Kiki takes her costomary postion on Xanya's shoulder.
Simon keeps the group from getting lost during the day with Aster and Kiki's help and Kiki arranges for an excellent camp spot at night.
On The Road
Quassine watches the surroundings and seems to be thinking about different things on the trail. As soon as the terrain transitions, Quassine says in a low voice, "No more easy walking for now on and we probably should remain quiet to mitigate attacks from any enemy."
A little later, Quassine helps the group look for a suitable location for the night.
While they are searching for a suitable camp site, "I will sleep during the first watch and be awake for the rest of the watches to work on Alchemy or whatever needs to be done."
"We made good progress today. Great work on figuring out where to go Simon. Though I am a bit worried about the difficult terrain. If we could keep to tracks, canyons and dry riverbeds it would make it a lot easier for me. It's hard without knowing the lay of the land." She talks while they make up camp. She wanders around checking out the place. "Nice place you found here Kiki. Though I guess it's a given that forests are your natural habitat eh? Still, it's nice to have someone well known in wooden territory with us." She peers interested at what Quassine is making. "I wish I could join you crafting through the night. Sadly a girl needs to get her beauty sleep. Let's cuddle up and then get some sleep so we can face tomorrow bright and early. I'll take the last watch so I can greet the sun with my protective darkness together with "
Simon and whoever else is helping have just finished putting the canopy tent up, and Simon spreads out the bed roll he got with his pack and the grass matt he wove in the goatling's village for all it's worth.
"I'll take first watch, but it's been a long day, and I think we all deserve a little fun before we set in for the night, no?"
Samba is out and he sits on top of Aster's head as the plantlion looks majestically off into the sunset.
Simon's gear sits just inside the mouth of the tent, out of the way. He starts taking off the wrist braces and other leather gear and tossing it onto his set of baskets he help Aster out of earlier.
Quassine smiles at Xanya, "Sounds good to me and that is ok, we traveled far and the terrain hasn't been always ideal. Besides, it makes cuddling all the better." Before "cuddle time", "Simon please make sure to wake me up when it is my time for night watch."
"Sleep well brothers and sisters of Goodwin, for we meet our enemy on the field of battle tomorrow. Ragathiel will guide our blades and bestow the wrathful vengeance in our attacks."
Quassine nods, "You too Brother Goliath, talk to you later this evening."
"I'll work on it a bit during my watch. It should stay up for tonight, but it's nothing fancy. And you know I'll get you when it's your turn. What you should be worried about is if I let you sleep the whole two hours."
Simon sticks his long, purple forked tongue out so Quassine knows he's joking before he goes to pick up his squishy friend and carry him to the tent.
He turns to Goliath before he's at the door.
"Are you that tired or do you wanna join us for a while, Big Guy? It's not that late, but you did carry a lot for us today. We can try to keep it down if you don't want to join us."
Simon is ever considerate, even if all of his flight wasn't up for it that night.
"Tonight is a night for sleep, not for play. I must focus on what is to come. Though enjoy yourselves as it could be our last together."
Quassine does not look amuse when Simon picks him up, "Simon, please do not carry me after today. I know you meant well but please don't and thank you. Maybe Xanya will appreciate you carrying her?"
The night get later and later. As people fall asleep and the watches change, Quassine works through the night, the clink of the chemical bottles, the burbling boiling and concentrating the acid into higher and higher levels. It is careful tiresome work, and the reagents take a while to get right.
Day break slowly comes, with a grey glow to the east. It looks like it may be another overcast day. The dawn arrives and there is stirring in your giant crude tent. People wake up and go about their morning rituals, taking food and water and checking and assembling their gear.
The group gathers over breakfast and consults the map together. Within a short time, you break down the tent and pack up the alchemy works and prepare to set out for another trek through the wilderness.
The group estimates if you make good time today, you will be about in one third of the way to your destination area.
"Oh...I...uh"
The previous Charisma is gone from his voice as he gently lowers Quassine back down.
"I... I'm sorry. I wasn't... I thought."
He holds his arms together, grasping his elbows as he fumbles for words, only coming up with
"I'm sorry... Maybe Goliath is right. You guys go ahead. I'll just start my watch."
He picks up his belt and cloth, replacing them before going to Aster and Samba to watch the perimeter.
"Of course I would enjoy it. Feeling your strong arms lift me up is quite nice. What about me lifting you up Quassine? Would that be fine? And Goliath, we all preform better at pretty much any activity if we have good memories to look back on. You should join us some, abstaining gives you a less nuanced perspective on life."
Xanya prepeares an extract of comprehend languages and one of shield before they set out. She touches the others as she says. "I'm not very good at pathfinding, but my magic can help sharpen your mind and maybe I'll be able to point out details that are missed of we brainstorm together." Cryxial joins in as well.
Goliath does his best to point out what he feels the best path would be on the map.
Quassine smiles, "Xayna, I don't mind if you lift me up. If I was surely as strong as you, and once upon a time I was, I would lift you up. But alas, that is the past and I must deal with the present."
Quassine will aide Kiki in making a survival check, "Kiki, I believe you are the best at pathfinding? I will assist you"
Simon will remain mostly quiet for today, he only offers suggestions as best he can on where to go. He's probably afraid to say or do anything to offend anyone further. It would seem that making a misstep last night has greatly shaken his previously abundant confidence. It's a fairly immediate change in his temperament. Attempts to cheer him up seem to roll off, deflected with singular answers, and small, quick fading smiles, unless it's an attempt to patch things up in what he sees as Quassine still being mad at him. He doesn't try to fix the possibly(probably even) imaginary issue, for fear of making it worse. If he's going to get pulled out of his shell, it's going to need to be someone else addressing his imaginary problem.
Quassine sees Simon still being awkward, then pats the Wyvaran on the shoulder with a smile. "Simon, stop being awkward. I am not mad at you. I was just telling you not to lift and carry me to the tent when going to sleep for the night. If I am injured or for some reason I can not move on my own, then please carry me." Then Quassine bows to show extra respect to Simon.
Xanya is sad that Simon is sad, but like everything she tries to deal with the problem face on. She rides over to Simon and throws herself at him to give him a hug. "Cheer up! You miss so much if you go around being down. Just deal with the problems face on and move on. Then you can enjoy the rest of the time. Don't worry, I'll suppo you no matter what happens. You can count on me."
Nice place you found here Kiki. Though I guess it's a given that forests are your natural habitat eh? Still, it's nice to have someone well known in wooden territory with us."
"Thank you Xanya, and yes my race usualy lives in forest, but in the deaper and denser parts, you wouldn't need your darkness there, even on a summer day."
"I am not that good with maps, but I will try to guide us savely to wherever we need to go"
"You guys are right. I'm just being dumb. Thanks. And I promise I'll only lift you in the most dire of circumstances."
His smile comes back as a sarcastic grin while he holds Xanya up with one arm, holding the other at a right angle like he's making a pledge before offering it to Quassine for a hug. After last time, he doesn't just do it, but offers it for him. If it ends up as a group hug, he looks at Goliath, making sure he's not being left out if he wants in. Group bonding and harmony is important to Simon.
With his personal problems dealt with in the morning, he's a much more entertaining travel companion during the day. He shows everyone how he taught Samba to "give me a beat." To which the green parrot responds with a beat boxing beat, bobbing his head in time. He's also taught him to fist bump as a reward for doing things. When he's not performing (which the parrot greatly seems to enjoy), Samba is looking out for fruit trees they can take from without slowing down too much.
While traveling through the woods Xanya starts up conversation. "It looks like we'll be travelling together for some time. Finding and rescuing Goodwin won't be acomplished in the blink of an eye. Heck this'll be useful for the upcoming challenges we'll face. We should work out tactics and strategies that let us use play to our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. I'm far more effective when making a mounted charge than otherwise, but that might not be easy. Could any of you help with that? Otherwise I'm also more effective when flanking or when the opponent is otherwise unaware, though not as effective as when charging, both would be best, but that's of course even harder to pull off. I got spells to protect both mind and body, as well as the ability to make someone larger."
"None of that is tactics, as no one else is a mounted combatant. You are stating how you prefer to fight and what makes you the most effective. Tactics would involve the group of us and focus on bringing out the best in each to overtake the enemy. Tactically speaking we seem to be heavy hitters. We strike first, we strike fast, we get out. This will change based on the field of battle. We know nothing of the arena we will meet our enemy on. I am capable of fighting multiple foes and deflecting their attacks while striking back. I can hold a line but have not tried my skill against such a powerful foe. So much is unknown. Your mind and spirit is in the right place little sister. With a powerful foe we should focus one enemy at a time. Xanya can lead the assault terrain permitted. Kikki can hitch a ride and find herself at the point of engagement. Simon can take to the air and offer inspiring support and what arcane support he can. Mind the rocks Simon. Brother Quassine can offer his arcane magic and support as well. I will follow the charge and with luck we can hope to bring down one enemy with swift precision. If we take too long we will see each other in the life that follows this one."
He smiles as they walk and talk of the fight to come.
Xanya smiles, delighted to have someone to discuss things with, even though she was misunderstood. "Ah, you misunderstand me. Perhaps I assume to much. I should define the terms I use so we don't misunderstand each other. Tactics are simply chosing to do one action instead of another. It could be individual or all together. Where should I move? Should I attack or cast a spell? Which spell? And so on. In order for me to charge at the enemy, I need a clear path. Hopefully that won't always be true, but for now it is. The tactic involved then, would be you moving in such a way that I have an unobstructed line to the enemy. As for flanking, that involves at least two people coordinating their movements so they end up on opposite sides of the enemy. If the other person is not there, we won't be able to do that. Hence we should try to group up to fight, instead of tackling the enemies alone. I know that Quassine and Kiki also benefits greatly from such tactics, though Kiki has a way of handling it that makes it easier for all of us. She can climb on top of our enemies and provide the same benefit as if we were on opposite sides, saving us from having to run around. Another excellent point you brought up is that you can handle multiple enemies coming at you with your long reach. I can do a similar thing with my long lance. Hence the rest of you could employ the tactic of getting behind me and Goliath, forcing them to suffer our attacks of opportunity if they try to charge at us. I'm sure there are more ways we can help each other as well, I can think of everything. Maybe someone have spells or other abilities to help me charge of to force our enemies into certain disadvantageous situations. Simply dazing the enemies in place where I can charge at them could be effective as well."
None was specifically requested, so they assumed you might be hunting, but they added a few just to be cautious, because maybe you just forgot or assumed. I will add a few days to the food tally.
Day 7 - Morning
The group presses into the wilderness, following the map as best as they can, and keeping an eye out for hazards. You press north and make solid if slow progress through the rough terrain. By midday you work your way into a long valley and follow a small stream. The foliage near the stream is less dense and you make a little better time, and the access to the cool water is invigorating for refreshing rather than summoning created water into a container.
The group pauses for a break meal, beyond the sphere of your darkness the sun comes out a little from behind the clouds. Samba wheels into the sky stretching his wings, and Simon joins him briefly to feel the sun on his back and to do a brief reconnaissance. As they fly about keeping relatively low in case enemy might spot them, Samba squawks "House." to Simon. Simon wheels closer and has him repeat it and then he too sees what Samba meant. In the distance nestled on a rocking outcropping, some of trees tumbled away, you see the clear remains of an old ruins. It must be over two miles away, difficult to make out much details, but it is definitely not natural.
Simon spins back down to the group and lands in the sphere of darkness and reports his findings as the group is engaged in discussion of tactics and battle stratagems over their midday meal. Cryxial suns himself on a nearby log as the darkness loving races huddle in their shady cloud.
"Since, we have to wait for the rest of the day and night anyway, we should use the day for something useful. We don't know much about this land and time. Maybe we could learn stuff about it while we wait? Even the simplest stuff that you teach to kids could be useful, though more advanced topics would be welcome as well. Do you perhaps have a library we could borrow or maybe someone who could teach us?"
They give you a small primer from Loremaster Cronin called 'The Nordlands'. It seems to have a brief summary of the area, history and some interesting facts about the region you are in. It will help for knowledge local, some history and geography.
"Yest little sister flanking is always tactically sound, but it can cause one of us to get cut off. The giants will be bigger and reach will not be an advantage. One reason I want and will train to intercept charges is their momentum will carry them right up too me allowing me to attack their week spots. Their is an enchantment to add to my blade that will allow me to attack this opening a second time. This would be a great tactical advantage but none among you seek to train in this with me. So for now let us control what we can and focus on one at a time and try our best to protect one another."
"Yes, there is advantages and disadvantages to every tactic. We have to weight the pros and cons and figure out what's best for us. Everyone would benefit from flanking, that is true, however some are trained to take better take advantage of it to hit the enemies' weak spots for more damage. Kiki, Quassine and I all got this training. I think this greatly outweigh the risk of being cut of, especially if the one risking to get cut of is someone with really good defense like you or me. Though Kiki's climbing could save us from this risk entierly by simply going on top of the enemies instead of going around. Though if she is otherwise engaged I think we should try to take every opportunity we can to flank, even if it means risking being isolated. This is why we discuss this ahead of time, so we can make the right decision under pressure. As for reach, sure against Giants we won't have the advantage of reach, but the marshals also said there would be plenty of other creatures with them, orcs, wild beasts and so on. Against those we can use the tactic of hiding behind each other's to give us extra opportunity to strike them."
When Simon comes back to report his findings. She almost doesn't let him finish telling them before she interrupts. "Let's go and see! Exploring new places is fun! Who knows what we'll find? It might be something useful, like the ring with the merphit. We haven't heard much about permanent settlements in these lands. Maybe it holds a clue to some lost history, either about the giants or the missing monastery of Kao Lor. We aren't that pressed for time that we can't spare a bit to explore. Let's go see what's there!" She jumps up and runs over to hug Simon, then gives him a kiss before pulling back. "You are wonderful."
"I agree. Simon how far of a walk was it. It may serve as a possible camping spot, or base to strike from if we find giants in the area."
Quassine gives Simon and man hug but that's it. Quassine once was a barbarian warrior and the men would rarely hug. And if they did, it was macho in nature even between kin. In the Illithid society, there are no such emotions as love because to the Illithids, such things are not efficient. So for Simon to get any hug from Quassine, it is out of respect for his fellow adoptive sibling and Quassine retains a bit of his humanity.
For now, tactically, I am more effective at damaging foes on their flanks or at range. As I gain experience, I will be more effective 1-on-1 and of course, casting spells like all wizards and sorcerers. Perhaps, I will discover more powers that I did not know I had as I ... we gain experience?"
"Ruins are hit or miss depending on if something can live in them or not. Perhaps, it still can be used as a campsite if there is no shelter there? And perhaps, it will give us some secrets that we are looking for experience wise? Of course, I do not expect to find any evidence of Father there. At least, in this era? It would be funny if we saw our pasts in the ruins!" Quassine lets out a small gurgle laugh.
From the little he knows of Illithids and Quassine's past, he appreciates that he's willing to break from the tough guy act for him for a moment.
-------
"You've pretty much got me spot on. Aster is fearless in charging in, because he knows the worst that could happen is returning to Eden for a while. Mister Moss Mane is a tough guy, aren't ya?"
Simon pats Aster on the head and he bumps Simon with his shoulder good naturedly.
"What do you mean by rocks? Was our spot near a cliff or something? Rocks usually aren't a problem in the air..."
"Oh, wait, I think I know what you mean... How, uh. Is there a good way to... not get crushed by a boulder?"
Simon smirks as the meaning sinks in.
------
"It looked pretty empty, but there may be people there. We should check and make sure. And you guys are right, if no one's there, they may have left things or we could use it to sleep tonight. It'll be an hour and a half or so before we're there. We might stay the night in it."
He closes his eyes for a moment. "Now if I came this way, it would be over...there."
He points in the direction of the building and adjusts to go that way.
Quassine looks in the direction of the ruins, "Kiki, I don't like volunteering anyone but since you can move more silent than a flea's flatulent, it would be best that you scout out the ruins for us. I can go with you but I am far from as stealthy as you." Quassine looks at Goliath and laughs, "And definitely not Goliath, he is about as silent as an excited crow."
Simon chuckles and shakes his head at Quassine's attempt at humor.
"Good idea. If there's anyone there we should look ahead and plan. We may want to announce ourselves so as to avoid conflict because of our appearance."
The group gathers up quickly after discussion and makes a beeline for the ruins Simon and Samba saw. The trek through the wilds is quick, but the group is cautious and they let Kiki scout ahead periodically, her tiny form slipping agilely through the underbrush and shadows.
She returns reporting nothing ahead. In about 2 hours the group climbs a hill and you are able to see some trails that have been cleared by repeated traversing of something.
Kiki scouts ahead scrambling over rocks and trees and through the shadows to look around. She returns and says that many of the tracks are from local game, deer and foxes and coyotes, rabbits, and some birds. She also saw something larger, large clawed feet, bipedal humanoid.
Area around the entrance of the ruins.
From a slight distance and the cover of some foliage you view the entrance of the ruins. It is basically a big gaping hole in the hillside. The ruins are built into the side of the hill and there is a large stony edifice external but for the most part is appears decorative. It may be that at one time it contained battlements or a parapet, but those have crumbled away, leaving just the worked shell and some crumbling mortar. Inside, deep in the cool dark earth is where the mystery lies now....
"Good find Kiki. Are the tracks recent. They could be moving at night and have went to ground to keep from being spotted from the marshal and his scouts. We could lay an ambush and see what comes out this evening, or we could try and sneak in and catch them while they rest. Both have risk both have rewards. We don't know for sure if they are even an enemy."
Quassine smirks at Simon's response. "Well, I am not sure we should announce ourselves quite yet. We need to know what is up at the ruins, let's wait for Kiki's report.
Quassine nods, "Good work indeed Kiki and I say we wait to see what comes out first before we go into the "snake's" den so it can strike at us when we least expect? In other words, if we let it come out, it will be on neutral grounds while if we go inside, we will be on its grounds."
"Are the tracks even leading into the ruins, or cave rather? We have no guarantee that they are still in there even if they do. These are ruins, not a fort. I think we should just head in. As you say there are advantages even if they are in there. Who knows how long we might spend outside waiting, and that's if there is even anything to wait for. We could spend days outside waiting. I don't think we have that kind of time. The odds of someone spotting Kiki in the darkness are rather slim. She could scout say 60 feet ahead of us. I would want to be close in case something does happen though. We could probably cast defensive spells before heading in, but I don't think making you larger is a good idea Goliath."
Quassine shrugs, "If the majority of my brothers and sisters decide to go in, I will join you. And yes, casting preparation spells would be better but I would feel even better if Kiki went inside to get a layout of the area or at least reconnaissance the entrance if it is an underground complex. Like before, that is if Kiki wants to?
"That is why someone with tracking ability needs to determine how old the tracks are, and if they lead in and not out. If they are less than a day old and only lead in it is most likely a group traveling by night taking cover to not be spotted. Don't speak of tactics and then make a fools choice by walking into the enemy. If we lay an ambush we can set the battle to our advantage, but you may be right and there may be nothing of concern here."