"It's a good thing we destroyed those plants, as you describe them, they are very bad for the forest, decimating the wildlife and lacking natural predators, as it is too cold up here for giant bugs or other vermin."
Kiki looks at the shackles on the body.
"I wonder if he was just a slave or prisoner that escaped and got unlucky, or if he was deliberately feed to those plants and then brought here. The first would mean that there are more plants somewhere here, the other would mean that someone wanted the plants to be here."
"I don't know if it was a wizard, per say, but I really doubt something this specific would evolve naturally. That's not something you get from regular adaptation of a plant. If I had to guess, I'd say it was either a druid or a fey that fell on the bad side of things."
Simon helps bury him and sets any flowers(that aren't musk creepers, that would be in poor taste) he might find on it. If none are around, he'll ask Aster to donate a few from his mane, gently taking them off, knowing they'll be back the next time he's summoned. Aster also helps, picking up rocks in his mouth and setting them down on the pile.
"Maybe once he's returned to the earth, something better will grow from here..."
He stands and dusts his hands off, cleaning them with Prestidigitation, offering the same to anyone that assists.
"If I'm wearing anything, it's getting cleaned first. Bad enough it's from someone that died, let alone that he's been that way for so long."
He kind of bristles all over like a cat.
"And Xanya dear, I think we might be looking at this from the wrong angle. Maybe instead of some of us running in after something, and others following along, we could stop first and have a plan of what to do? There's nothing wrong with a bit of caution, and if we practice this on the future, it might save us the trouble of having to fight at all. Just because something /might/ be harmful, we don't have to run it down before we /know/ it's harmful. I mean, look at us. If people saw us, we wouldn't want them to jump to conclusions about what we are. We might look threatening, but I like to think we're nice people. How can we expect others to give us a chance, if we run after anything with pointy teeth ourselves. And yes, I know we knew these things were bad this time, but they weren't going anywhere. We could've taken just a beat to have a plan of action before running in and stabbing things. If we have a plan everyone is a part of, it's safer for everyone. Just something to think about, ok?"
Simon explains his view of things to Xanya in a tone that conveys that he isn't chastising her, but trying to help her see it from another perspective. He's also ever-mindful of his anglings, to allow Card to follow along.
Presumably, they've started to continue walking at this point.
"That is concerning. The ones on his feet were broken, so maybe he escaped from somewhere and just ended up here. He could've been a convict, or maybe a slave. I'm not sure we'll ever know, but I guess everyone goes where they deserve to. These don't trap the soul like a regular zombie does, so there's that at least."
"It's a good thing we destroyed those plants, as you describe them, they are very bad for the forest, decimating the wildlife and lacking natural predators, as it is too cold up here for giant bugs or other vermin."
Kiki looks at the shackles on the body.
"I wonder if he was just a slave or prisoner that escaped and got unlucky, or if he was deliberately feed to those plants and then brought here. The first would mean that there are more plants somewhere here, the other would mean that someone wanted the plants to be here."
Kiki you are almost certain he was human or possibly half elf. You can collect the seeds that are implanted into a victim to create a new plant, but it is close to impossible given your means and tools to collect enough of the pollen that it sprays to entrance a victim. Most of the pollen was scattered in the fight. You can pick seeds out of the remains of the plants however. you collected:
Quassine looks back and forth between Xanya and Simon, and humbly replies with descriptive gestures which he picked up while talking to Rahaan, "I thank you Xanya for the compliment regarding my fighting prowess and I agree with Simon in regards to a compromise. Let us plan before charging in unless it is a near ambush or something similar in which planning is more of a detriment than a benefit? Xanya, I know you are intelligent so I am not going to insult your intelligence or anyone else's by giving you a drawn out example unless you prefer one? In regards to watching our backs, if I was attacked, I would have drawn them into the group or run to the group if I could not or knew I could not handle them. As for the ring, it appears to be a powerful ring or a ring of unrecognizable power because not all was revealed to me in the power surge I felt from detect magic. Let us study it together and see what it reveals to us? Then as a team, we can decide who should receive the ring. Who knows Xanya, maybe you would benefit from it more so than Simon?"
Quassine turns his attention to Kiki, "I agree Kiki, very bad for the forest and for the living. There is enough predation out here without the help of a possibly unnatural creation." Then he looks between Kiki and Simon, "I think it is a man who escaped and accidentally walked on to a Yellow Musk Creeper. Since the creeper animates the host, it ended up here because either the body could no longer feed the plant or the plant, for whatever reason, wanted to remain immobile here? Simon, in regards to the soul, it's not possible for the soul to be held back in a Yellow Musk Zombie but most definitely in a regular zombie?"
Quassine looks at Kiki picking up the seeds, "Please be careful with those seeds Kiki? I know I don't have to warn you of that but I feel better to remind you so you do not end up a new Yellow Musk Creeper creation." Quassine laughs a little at the image of Spiderling Yellow Mask Creeper Zombie, "Although, I must admit, it is a good idea to collect those for future use as long as we accept the responsibility of having the seeds."
Quassine looks to Rahaan, "How far is your camp? Can we make it before dark?"
Xanya helps out as best she can building the cairn. Her powerful muscles allow her to carry stones many times her weight. She studies the remains intently while they work, she find the inside of creatures to be quite intriguing. "I wonder what he or she was. Sadly it's been far to long to learn much useful from the remains. All we can do is put them peacefully to rest."
Xanya looks a bit frustrated at Simon's words, for those that can read her expressions. "Planning is all well and good, but we had decided already when I acted. A girl can only wait so long for you guys to make a move before she takes matters into her own hands." She winks at the guys. "And I don't like waiting much. I'll make you a compromise though. I'll try to wait more if you guys agree to plan faster." Not that it necessarily is possible to always do that, but it feels fair to Xanya. "If someone jumps us, we'll just have to be ready for it. Heck under the right circumstances I don't mind being jumped, not at all. Some action can be a great way to release tension."
After Quassine finishes talking about the ring she suddenly turns towards him with a charming smile and holds out her hand in a daintly fashion, quite unlike her normal demeanor, though given how erratic she acts, it might be hard to call anything normal. "Studying it together is a splendid idea, what better way to do so than by experimenting? If you like, you could've put a ring on it? Though maybe Simon will be better at experiment, but I am certainly willing to start."
"those seeds might come in handy at some point, maybe we can discover the origin of this species or if they have some alchemical or medical properties"
"Good idea getting those out. They might have gotten planted again, and we would've had the same thing happen to someone else. I do think we should burn them, though. I really don't think any good can come of them."
Cardau stares at the ground and starts wringing his hands as soon as he sees his friends arguing.
Quassine nods at Xanya's comment about the skeletal remains but does not reply.
Quassine smiles at planning faster compromise, "Sure I can compromise to plan intelligently faster."
Quassine takes out the ring and sighs, "I would have rather studied it more but since it belongs to the school of summoning perhaps it will better serve either of you more? Since I have not been able to study it further, there is a risk of using such an item especially after a detect magic surge in which not everything was revealed." Quassine hands the ring over to Xanya.
Looking at Kiki, "I agree and maybe even sale the seeds if need be? Hmm, never mind, let's just keep them for our purposes? This way we can ensure they will not become uncontrollably dangerous."
"And Simon, maybe you are right about burning the seeds but we should see if they come to good use since we currently don't have much and almost everything is a potential tool or a possible source of income."
Quassine looks to the group, "I am ready to move out when you all are."
"I know a bit about plants, let me think about it for a bit. If they're good for anything, I can probably figure it out."
Proffesion: Herbologist
Know Nature
"As far as the ring goes if it's in that wheel house, I'd probably use it more than Xanya, as she tends to do her own fighting. I'm really not much of a combatant myself. I'd rather solve things without anyone getting hurt, but if it comes to defense, I'll usually be summoning things to help as opposed to doing it myself. You guys should've seen me when Goodwin was trying to teach me sword play..."
He laughs a bit.
When Card looks away he goes over and hugs him.
[B]"Hey now. It's ok. We're just talking things out, alright?"[/b
He gives his fuzzy friend a smile.
"Maybe someone like Goodwin has an interest in plants instead of monsters. Maybe even Goodwin will be interested? Selling sounds dangerous as it could be used for nefarious purposes, but if we could somehow cultivate the plants and use them produce the pollen and then concentrate it to use as a sededative, drug or non-lethal posion, that would be really cool. Back in the Underdark where I lived the drow used to have a poision that simply knocked people unconscious. Since killing is bad, this could be good by knocking out our enemies instead!"
Xanya accepts the ring with a smile by threading it onto her finger. "Thank you. You could still study the ring of course, I doubt you would do that when we are traveling anyway. You can get it back whenever we stop and got some time on our hands, though I might want to join you in that work." Then she promptly turns, walks over to Simon, takes off the ring, grab his hand and put the ring on it. "There you go pretty boy. And I am sure there is one 'sword' you'll be able to use quite profiecently at least."
Cardau looks up when Simon hugs him, and hugs him back tightly. "OK. Sometimes it's hard for me to tell what you guys are talking about, especially Quassine. Those tentacles get in the way. I guess we're ready to go on now?"
"Thanks hun. We'll see what we can do with it. I can't call anything while Aster is here, but if we get to a place where we can rest for a moment, we can try it out."
He goes over to the grave for a moment before they leave and kneels down.
"I promise in your name, whoever you are or whatever brought you here. If you were good, may you be exalted in the heavens, and if you were not, may this ring help you atone. I will use this for good. You will live on with the beings that help me defend the good and fight the evil. Thank you for your sacrifice."
He places the hand with the ring on the top rock for a moment before nodding and standing.
"So. Off we go?"
He'll put an arm around Card's shoulders as they walk, turning his head so he can see him speak.
"So, fuzzy. Tell me about yourself? Where're ya from? If you don't mind my asking, have you always had the hearing problem, or is it more recent?"
As they start off again Xanya motions to Kiki to hop on. "It's faster if you ride with me, or do you prefer to scout ahead? Besides I enjoy your company. You've lived a long time right? Surely you have some stories from before Goodwin? Maybe you could tell me one while we travel? I am in the moon to hear something crazy to brighten my mood."
[ooc]Are we still travelling at half speed?[/b]
"those seeds might come in handy at some point, maybe we can discover the origin of this species or if they have some alchemical or medical properties"
Kiki you can put the seeds in your spell component pouch.
"I know a bit about plants, let me think about it for a bit. If they're good for anything, I can probably figure it out."
1d20+8Proffesion: Herbologist
1d20+10Know Nature
Simon you don't know of any specific herbal or natural application for the seeds. If you could collect enough of the pollen there may be some sort of use for the entrancing effect, but you are unaware of any studies that have been done to distill it or concentrate it, or make it more effective than the short time it would work in nature. Surely the seeds themselves may grow into the plant under the right conditions, and there are uses as somewhat unsavory guardians, particularly if you intentionally let them infect some living creature, but beyond that your lore doesn't recall anything.
Xanya, your alchemical mind goes places once Simon ponders the potential of diluting it or concentrating it. You yourself had not heard of such a thing, but clearly your background as well as training have similar examples. You ponder the possibilities, but in the end, short of an experiment, you don't know what may happen.
Quassine and Xanya pool their spellcraft knowledge. Quassine knows he was on the cusp of figuring it out, he just needs to take some time. Possibly there is a command word. As you both toy with the ring, it cleans up a bit, and the debris wipes away, barely visible in the tarnished metal you see some faint runes. Not magical mind you necessarily, but etched very tiny, almost on the edge of the inside of the ring. Not nicely inscribed inside the band like would be preferable or handy, but barely visible almost on the edge of the ring. It is in a language none of you know, but a linguistics roll may determine what it is, or possibly help you figure it out.
Day 2 - Afternoon
After the conversations the group was standing in the musk creeper glade ready to move again, you spot in the air large rainbow colored letters 'goatlings misunderstood'. Rahaan and his fellow goatlings start to bleat and baa in excitement and confusion. "Sky spirits! in the little Common they have learned, and "Ancestors ...speak to us...." that you make out in Goatling.
Kiki can climb a tree, or Simon can take to the air and the letters are in the sky a good half mile away yet, and they change again shortly within 5 minutes to say 'we have translator' and then again in 5 more minutes as you battle the thick foliage and rugged undergrowth and rocky uneven terrain 'these are sacred lands' followed by 'Humans to the south'. You ponder the meaning of these and the goatlings are eager to get to their camp which seems close but agonizingly slow to get to.
As Xanya moves to give the ring to Simon, she notices there is written something on it. She gets excited and claps her hands. "There is something written on it! Come and see Quassine! My magic will help us deciper it. Listen to the voices in your heads, they might just help!" She mutters a series of quick incantations and touch herself, Simon and Quassine.
Xanya casts
Xanya studies the ring, but it is hard to make out the runes, and it simply isn't recognizable to her.
As the group is assembled, another goatling from the forest signals, and the goatlings respond. It seems as though the main goatling camp is preparing to head to the lake, and will assemble there. Rahaan says to the group "Lake..water..camp" and points to the east where you had come from. He seems happy despite having to turn around whence he came. "Come!!" He claps Quassine and Xanya excitedly on the back.
The other goatlings pick up their steps and motion for the group to follow as they head east again.
Xanya turns around to follow the goatlings on the new path. "Well, looks like somone already went to the camp and talked with the goatlings there, that's probably what the sign in the sky was about. Hopefully they managed to work things well enough. If they have managed to negotiate something good, it is nice, though it kind of sucks at the same time to have no say in the proceedings. I like to participate in the things going on, not stand off on the sidelines while others handles things for me."
Quassine had already forgotten about the ring and deep in thought when Xanya excitingly asks him to study the ring again, "Huh, what? Something new?" Quassine quickly walks over and uses both read magic and his linguistic skill since he does not have any other utility spell memorized except for detect magic.
In the back of Quassine's mind, he hopes the Goatlings remain friendly and let bygones be bygones. But if not, this will be the case of a near ambush that the brothers and sisters discussed after the the encounter with the Yellow Musk Creeper when Xanya was not happy with his decision to plan more before charging.
Then he looks at Rahaan, "Lead the way my friend."
Quassine follows the group East.
"I agree Xanya but maybe we will have our word as well or maybe Archmage Goodwind taught us all to work more as a team than we all realize but there is an emergence of leadership hence the earlier disorganization."
Quassine examines the ring. The runes are not magical, but he recognizes the word as Terran. No one in the group speaks Terran so the word remains cryptic to the group. Quassine and others are familiar with the runic alphabet but languages have changed. More study or trial and error may get the word right.
Linguistics
Unless it was automatic, Quassine relays what he learned about the runes to the Xanya and Simon, "Well time to learn Terran, I wonder if the Goatlings know Terran? Rahaan, you speak Terran?"
Simon you are able to take a look at the structure of the word, and the runes. Working with Quassine you narrow down the possible pronunciations based purely on your knowledge of the runic alphabet. That knowledge may be quite dated, but you are hoping a language such as Terran is less prone to change over the millennia. You settle on about four possible translations/pronunciations.
As you examine the ring and discuss, Quassine asks Rahaan. The goatling listens, trying to understand your goatling, but just shakes his head with a no. You aren't sure if its because he doesn't know the language, or if he doesn't know what Terran is.
"Thank you Rahaan." Then looks towards Simon and Xanya, "I'll ask him again later or someone else." Quassine again searches for food while they continue their trek unless of course, they can not carry more. No idle time is wasted.
"You know, I used to be a strike leader, back when I still lived with my people. My force of personality was just that great! It almost makes me pissed off to not get my rightful say on a matter that interest me, though I realize some people might be even more diplomatic. Maybe it'll be easier if we all travel in different directions to search for Goodwin? What did the rest of you do back before you met the Archmage?" A wide range of emotions course through Xanya as she continues to speak. She starts of contemplating, then veers off into anger before finally coming to an intense curiosity when she queries the rest for their previous vocations.
"I was actually just asking Cardy about that before all this stuff happened just now."
He puts his arm back around Card.
"So, how bout it?"
Presumably they head back to the lake now.
Once the group starts moving again, Kiki will scout ahead like before.
"I was usually part of a patrol, as I lack talent for fey magic. I was the one that had the glorious and dangerous task to finish of any enemies that didn't succumb to poison. I also sometimes take command during battle, if necessary."
Quassine smiles, "We all have our specialties or new lives to walk. I think we will work better in smaller groups because there are too many emerging leaders in our group which is going to cause friction. And even though Archmage Goodwin made us siblings, true siblings do not always get along and us being made up of different races and cultures, that adds to our dynamics."
Quassine pauses ...
"As you already know, I was a Barbarian Warrior captured by Illithids in Underdark. When their metamorphosis, which is really the Illithid birthing process failed on me, they experimented on me. And when they found or didn't find what they were looking for, I was to have my brain sucked out and discarded in the trash pit which they used to create natural gas through the methane biodigestation process. This is when Archmage Goodwin saved me during one of his research expeditions."
Day 2 - Later Afternoon into Evening
As the various groups of Goodwin's disciples return the the lakeside, they see the Goatling camp in full swing. At least a hundred or more goatlings are moving about efficiently building large bonfires, collecting dead wood and driftwood also for funeral pyres. Quite a few more are involved in food preparation, as large bags of grain are opened and used to make food. It appears everyone knows of the outsiders now, and there appear to be no ill feelings for the deaths of their brethren. In fact they seem to take it quite in stride, and place a great deal of honor on the fallen, almost as if those who fell in battle were somehow blessed or lucky to do so.
You are able to mix freely with the goatlings, although in their hustle and bustle they move about with purpose and at times you feel as if you are getting in the way. They welcome you in the camp but it seems clear that you may wish to build your own shelters. The goatlings have set up some tents made of wild animal skins, but it isn't clear if you are invited to shelter in them. You see Bowki, Bavari and Rahaan at times as they move about, and many goatlings seem to be asking them questions about the newcomers.
In time more goatlings arrive, this time they bring with them large satchels, carried between two goatlings, which when unwrapped reveal many large kettle base drums. These appear to be very well crafted, each carved with fine detail, a masterpiece of art and craftmanship unto itself. These are set up along the shore in a special place on some large rocks that are moved in place.
The camp is a whirlwind of noises, smells, warmth from the fires, and cool breeze from the lake. There is a palpable aura of excitement in the air. Despite only having vague ideas regarding the Ceremony of the Lake, you feel it is a big deal for these people.
Not long after the camp is flowing smoothly. You hear the trumpeting of horns to the south, a mix of high clear bright noises accompanied by long deep, powerful blasts that shake the air and almost make you jump from your skin. The entire camp of goatlings stands at once, stopping what they are doing and look to each other in a state of surprise. Within seconds they all cheer at once and scramble to reverently assemble. Those of you with the ability to understand some goatling, it is clear that Golden Ram has arrived. This apparently unexpected event causes the camp to quickly fly into an even greater frenzy of activity, cleaning, adjusting, moving and clearing a space of honor for their leader's tent.
Shortly the leader appears. Golden Ram is tall for a goatling, you estimate nearly eight feet tall, not as tall as the minotaurs or ogres among you, but certainly majestic. His horns are long, thick and curved back, sweeping curking back into spirals behind his broad head. His pelt is thick and luxurious looking, and indeed quite golden in color. A thick beard adorns his chin and he wears a set of silvery armbands matched by a large silvery chestpiece.
Surrounding him are at least a dozen warriors, also large for goatlings, and they look grizzled and battle hardened. Some of them are missing horns or tufts of fur. They scan everything remaining vigilant and when they see the outsiders you they seem to be watching you in particular.
You see a few revered elders accompanying Golden Ram in the entourage, each with their own mini entourage of attendants and warriors. The horns you heard earlier are carried by several large goatlings, each with several smaller horns but also each carrying two very large horns from perhaps a dragon, elaborately carved. The entire procession settles in and they begin moving about efficiently. The Golden Ram confers with his elders and after a huge tent is erected, their leader disappears into the tent with some of the elders and the warriors fan out and create a guard around the structure.
The excitement of the arrival of their leader, has the goatlings scurrying about to make the campsite ready for the grand ceremony which probably takes place after darkness falls. Bowki or Bavari check in from time to time and see if the groups are doing ok.
When Bowki, Bavari, and/or Rahaan come by, Quassine asks them with gestures and in Goatling, "Can we help? Do we need to build our shelters? Do we talk to Golden Ram or does he talk to us?"
Bavari indicates that you may wish to build some shelters, although he will see about getting you some skins to use. Since they have some fallen, they may have some spare tents and gear to use. Shortly the spare gear is distributed to your group and some of the others.
They assist and show you how to set up the skin tents.
They advise that Golden Ram will probably address your groups at some point, although he is focused on many things currently. It would be rude to simply approach him, and his guards would stop anyone anyhow.
While using gestures, "Thank you Bavari and my friends for the tent parts and help with tents. They will be better than wood tents. In addition, thank you for keeping us not rude with the Golden Ram."
"i am going to figure out who Bowki and Bavari are and what actually happened at the camp, then I'll try to get an audience with this Golden Ram. Feel free to tag along." Xanya says before riding off, though letting Kiki ride with her if she wants.
Xanya you learn that Bowki and Bavari are like Rahaan, goatlings who have worked with the groups and have actually had a share languages spell cast on them so that they can communicate in Common.
Bavari is one of the shamans. When you ask him about an audience with Golden Ram he replies "Ahh yes. There will be an audience. Our glorious leader will meet with your people to discuss his plans and ideas, probably in the morning. I can't speak for him or the Elder Council, but that seems to be the most likely time. Tonight we celebrate the Ceremony of the Lake, and honor the dead who have fallen in battle. Are you enjoying your time here in these lands? They are sacred to us, and pristine, we hope to always keep outsiders from them, but we understand the unique situation for your group."
Xanya shakes her head almost angrily. "Enjoying my time in these lands? We came here to find clues to finding our friend and mentor Goodwin. He has been trapped an imprisoned in such a way that he was unable to return to us. We need to free him We haven't found anything. The monastery we expected to be here is gone. You haven't heard anything about it or anyone called Kao Lor right? Hopefully your leader will be able to help us some. Fighting your people might have been fun, but ultimately it was not a good thing that some of your people had to die." Xanya is quite sad at the last comment and almost starts crying again.
Bavari seems somewhat shocked. "I have not heard of Kao Lor or a monastery. I have heard that you lived on this world ten thousand years ago. That is a long long time for our people and our stories. I suspect it is a long time for even the longest and largest of empires and nations, and I doubt Golden Ram will know these things, but he can advise you in perhaps some way to find out. In my opinion you are going to need to seek out divination magic. Sometimes the dead remember and they have answers. Communing with higher powers can also provide answers. Our ancestors and their spirits often tell us many things we have forgotten. Xanya, do not be angry. Anger will only eat away at you, like a poison, if you feel a fury or rage, funnel it into work or exercise to hone the body, or use it to fuel your battle spirit, but when using your words, anger will always be toxic. You and several others here have twin runes marking you and a creature. Tell me, what bound is there. From whence comes these mystical spirits?"
Quassine nods and smiles, then humbly replies "Bavari, your wisdom is the same as my combat master who taught me how to fight using my mind, fist, and foot as my weapons. I feel you may be a Golden Ram some day if it is possible."
Xanya barks a short laugh, gone is her anger and sadness. "Funny that you should ask that. My bond with Cryxial is just such a result of channeling my anger for something else. Of course I have more twisted emotions inside me than most most middle sized communities of other races put together, but Goodwin helped me channel all that to reach out, through dimensions and into another plane to bring Cryxial here. I can channel those same emotions to form a protective layer around either of us or even to make us temporarily larger. As I said Goodwin helped us find each other, I am sure that was in part so Cryxial could help me not stray from the path of good as he knew he wouldn't always be around to guide me. As you can hear my bond is deeply personal to me. I am sure the others with such runes have equally personal stories about their bonds. Just as your spirits guide you, Cryxial guides me, though he is always with me. You mentioned earlier that your spirits guide you. Could you seek their guidance for any clues about how to find Goodwin or Kao Lor? It would help us immensely. Will you speak with them during this upcoming cermony?"
from Xanya's shoulder Kiki asks "Bavari, do you know of any Fey in this area? Ten thousand years might be too long for mortal races to remember, but some fey might, if it was interesting enough."
Bavari scratches his ear, and seems surprised when Kiki speaks. He had probably mistook you for a familiar or minion. He recomposes and responds. "The races of faerie have been gone from these lands for a long time. Stories among my people mention them, but none living among us has ever met any on the plateau here. It is a small area, closed off from the world. In some ways perfect, but in others too secluded for perhaps anyone to survive too long. Even many of the animals leave through the gap occasionally. There are powerful spirits that dwell here."
"Xanya, the ceremony doesn't quite work like that, but it is possible some opportunity may emerge that would allow it. Things seem to change, and every day brings something new. What do you know of Kao Lor? It will help us if we indeed can find a way to commune."
"Not much to be honest. Just that he was master's friend. Jovar should know more. Come let's find him." Xanya attempts to get Bavari to follow her so they can find him together to ask about Kao Lor or other things to help find Goodwin.