Teodor adopts what you will begin to recognize as his traveling expert stance...
Well, I believe we could save ourselves anywhere from half an hour to an hour, this of course depends on the quality and age of our map, some options might not be options anymore, also remember there was an earthquake. How much more difficult, I expect some parts will be steep enough that will require us to use hands and feet, maybe even a rope, but we have to get there to be sure...
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Which gate are we headed for anyway?
That would be *that one* Teodor points to the general direction of the correct gate.
Tobin looks at the group, as they are about to leave. The best gate to leave through is the one in the Wise Quarter, that's the gate thatis closest to the the Azlanti Keep then head to the north. Longest it should take you is 3 to 4 hours. He looks at the map Tedor is holding and looks at the route he is pointing to pointing to, This would be the fastest route to the tower. A little rougher than the longer one but not more than I think you lot can handle. And Tedor is correct about an hour to hour and a half short distance than the road.
You are in Westgate, the Wise Quarter gate is north of you and would take approximately 20-30 minutes to get to the gate.
Lead the way then, Teodor.
Berenwyr follows the dwarf through the city, taking in the sights, sounds and smells as his fingers unconsciously twist and knot raw filaments of glowing, green energy in an arcane cat's cradle.
Gareth leans in to Teodor as they start to leave. One of us may have to carry the halfer.
The dwarven alchemist shifts his pack and looks at the sun, waiting for the others to collect themselves.
Ro'an listens to the others. Choosing to keep silent. He surveys the surroundings as they walk, seeing if anyone is paying an undue amount of attention to them.
You make your way thru the city to the Wise Quarter gate without any trouble. As you leave the city walls you the wide expanse before you opens up. You follow the road until Teodor indicates the trail to follow that will be a little rougher but cut the time off the trip. You each can estimate you have approximally three hours until sunset. The trip would be 3.5 hours by the road that is well traveled or 2.5 hours by the trail Teodor has indicated, barring any problems. This will out you in the valley just below the seige castle.
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Colin does his best to keep up with his taller compatriots, but finds himself continually falling behind them. It's not enough to cause the group to fall behind schedule, but enough to make him very self-conscious about proving his worth to the team.
Once they arrive at the fork, he takes the opportunity to catch his breath and munch on some of the rations he'd been given. The others didn't seem terribly fond of conversation, at least not yet, so he didn't make any along the way.
Looking at the paths, he turns to Teodor as if he's been given the task of the group's course-charter. Well, Mr. Skov, I meant what I said earlier. If everyone would prefer to take the shorter route, you have my word that I'll do everything I can to keep up.
Let's get there before sundown, Gareth says to the others. Colin, I think you'll be fine, little fella. Your legs aren't much shorter than mine, and we don't have to keep a hard pace. The shorter route is what'll save us the time.
Yes, let's take the shorter route. Are we agreed? Berenwyr dismisses the mystical cat's cradle from his fingers and whispers in elven to the raven on his shoulder. The bird quorks and takes off into an ever widening gyre above the party.
Ro'an, being more stoic than chatty, listens to the discussion. The group agrees with his mindset, so he simply nods and speaks one word.
Agreed.
He begins the next leg of the journey giving Colin an additional nod with eye contact expressing his confidence in his new companion.
Don't worry Colin, like Gareth said, you seem to be keeping up with us very well, its them long legged fellows that have to adjust to our pace... and you can all call me Teodor
Teodor adjust his backpack and continues the march
Agreed it is then, we shall take the shorter route
The trail that Teodor has picked is rugged and partially covered with tall grasses of the plains. But being the expert guide that he is, he keeps the group on the trail. Berenwyr watches as Singe continues to circle overhead. The bird does not give any indication of trouble.
About half an hour before sunset you reach the valley below the siege castle. You see the castle towers approximately 80 feet above the valley.
In the distance you can hear the howling of wild dogs.
Berenwyr struggles along the path with the rest of the party, with the additional weight of the water skins on his shoulders, the best he can do is keep up with the group.
I for one, am not slowed down by you at all, Colin. I do a perfectly good job of slowing myself. Suddenly, Singe swoops down and caws to the wizard. The elf listens intently, then shoos the bird back to the heavens.
Rumal olend, kui ütlesin, suured metsloomad, ma mõtlesin oluliselt suurem kui sul. Mind ei huvita, kuidas metsik maa orav aspektist ...
Gareth is content to walk and stretch his legs, it being awhile since he left the city.
We have short time to settle down... let's find a good spot to camp and stay alert fellas, there is no saying if those are just wild dogs or something more dangerous...
Agreed. Teodor, will you find us a likely spot to camp for the night?
Teodor nods and begins looking for a suitable camp site
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Colin followed, encouraged by the kind words from his compatriots. The route isn't as bad as he had envisioned, and the hike is a good workout for his legs anyway.
Still, he's more than happy to stop and take a breath once they reach the valley. The castle and the howls seem ominous, but for now there's little to do but rest and prepare for the day ahead. He's not much able to assist Teodor in his search, but if called upon he'll do what he can.
Teodor finds a suite camp site with ease. The area is flat with short grass. You begin to set up the camp when you hear the howls of the wild dogs again off at a distance.
You look at the tower, it's windows dark againist the setting sun.
We should set up a watch. I'll take first shift once everyone's asleep, Gareth offers. With that, he settles into a spot, takes out his whetstone, and starts sharpening his axe.
Teodor pays attention to howls, paying special attention to whether they seem to approach the camp.
Very well, I should take middle watch, it's the best time to do stargazing anyway
Teodor eats some of his rations and washes it down with wine,
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Colin listens to the two dwarves volunteer for shift-taking, and decides to be part of the team effort as well.
I can take the final shift. I don't need that much sleep, and it'll give everyone else one more chance to rest before we enter that...place. He turns around to look at the tower, hoping it looks a bit less intimidating in the daylight.
My thanks to you all for your watchful eyes. This should only take about two hours.
The elf settles cross-legged down onto the ground while his raven continues its slow gyre around the campsite. From his pack he produces a thick tome bound in pale leather and bearing a single mark on its front cover. He sets this in his lap as a desk and mutters a few words, causing the nib of a strange feather to faintly glow in the crepuscular valley. Finally, he removes a thick, vellum scroll and small jar of strange inks. With no further words, he begins to slowly scribe on the vellum, intensely focusing on each mark made by his pen.
Gareth looks on with some interest as Berenwyr crafts his scroll.
The evening hours past uneventfully. Berenwyr successful scribes his scroll of protection from evil. Just as he finishes Singe lands on his shoulder.
Berenwyr quickly tucks the completed scroll into his scroll case and speaks in a soft yet firm tone.
There is a pack of the local canines on its way toward us. I'm not sure how many, or which direction they're coming from, but they will soon reach us. If we start a fire, it may scare them off.
As he speaks, the elf quickly divests himself of the added weight of pack and water skins, and hangs a flask of Alchemists Fire from his belt. He takes up his staff in one hand and turns once more to Singe.
We shall get a fire going!
Teodor pulls out a torch from his backpack as well as flint and steel.
I much rather scare them away than try to beat them...
With axe in hand, Gareth starts pulling together firewood.
Aye. Fire would be prudent.
Ro'an grabs up the biggest, driest deadfall he can find. Hefting it back, he begins breaking it into kindling and longer burning logs.
Singe squawks
Everyone hears the wild dogs getting closer.
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Colin helps with the firewood as well, but fortunately he doesn't think anyone expects him to haul the largest piece of firewood.
While assisting the others in prepping the fire, he hears the dogs' sounds and begins to grow alarmed.
"They sound like they're getting quite close to us. We may have to prepare to be set upon."
Berenwyr calls the bird back down to him. The dark avian swoops in and lands on the wizard's shoulder.
Four of them, coming from the opposite side of the tower. I imagine we could make short work of them with a volley when they come into range if the fire doesn't scare them off.
Four wild dogs shouldn't be much trouble. Gareth draws a dagger and readies it in a throwing grip.
Halfer, I suggest you stay nearest the fire. They'll probably want a bite of you first.
Your hear the wild dogs coming closer, thier howling and yippes seem more focused than before. You catch a glimpse of the first one edging into the circle of light cast be the blazing fire. The dog is medium sized and black specks of brown about it's face. It growls low and menacingly, showing teeth.
Inittive for pack of wild dogs.
Teodor brandishes his torch, making eye contact with whichever seems the largest dog, and starts making growling sounds of his own.
Initiative roll:
initiative
Please take any readied actions.
Berenwyr mumbles a few words and a sickly green orb materializes in his hand. He hefts it once and hurls it at the closest dog.
In the shadows and flickering firelight, the elf badly misjudges the distance, and the orb fizzles in the earth well short of the pack.
Gareth throws his dagger at the lead dog.
Attack Damage
Everyone takes aim at the leader of the pack.
The Elf takes Aim with a green orb he makes appear easily in his hand, however it falls a little short of the dog. The dog backs a little, however the other three come up on either side of it. They all appear to be starving.
Garth's dagger flies straight and true and strikes the dog in the chest the dog yelps and then lowers itself towards the ground as if ready to pounce, blood flowing from the dagger wound.
Colin attacks the dog to the right, striking it With the arrow. It also yelps as the blood pours from the wound and it turns and runs back the way it came. The other two are growling and poised to pounce.
Ro'an takes his Bone Handle Dagger from his back and throws it at the dog futurest to the rightl damage
The dog drops to the ground without a whimper.
Not wanting the dogs to jump on him if he approaches, Teodor decides to pull out his starknife and throw it at the leader of the pack, while waving his torch in a menacing way.
Attack Damage:
Berenwyr speaks as he moves forward, Perhaps it's time for something with a bit more punch.
He moves to within 5 feet of the dogs, catching as many of them as possible in the 15 ft. cone and chants words of eldritch power as he flings multi-colored sand at the mongrels.
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Colin watches his arrow sink into the dog and is relieved when it scampers off in the other direction. The halfling follows the lord of the hunt, but truth be told Colin has never enjoyed even harming another creature, let alone taking a life. But sometimes such is unavoidable.
There is a sudden realization from Colin's musings that there are in fact some dogs left.