"We really shouldn't spare any time in trying to find someone with a spare war trained ass. Sorry, I couldn't pass up on the chance to say war trained ass. Maybe Roguk could carry him?"
"Just walk, you fools. We're burning daylight!" Takeshi says between notes.
Mayla chuckles and would help usher everyone on. "Essa, do the tracks follow the road?"
"I'll try to keep up" Enev will walk faster like a hustle, trying to keep up with everyone.
Mayla would slow her pace to match Enev's. "It is okay Enev. We are just teasing you. We wouldn't leave you behind. You are family now." Reaches out lightly hugging him to her side before letting him go.
"Yes, let them jest. We are going at a regular pace, and are not expecting you to run like a madman. Besides, I believe someone wants to track?" he says smilingly.
I believe all these events call for a prayer.
Our great lord Aroden, hallowed be thy name.
As we embark on this journey take notice of how we are as those who have come before us; but more importantly, praise us for how we too are different.
We walk this path for the betterment of ourselves, and through that, the betterment of others.
We leave today to better learn one of your tenets; unity.
That we are only as strong as the bonds we make; and our own individual strength pales in comparison to that which we can accomplish together.
Please oversee and bless us on this pilgrimage. Keep us safe from those who mean us ill, and grant us the strength of body and mind to do the tasks that ought to be done. I am ever your faithful.
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That was a fine prayer, Protector of the Flame Tuz. Slightly apprehensive to bring this up at the moment, but isn't Aroden like, no more?
"Some say so, but we faithful disagree. Certainly he does not favor his clerics with blessings anymore. But it our belief our Lord Aroden is merely indisposed at the moment; perhaps battling a great evil beyond the reach and influence of the material plane."
"We do not condemn the sun when it leaves us for nightfall, understanding that it will return at dawn. Why then is the same not extended to the divine?"
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I'd wager its because we all know the sun is coming back as it always has, but your reasoning sounds fair enough.
Takeshi's eyes roll when the topic goes from morality to deities.
At least they talk while walking, or we would never get there..
Twenty minutes later, you enter the fringes of the forest. Roguk shouldn't be much far away.In fact, it should already been here...
The soil is all wet from the rain, but so far Essa has been able to find tracks: there wasn't much passage since the last hours.
Mayla looked around listening to the talk about the god Aroden and kept her mouth shut. 'I have my own opinions on the Last Azlanti but that is not for talk here. It would just start its own complex problem.' Watching Essa track the route of the other group she privately worried about her brother. 'Yeah he can be an ass but he is still my brother. I hope he is alright.'
Essa calls out "Hey Roguk time to go! Come on out!" She looks goes to the nest area where he would be stirring by now and checks for him.
Selene keeps an ear out for trouble as Essa searches for Roguk.
After nearly ten minutes, Essa is more and more nervous. Roguk should be there.
Finally, a faint, feeble and fearful
ooook?
is heard.
Essa speeds to the sound, running towards it swiftly.
If those bullies have hurt him, I will spread their innards over a 100' area and let the vultures have a feast. Their pain and suffering will know no limits.
Essa's blood begins to boil as her thoughts take her to dark places.
Essa darts between the trees,leaving her companions behind wondering what's happening
I will use a scroll of speak with animals to ask him what happened.
Malya would follow her once she wondered off but if she asked for space to calm him down she would give her that. She looked around for any signs of anything of note around.
Takeshi will follow the rest, but stay at a safe distance.
You never know what an animal in pain might do.
Having used speak with animals before with Roguk, Essa knows its easier if shes uses simple yes and no questions and keeps the concepts simple, without any abstract or conceptual ideas. She describes the other people carefully but briefly, using basic concepts such as colors, size and obvious distinctive features. (for example a half orc like Groychna is easy to describe being rather distinctive). She will use the time alloted for one question to get as much of this concept across. So her second question would be, after describing the group, using Groychna as the main descriptor, if they were the ones who hurt him. Based on the response, she will come up with another question.
Essa also consoles him, feeds him some tasty food, and uses a cure light wounds scroll to heal Roguk.
Follows with Takeshi still looking out.
After taking a few minutes to calm down Rogurk and heal his wound, Essa asks him some questions. The druidess companions are amazed at the sight of this large powerful hairy beast, hugging the young woman with an unsuspected gentleness, giving a plaintive "ooook" from time to time, as a wounded child.
Essa holds an ancient parchment, and reads it, before having what seems to be a conversation with the ape.
When Essa describes Groyshna and the others, Roguk nods frantically.
When she asks if the half orc hitted him, he shook his head, and takes the druidess hand to show her something. Into the bushes, not far away, a bloody throwing axe, with the head of an hawk on the end of the hilt, is found.
Then, Roguk pulls on Essa's hand, as if he still has something else to show..
Malya quickly picks up the ax her heart skipping a beat. 'Fadj never leaves this behind.' She quickly followed fear gripping her heart.
Essa notes the axe, and grimaces. She follows Roguk as he has something more to show her. Her mind races with rage and sadness at these turn of events.
You all follow Roguk, between trees and bushes. The big ape still seems wary of you (except Essa, of course). You come back onto the main trail that runs down the forest, maybe one hour's walk away from the town.
Roguk is even more agitated now, pointing to a mass of bushes down on the side the trail.
oOook! OooK!
Before we got too far and the speak with animals ran out Essa would ask Roguk a final question. "Oooook oooooh Ieeeee ahhh ooh oooh oooh."
Essa wants to make sure Roguk was attacked and simply defending himself. Roguk would not instigate violence unless told to kill, but she wants to hear it from Roguk.
----
At the slippery slope, Essa descends carefully. "Come friends, it appears tricky, but I think we can make it easily if you just go really carefully."
Essa keeps her eyes open for anything unusual.
She also uses survival if applicable to avoid any treacherous hazards. (DC15)
"So, like, what is happening? What's Down there?"
Selene scratches her head, peering down the slope a moment before taking a running start and sliding down the muddy slope trying to avoid hurting herself.
She slides down and in one clunky motion stands up despite her armor, looking out for anything out of place.
Essa smiles at Selene, "That looked fun. If I was in a better mood, I would say we should do that a few times. You have mud ALL over!"
Essa reaches out and smudges a gob of mud across Selene's forehead.
Essa turns back and ruffles Roguk's shaggy hair and continues to follow him.
"Is roguk ok now? What is down ther--"
Enev tries to follow Essa down the slope, he slips and goes down through all the mud,
"Aaaah- *bgrbgg*" he tries to scream but gets mud on his mouth
Mayla would look down at the slope and takes the easiest route she can find.
She would get down there and looks at Essa. "Does he know what happened to my brother?" The worry was evident in her voice even as she clutched the axe.
She was desperately looking around for her brother fearing the worst.
"Malya, I am not sure. My spell is limited in duration. He said he was attacked by the other group, and he had a huge gash in his side, possibly from your brother's axe!" Essa frowns and tries to contain the anger in her voice. "Its possible there was a fight and he tried to defend the other group, although my questions lead me to believe that the other group attacked him. He is taking us somewhere now to show us something. I hope it's not a body, but your brother has some questions to answer if he still lives."
Essa hefts her giant burning log, and her eyes smolder angrily. "I hope I am wrong, but if your brother attacked Roguk out of some petty spite, there will be a reckoning!"
In part of Essa's mind she wishes they were back in the forest, her and Roguk, playing in the trees. The world of adults was full of malice and bloodshed. This quest was indeed testing her resolve. She needed to stay strong and get through this situation so that the group could continue the quest. At least Roguk was ok now....
Essa quickly spots a form under some branches and foliage. A lonely shoe is in plain view a few feet away from the form. Someone is camouflaged under the vegetation, and it's probably not to take a nap....
This doesn't seem good.
And will, sooner or later, attract predators.
"Auch, this is not my day" says Enev while spitting mud, getting up slowly and cleaning himself,
"Watch out, if there is blood there could be animals" he says to Essa while he checks his ankle.
Mayla looks around barely noting Enev's fall but his words break her out of her mad search and stops to stare at him. "Need help Enev?" She asked and bit her lip. They could see worry had her all tied up in knots.
"Enev you ok? How is that ankle?"
"Hey guys, gather round here, something in the bush, looks like a body....or somebody... Anyone recognize that shoe? This could be a trick so lets all be cautious "
Essa hefts her club once everyone is nearby and ready, worried about what she will find. She glances to Roguk gauging his mood and reaction. She remembers the time they hid the goblin bodies after they were attacked...
Takeshi is standing up high, not intent on sliding down the hill.
"What's happening there, guys? Girls? Anything special?"
Whipes the mud from her brow with her arm.
"Hang on a second Takeshi, think there's a body down here."
"Sure.. You tell me when you need me?"
Takeshi sits down near a tree, and starts cutting a pipe.
Ah'Mera waits at the stop of the hill with Takeshi, but keeps a hand hovering above her chakrams hung at her waist in case of trouble.
She calls down from the hill, "Check the body for magic, it could be a trap."
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"I'm ok, don't worry, just twisted my ankle" says trying to hide his laugh just by imagining himself falling,
"I'll see what is it"
Enev draws his sword and goes closer to the body, slowly and looking around for traps, footprints or anything
Mayla heard the word body and she rushed over with Enev to hurriedly look in the bush her heart leaping into her throat.
There seems to be nothing more than a body hidden under the vegetation. A few of the leaves, where the head musst be, are turned by a gust of wind. There are little speckles of blood on them.
vs DC 20
Who by the gods is that?