"Blessed Irori did not attain divinity by sitting in warm tavern and sipping wine. We should all accept hardship as a blessing which will improve us. Or if you are not one of the faithful, then I suggest looking at it this way. You cannot change the world around you, just how you perceive it. Happiness is more often than not a choice."
"You can't change the world around you? Hmm, tell that to Geb. Get enough power and the world is yours to play with. I'd just like enough power so I wasn't the plaything of others. "
"However Cayden, the Lucky Drunk, became a god, and he sat around a lot of taverns. So I guess it depends on your point of view."
Godwyn laughed, and beamed a smile at his companions. "Both points very well made! Though I counter, how much damage has been done to the people of Geb by a wizard's quest for power? And how many lives have been ruined by drink? I, for one, believe that the worst that comes from the path of Irori is ending up with a strong arm, and fairly boring stories to tell."
Gundar wrings his beard of the rain. At least living underground we dwarves didn't have to bear rain like this! He sighs. Torag liked to go out into the world and sit in a tavern drinkin' a stout ale! Gundar says as the talk turns to deities. So methinks he embodied the best of both points of view! he says with a chuckle.
|
You spend the time eating the food the poor woman prepared for you. It is delicious, and very fulfilling. She even prepared some kind of root with sugar, making a very nice sweet that makes you ignore the cold and rain for a minute.
After around one hour the rain stops, and almost immediately heat seems to radiate from the ground, with mist coming out, making the jungle seems foreboding and mysterious (those in the know have seen it happen frequently, is not that strange).
You continue your way, but the mud makes the advance hard. You won't get to the fort with Daylight.
And to make things worst, a cloud of mosquitoes appears from everywhere, bent on suck all your blood out!
assist again
He will also slather on more of the bug repellent cream and offer some to his compadres.
(spent a gp which was supposed to cover everyone for the trip).
Gundar looks around at his companions. The fall of night will not affect Godwyn or me, but it might prove dangerous to Damiel and Flavius. If ye all want to rest for the night, I will help look for shelter. Gundar says as he swats mosquitoes.
Damiel accepts the unguent from Flavius, and slathers on just enough to help get rid of the mosquitoes. "Sticky stuff, but it works, somewhat" and he makes a face at the junk, but seems relieved that it helps somewhat.
"If we will not make the Fort before nightfall, perhaps it would be best to find a place to rest. Gundar, If there is a moon tonight, or bright stars I can see well enough to continue, but you are correct, Ojore and Flavius will have issues."
"I say we camp for the night. Predators are usually out at night and I don't fight well in the dark. "
|
|
Gundar, with help from Flavius, manage to find an outcrop to make a crude shelter.
And for the better of it.
The night becomes a storm. Rain and thunder fills the darkness. Wind hits the trees.
You are convinced no animal is out hunting tonight, as the weather turns for the worst.
The morning, if cloudy, brings a respite from the rain, but not from the bugs. You apply the last of your ointment, protecting from them.
You eat the last of the poor woman's food, which fills you with energy so continue the travel on the muddy path. Soon after you arrive at the fort.
Or what is left of it.
The fort is a simple square structure, walled in with rough logs and perched on a short hill overlooking the nearby marshlands and coastline. Two-story towers anchor each corner of the fort, connected by wooden ramparts. Three stout, wooden buildings stand within the interior perimeter of the fort, two of them connected to the westernmost towers. Fort Breakthrough housed eight militia members at a time from nearby Pridon’s Hearth.
The storm has damaged it, and it is obvious nobody has taken the time to repair it. The shattered remains of a heavy wooden door lie strewn across this opening in the log walls. Several of the flinders are trampled into the dirt. Some pieces of wood still remain attached to large metal hinges at the sides of the exposed entrance.
Fort Breakthrough Map
Nothing looks out of place to him...
Gundar shakes his head. Well! Not much of a forward outpost! We walked all the way up to it and no one knows we're here!
As Flavius and Godwyn start to head to the open door, Gundar notices something. Stop! Look at that beam! If ya pass through it might conk ya on the noggin!
"Nice flowers though. "
"Really? I'd never have seen it! Glad to have you here with us. Let's proceed carefully then, least this place falls on our heads."
Yeah! The storm must have knocked it lose. Gundar says as they near the door.
Flavius will look around for another way in, and is considering climbing the wall instead.
He'll see if he can set it off with his whip. He has 15' reach, so he might as well use it.
"Let me see if I can do this safely. "
"Here, let me help."
Knock! Knock! Gundar says with a chuckle.
"Well it's not like they are going to be less ready if we give them time. " so he moves in over the wreckage of the gate with his whip in hand looking for threats.
Ojore is quiet as he studies the broken fort. As Flavius triggers the trap Ojore comments The gate. It was broken of course, but not by the storm. The rest of the damage is from the weather, but this gate was battered down from the outside. Some force has attacked here.
DC 10
DC 20
DC 20
DC 20 (1st)
DC 20 (2nd)
DC 15
Damiel is about to point out that the beam is unstable, when Flavius safely triggers the trap to come down. "Good job. Shall we enter the fort?"
|
|
Across this wide, muddy courtyard, three buildings cling to the sides of the fort’s interior walls. Those to the southwest and the east are sealed tight, while the door to the building in the northwest is slightly ajar. A well squats near the northeastern end of the courtyard, while a fence between the southwestern and northwestern buildings forms a simple animal pen. Two human bodies - bloated, stinking and quickly decaying in the tropical sun and humid weather - lie in the mud, one with a spear poking out from its chest.
Taking in the courtyard Ojore looks for both clues and threats.
There. Near the bodies. he says in a calm voice. 4 small scavengers. Lizards of some sort.
Godwyn nods, impressed at Ojore's perceptiveness. He was only able to make out the fact that there was something small moving around the bodies.
"Well, it looks like we know that this fort was overrun. But by who? Let's leave the scavengers to their feast and investigate these ruins."
Not seeing the lizards near the body, "shall we investigate the buildings, clockwise or counter-clockwise?"
Gundar is totally unaware of everything and just follows the others.
"Follow the clock. Just leave a space for the critters. They will likely get defensive of their meal. "
Huh? What? Lizards? Gundar says realizing the Compsognathus for the first time.
Damiel moves off to the side and lets the more warlike members of the party take care of the biting lizards, however he starts telling jokes that will inspire the group to greater feats of combat.
Ojore says I'd hate to hurt them but they seem quite aggressive. Perhaps...
He coos at the lizards, turning his head to the side, and tries to appeal to them.
Flavius will attempt to trip one of the little beasties on the way in to him.
Godwyn swings his oversized axe, and if it connected it would certainly have done some serious damage. As is, he swung too high to hit such small and nimble creatures.
Damiel quickly draws his short sword and swings at the beastie tying to bite his nose, but misses horribly. He quips, "good thing I tell jokes better than swing this thing."
Godwyn swings again, trying to cut one of the beasts in two, but as he does so it leaps at Daniel. He was forced to check his blow, lest he risk hitting his companion.
"Damned beasts, stand still so I can kill you!"
Ojore moves to flank with Godwyn.