - apart from yourselves...and the wolf.
Kimeon sounds out a low whistle as he stares at the bird.
"Hope they don't think they're here for us."
The Moru Road ends at a Pass at the base of Mount Moru itself, which is where you now all find yourselves. A cave-in appears to have blocked the road’s further access closer to Mount Moru at this point.
A rough trail leads up into the mountain, starting eastward from the Pass and climbing around the eastern mountain face until it dissapears from view.
Horses can be walked along in single file. Anyone attempting to ride must make a ride check DC20.
"I suggest we send someone with scouting abilities ahead, I will follow him to keep him alive if something were to happen or drag him away.
Our order is important, as we need to compliment the abilities of those nearby, this could be a death trap if were not careful. I understand that is a known fact but I feel stating it makes it that much more important."
Amelia will not be riding a horse, she will attempt to lead one but if it becomes scared or tries to pull her into a dangerous spot she will release the reins.
Amelia will look through the Mount Moru guidebook and try to remember anything specific about the mountain and happenings near it. Take 20 on wis check=23 (I'm aware you can't take 20, I'm roleplaying as to say she is thinking very hard about this area).
Amelia will state that she overheard the bard talking about goblins supposedly in the area of the mountain base.
"Hmmm, my horse could use a break from my weight I guess, this would be a good point for an ambush, we cannot ride away, be wary friends." Tukonen looks around his jowls flapping as he speaks.
"Get off the horse? Best darn idea I've heard since we left the monks!" Jack slides painfully off his horse, standing gingerly. "Why don't we just cut them loose? Don't see what need we'll have for horses in the Mountain, eh?"
RPG Superstar 2013
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"Well, they aren't our horses, for one. And we shouldn't abandon them to goblins...or whatever."
The halfling jumps off his horse and reaches up to pat its shoulder. "Kepp an eye on them, for us?" He says. "We may be coming back in a hurry."
He leads the horse to a rock and loosely drapes the lead over it.
"I'll just go and scout out the rubble. I won't be long."
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"Der be gobbos here?" queries Gronck has he slides of his horse and retrieves his great club from the saddle. He looks round as he moves over to join Kimeon "Me no be seein dem..."
He watches Kimeon as he scans the ground for a few moments.
"Me can be doin dis an all" he muses to himself though his voice is loud enough to carry to the others, then to Kimeon he asks "Be ye wantin me t' be helpin ye?"
"Well, they aren't our horses, for one. And we shouldn't abandon them to goblins...or whatever."
The halfling jumps off his horse and reaches up to pat its shoulder. "Kepp an eye on them, for us?" He says. "We may be coming back in a hurry."
He leads the horse to a rock and loosely drapes the lead over it.
"I'll just go and scout out the rubble. I won't be long."
Kimeon
Amelia You recall the following
Moru Road starts a few hundred feet northeast of the
Meadowvale village and then it winds northward a
little more than 100 miles until arriving to the base
of Mount Moru. In all, following the road from
Meadowvale to Mount Moru takes roughly one
week on foot. To the north, Moru Road ends in the
Lost Pass at the southern face of the mountain; this
pass used to be a pathway right through the base of
Mount Moru, from which Moru Road continued
on northward. However, the pass was blocked by
rubble a few centuries ago, now, the official end of
Moru Road is the Lost Pass; the only way to continue
northward without going around Mount Moru is to
take the Moru Path up into the mountain.
The Moru Path
There is a mountain trail leading off the point where
Moru Road dies at the Lost Pass junction. This trail
meanders up into the mountain for about a day’s
walk until it reaches the first tunnels into the Upper
Areas inside Mount Moru, a little more than a mile
above ground level. This ascending trail, known as
the Moru Path, is the main access way inside Mount
Moru; nearly all of the explorers and travellers that
come to Mount Moru use the Moru Path to get in.
The Moru Path ends officially at the entrance of the
tunnels into the Upper Areas; after that, the long trip
inside Mount Moru begins…
Kimeon kicks over a few leaves, then carefully lobs a few heavy rocks onto the pile of rubble, which shifts considerably.
"I'd say this roadblock occured naturally, but there are goblins about, so they might take advantage of it. I'll scout ahead with Gronk and you folks follow behind."
"Keep an eye out," the halfling concludes. "They'll likely be in the trees or rubble to start with."
Jack unsheathes his rapier with one hand and his starknife with the other and begins to slink along, watching the surrounding countryside like a hawk.
Perception: 1d20+3=20
Jack
I want to search for the most recent goblin tracks and follow them a short distance - do they lead to an ambush site or bottleneck?
If I don't see signs of a panding ambush, I'll head out about a hundred feet before waving the party forward.
Before everyone leaves, Amelia states the following:
"The mountain trail leading off the point where Moru Road ends at is the Lost Pass junction. This ascending trail, known as the Moru Path, is the main access way inside Mount Moru; the official end of Moru Road is the Lost Pass, the way we just came. The only way to continue northward without going around Mount Moru is to take the Moru Path up into the mountain. (She points up the trail)
The Moru Path trail wanders up into the mountain for about a day’s
walk until it reaches the first tunnels into the Upper Areas inside Mount Moru, a little more than a mile above ground level. Nearly all of the explorers that come to Mount Moru use the Moru Path. The path ends, officially, at the entrance of the tunnels into the Upper Areas; the long trip inside Mount Moru then begins…"
I want to search for the most recent goblin tracks and follow them a short distance - do they lead to an ambush site or bottleneck?
If I don't see signs of a panding ambush, I'll head out about a hundred feet before waving the party forward.
The tracks seem to be pretty random, possibly from passing trafic. There are no signs of a pending ambush so you are ok to continue forward.
Everyone makes slow progress up the treacherous winding path. After a few hundred feet though you come to the conclusion that the horses are not going to make it much further, especially since you are probably going to be on it for the best part of a day. The path is seriously in danger of becoming impassible in places and the thought of trying to lead a nervous mount along it doesn't fill you with confidence.
"I suggest we release the mounts. I'm not sure if tying them up somewhere is a good idea. Who knows how long we'll be in there, and they have a better chance of surviving loose."
"Thank the gods, let's get rid of these overblown dogs!" Jack immediately begins stripping his mount of useful objects.
Amelia will check the horse for anything, she carries everything on her person as it is.
Amelia will look up the path as far as possible, looking for potential threats and issues besides the obvious she can see; she mutters under her breath in Infernal about the path and its dangers.
spot 14 (11+3), since taking 20 is not allowed by RAW
The only thingthat Amelia spots is the aproaching storm clouds. They look as if they might hit Mount Moru sometime within the next few hours.
"I say we get up this mountain as quickly as possible, storms are coming within 3 to 4 hours I'd wager and were about half a day from the upper area of the mountain.
If we rush we might make it in time or deal with little of the effects that storms bring to this region, I'd like to see them as long as it was not imminent danger.
Does anyone have other thoughts as to the situation?"
Amelia will tighten the neck area of her hooded robe while talking about the storm. She looks at Kimeon and Gronck expectantly.
If they pause she will say "You are the skilled survivalistic ones here, I am trusting you to lead us as quickly and ably as possible."
From a hundred yards up ahead, Kimeon watches the conversation. After waving his hands to gain their attention, he rolls his eyes and (poorly) mimics. When you look up to his location, he points at the clouds behinds you and waves you forward quickly.
As he disappears behind another boulder and makes his way carefully up the pass, he says to himself "Humans."
After leaving the horses behind, you all make good time heading up the narrow pass. With the scouts blazing a trail and only making a single stop to take on food from your rations it seems as if you might make the end of the pass before nightfall.
The stormclouds have arrived at the mountain but, other than a period when you were buffeted by high wind and lashing rain, it has not really held you back from your quest. And now you seem to actualy be above the storm. Looking back down the trail, you wonder how your horses have faired.
Finally you reach a cave entrance in the mountain face. This, then, is the beginning of your journey – the entrance to the depths of Mount Moru, the so-called Mountain of Terror.
The cave looks like the mouth of a monster or, more accurately, that of a ghost – a screaming vengeful spirit, waiting to devour those that enter its dark throat. Many strange symbols appear carved around the arch of the cave; they are at least a few years old, though not ancient – somebody made them relatively recently. Most
of all, you feel alone up here – alone here, among the dreary rocks, so far above the ground and so close to the high winds and the empty greying sky; alone facing the gloomy, solitary entrance to the caves – to the ancient underground realm
of Mount Moru. The wind blows a tune of loneliness, dust and desolation as you turn to the entrance and step into the darkness…
These dreary, silent caves are a testament to the Morudhain peoples first and last attempt to settle in Mount Moru. They are all that remains of a half-built mine site, which looks like it had to be abandoned for unknown reasons. The caves still
feature the vestiges of what aspired to be a prosperous mine, now reduced to a couple loose timbers, overturned mine wagons and rusted rails.
Other than dirt and wooden scaffoldings, this reduced cave features no more than a couple of rotting wooden stools and an unlit torch attached to the wall; surely a vestige of when the area was inhabited.
The cave entrance slopes slightly downward for about 30'. The 20' wide passage appears to have a small chamber that branches off from the main passage further into the cave.
Having poor vision upon entering the cavern, Kimeon immediately sttops to rummag through hispack for a hooded lantern.
"We won't survive long if we can't see, but I don't want to make too much light." he says as he rubs his flint and steel together next to the wick of the lamp.
He seems not to have invested much notice in his surroundings yet.