"Or worse its an island infested with worshipers of some old dark god who's priest's enjoy turning people into animals." Phurs interjects with a shiver and what appears to be a desire too run and hide!
"We cant second guess ourselves any number of dangers can exist, or little to none" Phurs adds "Its best to be on guard and avoid as much contact as possible.'
Nora chuckles under her breath. "Well you people do have a way of making this island sound wonderful don't you? Maybe it's full of awakened bunnies whose only goal is to snuggle us, or is home to a fashionable creature who wants to give away her stunning wardrobe. Might not be that bad...Besides at worst you remove the ring and painful ejection. Which Still is far better then dead."
anytime you choose within the next hour. he replies.
"No need to dawdle. Everyone should be ready. Let's go."
Gerhard shoulders his pack, motioning to the man to open his gate.
"Now is good" Phurs says while grabbing a few more eggs to eat from the table. Which he promptly stuffs in his mouth as he check his thieves tools one last time before rolling their container up and carefully placing it in his knapsack.
Phurs then reaches into his pack and seems to be taking a quick inventory.
"I need to grab a few things. I figured it would be rude to bring a sword to breakfast after all."
The plate before the woman is clean, a couple of rolls fills one of her hands, and an easy smile bares her teeth.
Kejal looks around as the deliberations continue, the mention of gods again makes her a bit uncomfortable, but she forces herself to relax. Nora's oddly optimistic comment helps, and she smiles despite herself, saying only, "We can talk all day about what or may not be there, but there is only one way that we can know for sure."
As the group splits to gather their things, she turns to Wolf. "This is not at all what I thought it would be." She said with a smile, before adding. "Thank you."
|
"The Order of the Phoenix is new, if there is a threat or rumor of a threat I will do my best to organize an effective defense and offense. Let alone other contingent plans. Presently many that I watch in the Dark Forest are compliant to say the least and it would be best to start looking outward to other cities and regions that could be at risk. I digress, we have this newest threat and it comes on the day of the formation of our group"! Wolf smiles a toothy grin as he says his statement and nods to all those in attendance. He seems pleased let alone happy to have so many willing to come to his calling.
I'm safer with this group then I have been in a long time. This order might be one of the best things you've happened across Nora.
Nora looks down into her bag, checking that she did indeed pack everything that she needed. Happy her bag is packed Nora reaches in grabbing a holstered crossbow and strapping it to her thigh.
"Okay, ready as I'll ever be." Nora sighs.
Once everyone is ready with their rings on their finger.
Zenshiro will stand up and put on the table his sheathed longsword as the food on the table disappear
Zenshiro reach for a scroll and simply pronounce the command word to liberate the magic contained within.
A rather large Gate opens (think stargate when the portal is open)
You have under two minutes to go trough it.
|
|
Wolf transforms into his hybrid form, as his loose clothing becomes just right. With the poping of bones as his body readjusts and grows. Fur breaks free as he claws his skin away. Yes his shirt is open allowing him to rip much of his skin.
Once that is done in a standard action ;), Wolf grabs his satchel and tosses it over his shoulder. He walks up to the gate and offers his hand to any that will take it to venture with him.
Phurs gets down off his chair and quickly pulls out his shortbow from his knapsack then he walks to the gate and says "Time for me to do my job"
Nora lets her disguise fade, showing her true demonic heritage. Flexing her wings once, she walks up to Wolf and take his offered hand.
"Shall we darling?" She asks standing just in front of the horizon of the portal.
Gerhard simply walks through the portal with a word, though as he does so, he grows a snout (scent}.
Can't be too careful.
Eina's hand rests on the hilt of her sword as the gate opens. She walks through it without preamble, steeling herself for the worse.
As you appear on the other side of the Gate:
Not Fifty feet from the green stone docks that you are standing on the beach becomes a sheer stone cliff, rising up twenty to thirty feet before turning to a slightly more modest slope heading up the mountain. To the east, the beach continues onward before eventually ending in a sheer wall and a path leading inland. To the west, the beach blends into a swampy lowland full of strange debris. Directly ahead, carved into the cliff face is an other path, this one gently sloping up the mountain.
There are three directions you can take: E, W, N
There are tracks here. We should follow them.
Kejal slithered out of the portal, admiring the view around. She hadn't traveled that way before, and had to admit that despite some discomfort, it certainly made things easier.
Noticing Gerhard staring at the ground, she moved up alongside him. "Old tracks, but I am inclined to agree. Still, they go both West and North. Which way should we travel?"
"Lemme see if I can see anything from above. Kejal, you said North and west, right?"
The paladins wings stretch to the sky then out, revealing their full span.
Phurs removes his stilts and cloak and moves quietly up behind everyone else saying "Lady Eina don't go to high someone may see you." whilst placing his items in the knapsack.
"Its too easy to spot any enemies on the side of the cliff" he says and continues "I suggest sending me to the swampy area to check around that area."
"I vote North!" Nora exclaims.
"Just bought these shoes for last night, and would be a travesty to take them into a swamp already." She adds showcasing her black knee high boots.
"I'll try not to." she says to Phurs, before turning to Nora.
"Ah, but what if there's volcanic glass and other sorts of nastiness that would make short work of those fine boots to the north?"
A fanged, goofy grin spreads across the young Paladin's face.
Eina checks her sword and drops the pack that she had slung over one shoulder to the ground. she walks towards the cliff face a few yards before turning and charging for the end of the pier and sailing into the sky. She rides the thermals higher until she can see most of the shore that they were on.
Phurs prepares to be stealthy when he hears no objections toward his scouting ahead.
Slowly and cautiously he moves off in the direction of the western swampy edge of the beach for approximately 40' and stops and sniffs the air to catch any strange scents.
Eina flying way above your location this is what you see: (Island Map A)
Phurs moves 40 ft West and sees / hears nothing. The ambient air feels like a room that has been closed for very long time with very little air recycling.
Phurs continues to stealthily move but heads back to the group.
Nora thinks for a second, pondering Eina words.
"That sounds like a disaster! Plus no teleporting, yep, I Hate this island." Nora pouts.
Watching the her sail off into the sky Nora adds. "Hopefully Eina will return with some good news."
No wind of any kind phur, the sky is blanketed by clouds way up there.
Upon returning to the group "The air here is stagnant, there is no ocean breeze" Phurs states in almost a whisper.
"Strange..."
Gerhard starts to move off to the west, following the tracks. He doesn't wait for the others.
As he does so, he intently looks around, looking for any signs of trouble or anything of note
He also drinks a strange bottle
Eina contemplates circling the island, but decides that there was really only one way to go.
She wheels around to the pier, angling for the ground the entire time. her wings flare as she touches down on the end of the pier.
"There's something to the north, but no smoke or anything else that would be a sign that this place has anyone but us on it."
Moves west to intercept Gerhard and report Eina's findings before he gets to far from the group.
"Gerhard, Eina reports something to the north."Phurs states when he catches up.
He turns around without a word, now heading north.
Moves from Gerhard to approximately to the base of the trail going north and begins to look for any trouble.
Readies an arrow and stays on alert till everyone shows up.
Having heard about Wolf and the newly formed order of the Phoenix, Filk quickly hurried his way to your headquarters. For one so quick on his feet, he sure does procrastinate something terrible! He thinks to himself:
damnit damnit they are going to be pissed! I went out and got this diamond for that guy and now here I am late! He'll think I stole it!
Arriving in the ballroom, Filk addresses the man in mithral full plate holding open the gate:
"*huff huff huff* I made it! See? Here is the diamond you asked for!"
He presents it to the man who then snaps his fingers and tells Filk that it is now imbued with a Raise Dead spell.
Heeding the man's advice, Filk quickly jumped through the gate, diamond in hand.
Arriving on the other side, you all she a skinny, greenish, small elvish looking creature dressed in fancy pants and a striped shirt. His boots appear to be worn down so bad it almost looks like they have burned on the sole. He has a rapier at his hip and a bow strung across his back. An ocarina hangs off a chord from his backpack that is made of brilliant opal. As he moves, you can barely get a decent look at him as his movement are so quick he seems to blur. As soon as he sees him, he speaks up to address Wolf:
"Hey man! I was told to give you this" (he holds up the diamond)"he said it has a raise dead spell on it, but he had to spend 5,000 gold on the damned thing so he expects to be paid that back if you use it, since the spell will consume the diamond or something. Anyways, I am Filk! Born to kick ass. I was told we are going to be bumping back against the beasts who give us all a bad name... and I am all for that!"
Thinking for a moment, his hand jumps into his pocket and pulls out a ring:
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot. Sometimes my mind just races and races yano? Anyways I have this ring? I was told to ask you what it does?"
"Oh thank goodness" Nora sighs in relief seeing Gerhard change direction to the north.
"Did you see any of those volcanic rocks? Is the path clear for my shoes?" She adds turning to Eina, worry etched on her face.
I suppose if there is you can replace them. Maybe find a nice set with a levitate enchantment...
At the moment the portal opens again behind her, causing her to jump. What now?
Nora slinks back behind Wolf as the Quickling steps out and approaches wolf. "I don't recall seeing you at the party last night darling... I would hate to think something suspicious is afoot."
"ohgoshIsuredon'trememberseeingmethereeither!"
The words tumble out of the quickling's mouth as he raises his hands defensively.
"iwasalittlelatethismorningbuttheytoldmetocomehereandgiveyouthisandhelpohgo dpleasedon'tkillme"
Eina raised an eyebrow at the small, blurry figure.
"What language was that?"
Filk tries very hard to slow his speech.
"You don't understand? Sometimes I talkreallyfastIcan'thelpitandI'msorrybutIstillamconfusedaboutthisringIhave. ...Here!"
He holds up the ring with a quizzical expression on his face.
Looking around, he then notices everyone else and waves politely. and very rapidly. He also notices the gate closing behind him.
"Well, Filk, buy the ticket take the ride I guess. You shouldn't have been late, if you had been on time you would be in this place with people you know instead of strangers. Ah well, what is a stranger but a friend you haven't met?
"Well.... Seeing as I'mapart of this... wheretonow?"
The portal indeed closes a mere 10 seconds right after.
(it had been open for a full minute since you arrived)
GHerard and Phurs are now about 80 ft away from the party on the trail heading North
|
|
"Put the ring on quick or be booted back to the other plane!" Wolf exclaims.
Calming down when the quickling puts on the ring, "It is super speed common, some call it Sylvan but they would be wrong, the closest thing would be a slang called after their race, 'Quicken'. Wolf says with a chuckle.
"Yes, thank your for the diamond it will come in handy here if needed." Wolf smiles once again that smile as if he knows something the rest of you don't.
"Well Filk, welcome to the group. If you want you may scout ahead to the North, for that seems like we are going that way. You did not miss anything serious last night, we are investigating this place for information about Tenth, a dutchy that we will investigate more after our 3 day stent here."
"Lady Brim, if you don't want to scuff your shoes I will carry you." Wolf smiles wolfishly at her.
Filk quickly dons his ring and hold it up to admire it. After a few moments, he catches himself and puts his hands down, though you notice he never really stops moving; his hands always fidgeting or playing with the bottom of his shirt, he feet always tapping.
"It'snicetomeeteveryone!HeyguesswhatIfIstopmovingIdisappearIcouldgoscoutupa headandbebackinaflash!"
He then nods to everyone and like a flash takes off to the north to scout ahead. He will make sure not to go too far, so if need be he can get back to everyone quickly (let's say he stays 120' ahead of everyone).
As he flashes past my hiding spot I step out and say "Hey its polite to introduce yourself"
Just as Gerhard reaches the same spot. "Hey Gerhard just saw this little fella talking to the rest of the group"
Did something just yell at me? Was that an enemy? Was it my imagination?
In a lightning quick maneuver, Filk doubles back to where he was shouted at, rapier at the ready.
"whoareyoudidyouyellatme? youdon'tlooklikeanenemyareyouwiththegroupIwaslateIdidn'tseeyoutheresorry."
He looks up at Phurs with big eyes and points to himself.
"Filk"
Gerhard sees something whoosh past him and Phurs, only to see it spin back around to face Phurs with a rapier.
"He's a quickling, Phurs. If I heard him correctly, he is apart of the group"
Note to self: Figure out how to make a slowing potion. It may be beneficial to its survival.
He continues to walk past them, not pausing for a moment.
Filk nods as Gerhard speaks. He then puts his rapier away and offers his hand. If quicklings could blush, he would totally be blushing. He is rather embarrassed of his speech.