Hehehehe...wasn't intended to be, but let's say yes. ; )
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Dawn comes the following day, the night having been mostly quiet after the bothersome nature of the lizard rats the evening before. The air on this particular morning is cool and crisp, and a thin layer of dew covers the ground.
As the group is preparing for the day ahead, Katya, with a little help from Anton, is able to spy out what she believes to be more human like tracks, larger than the lizard rats at any rate. They seem to head into the forest to the west, oddly heading over to what in the distance appears to be a river that runs north and south.
Cuddles walks happily along and humms tuneless music to himself as the day progresses. Somehow, he keeps finding saplings to pick his teeth with.
After helping to strike the camp, Katya does her best to follow the trail into the forest.
Hopefully this trail follows the river. It will be fairly easy to keep our water supplies up.
As Cuddles uproots yet another tree to use as a toothpick, Katya casts an eye over the hulking orc, and can't resist making a comment.
Aren't you worried, Cuddles? You never know, you might grab a dryad's tree by mistake one day. And I'm not sure even you can escape a dryad's attentions.
Cuddles looks confused.
WHAT BE DRYAD?
A tree spirit, a sort of fey creature, Katya replies. They were in picture books I read as a child. Apparently they can make you do what they want you to. Like they put a spell on your mind or something. Nymphs are worse, though. Apparently just looking at a nypmh is enough to make you go blind, they're so perfect.
Privately, Katya wonders whether there's a nymph in the First Vault, and if there is, what it looks like. And whether Abadar is able to look at it without going blind.
It makes her head hurt.
The soldiers at Fort Serenko said there were fey in these woods, so we should probably be on the lookout, in any case. She ventures a smile. I wouldn't worry too much though, I doubt the trees you're taking are big enough for a dryad anyway.
As the group breaks camp, Anton quietly points out the trail and possible cave entrance to Katya. "We could do worse than to keep that in our bearings," he mutters. "Could be where our scaled friends came from."
As the motley crew travels, he ducks his head to hide a smile at the conversation regarding fey creatures. "I'm sure the stories were exaggerated," he points out. "However, if there's even a mere grain of truth, we'd do well to keep them in mind in any dealings we may have with such creatures."
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As the group is starting to make their way on the trail, Katya notices as well the cave entrance that Anton pointed out. It is alongside the trail as you are heading over to the river trail.
Katya stops as she looks at the cave entrance Anton mentioned.
Harsk, she calls to the dwarf. I think there's something shiny in that cave over there. Should we go check it out? Looks like it's made of metal. Maybe silver, or gold.
She chews her lip for a moment and turns her head towards Anton without taking her eyes off the cave. There aren't any nasty creatures around here that are gold or silver, are there? And that's too small to be a dragon cave, right?
Harks purses his lips for a moment and considers Katya, "Think The dwarf is interested in shiny are ya?" The forgepriest doesnt hesitate for but a breath before offering a short snort, "Well.your right....this time...cant think of any gold creatures...lets just see..." Harsk wanders towards the cave pulling his hammer and shield...
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"Not so sure about silver or gold creatures," Anton muses, leaning on his staff in thought. "Dragons, though... They come in many sizes, all dangerous. Let's hope there aren't any around, mmm?"
Katya tightens the straps on her backpack before striding after Harsk.
I guess we're going to find out, she says as she approaches the cave.
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The party enters the cave, it is about twenty feet wide at the opening and runs back about 150 feet or so, with a slight downward slope.
Upon further inspection, the cave seems to be completely empty.
Harks lets out a low whistle as he runs his gloved hand against the wall. Certainly something to keep in mind. Even a shallow vein such as this would be enough to live a good life for a few years...
Harsk looks back at the others, We mapping this little trek of ours? I never though to do it but it might be good for us to remember this place...
Katya turns to Anton as the group explores the cave. Not a monster after all, she says. Unless you believe some of the rumours about Druma.
We mapping this little trek of ours? I never though to do it but it might be good for us to remember this place...
Not a bad idea, Katya says. We can probably easiest remember its position relative to where the stream comes out of the woods.
Once the group has done whatever they want to at the cave, Katya suggests they get going following the tracks back into the forest.
"Well," Anton chuckles, smiling at Katya, "this is certainly preferable to a dragon, mmm?" He pulls a worn, dog-eared journal from his pack, sketching a crude map of the cave's location. "It's definitely worth remembering."
Cuddles is standing nearby still chewing on yet another sapling. The value of the gold flies right overt his comprehension.
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The group makes their way west to the river. As they travel, they will notice that it turns back to the north, into the forest.
After a few moments, Anton gets a nostalgic look for a moment.
The river seems to flow very gently this time of year, and the ground near the riverbed gets softer and softer. Occasionally, you can pick out footprints, both of boots and of horses all over the area.
------ Soft Initiative Order --------
Cuddles
Anton
Harsk
Katya
Cuddles loss around for the owl. If it was out this late it must be special!
"An owl? At this hour?" Anton's brow furrows as he glances around, trying to place the sound. "Hmm. It's probably just-" He stops suddenly, as if rooted in place, gripping Katya's arm as she passes by. "Do you... see anything, there?" he asks softly, pointing to where he saw the movement, uncertain whether his eyes are playing tricks on him.
Harsk stops short and pulls his shield and grips his hammer tight, looking over his shoulder, We didn't see one, we heard one. I'd wager trap over daytime flight...
Cuddles starts (badly) mimicking the owl in a misguided attempt to get a look at it.
Katya stops as soon as Anton touches her arm. It's more than that, she says quietly. There's a barricade just near where the stream takes a bend, and I think there's a shooting platform up in that tree.
She risks being a little louder, calling in a low urgent voice to the others. Into the trees; I think we've been spotted.
She suits action to words, pivoting to head into the trees, trying not to look over her shoulder at where she thinks the bandit camp is. She grabs Anton's hand. Come on. We need to get out of sight.
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With Katya pointing it out, and Anton's keen eyes, you notice that the pathway you are walking up is not entirely natural. On your right, you can see what looks like a log barricade, and up to your left, a cart sits on the far bank of the river. It takes a moment, but everyone is able to see the platform that Katya points out.
Harsk shifts with the others following them into the brush, What do you see blast it?
TREEHOUSE. THEY FUN. Cuddles is having fun. Hide and seek was fun too, though he always seemed to lose first somehow.
Harsk casts a critical eyes at the orc, This is a quiet game. Keep your voice down.
Cuddles nods enthusiastically and claps his hands over his mouth.
In response to Harsk's hurried question, Katya turns her head as she continues heading into the trees.
A shooting platform. A cart. A log barrier, to block the way. And the bandits appear to have been smart enough to try to hide their tracks; I saw hoofprints in the stream bed.
Katya continues to hustle into the trees, although at a pace that allows everyone to keep up.
I'm fairly sure they've seen us, and I'm equally sure there's someone on our side of the river, about a hundred yards ahead. Be on watch.
She loosens her shortsword in its scabbard, the other hand still clasped around Anton's. She looks for a place that might suit them to hide.
Nervous as she is, though, she simply can't spot any decent cover at all. What, is this whole forest forsaken by Gozreh? Grow some decent underbrush! Her face reddens as she realises she has probably just given away their position. She grinds her teeth and inadvertently grips Anton's hand more tightly.
Come on. We need to keep moving.
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"I can confirm that we've been spotted." Following the others, Anton flicks his eyes in the direction of the platform off to his left, hoping whoever's waiting there won't see the movement from a distance. "He's well-hidden, but I saw his eyes. To make things worse, I think he knows I saw him." With a shaky sigh, he clutches his staff against his body with one arm as he moves, half-walking, half-dragged into the trees, the hand fumbling in the pouch at his belt and eventually producing a strip of cured leather, wrapping it around his hand with the aid of his teeth. "We have at least two shooting platforms, and I get the feeling there'll be plenty of resistance waiting for us ahead. The question is, do we want to go for them first?"
Harks grumbles ut take the lead, shoring up his shield and leading the group forward as best he can, looking for cover on the approach...
Harks gestures at the others to move out and away first, pointing at his own heavy shiled and armor as though it might be the best thing to leave at the "end" of the group.
Cuddles nods and does his best to sneak away, which mainly consists of going up on his tip toes and walking all funny.
Which kinda works... Kinda.
Anton attempts to withdraw swiftly and quietly, having slightly more success than Cuddles. He keeps his leather-wrapped hand on his staff, ready to cast his defensive ward, the other insistently tugging at Katya's arm.
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As the group is taking cover and falling back into the trees, they hear a call being raised up. "...intruders! Intruders in the camp!"
A pair of whistling sounds, as two arrows come flying out of cover, one from near the logs, the other from an elevated spot near there, aimed at the sound of foot falls and armor that is Harsk. One shot flies wide, but the second slips just under his shield and catches his side, biting into flesh but then flying clean.
Katya swears under her breath, then does her best to put several trees between her and the camp as she abandons any attempt at stealth.
They can't hit us if they can't see us, she says as she sprints past a few large tree trunks.
HArks will continue his noisy withdraw into the bush figuring that as he has been seen a full run puts him at a serious disadvantage...
Cuddles follows close on Katya's heels and crashes the underbrush, making a nice clear task for Anton and Harsk.
Anton follows suit, secretly thankful for the cleared path, if not the lack of finesse with which it was cleared.