"So how do we do that? Do we look for a Fjord or something?"
"Or an islet!"
Durgan shares whatever he knows about the land with Zokon.
"As to any deception we might use if we meet bandit patrols, there I cannot help you."
"Maybe we could tie the birds into a raft ..." Illthir muses as she eyes the fowl creatures. She didn't usually mind off-key singing but this was too much. Zokon was right.
"Might be easier to just make a normal raft though. But I'm not sure our mounts would agree."
"Could we make a raft out of the mounts? Do horses float in water?", Alia wonders, looking to the Ranger for clarification.
"Should we try making our own boat? Or try and find someone with one?
"If the piece of metal won't float in water, we'll need to try again with a bigger piece of metal!", Alia gets to work, using raw supplies provided by Scarlet and the others, building a tiny River Warboat with horse-driven propulsion-wheels and a ramming spike.
Zokon examines the area for a crossing point
While Alia is making a boat Zokon will patrol the riverbank with his bow out, looking for any possible threats in or around the waterway they must cross
Whoa! Elven ingenuity at its finest! Scarlet stands dumbfounded as Alia's plan goes off without a hitch.
Zokon examines the area for a crossing point
While Alia is making a boat Zokon will patrol the riverbank with his bow out, looking for any possible threats in or around the waterway they must cross
There don't seem to be any obvious threats (aside from low flying birds with gastrointestinal problems). Any tracks in the area are covered by muddy bird footprints.
It might be possible to use the local lake and river system to sail up to the fort (though it sits on a promontory on the edge of the Lake it abuts--so maybe land nearby).
The Candlemere Lake (to the North of your position) is known to possess a remarkably clear surface, and is surrounded by a great collection of trees, it is well known for the vibrant colors it takes on from the leaves that become trapped within it. In spring (as it is now) and summer, it becomes vibrant green, speckled with bursts of color. In autumn, it becomes orange, yellow, and fiery red, and come winter the frozen surface obscures a deep black that mirrors the inky sky above the lake.
According to local legend, drinking from the Candlemere during certain seasons has particular effects on the drinker, but there is no agreement as to the exact relationship between season and effect.
In the center of the lake stands a small mysterious island—hilly, and speckled with willows and morning and evening mists that rise off the lake itself.
"Probably need just a simple raft and use a rope across the river to pull it across relatively safely, as many times as needed." he suggests
"Hmm. Are we *sure* this is the fastest idea?" Illthir mumbles as she watched in awe as Alia built the boat. She didn't interfere of course, she quite enjoyed watching other people work! But she wasn't completely without shame; she'd help out with some refreshments and encouragement!
Durgan will do his best to help out (besides just lending the Any-Tool).
Posh gets involved because this plan is crazy enough that is might actually just work!
Posh seems to think that helping out involved using a tool to carve out a window. Afterall, we need holes to see out of in something that goes under water, right? However he failed to see the obvious lack of logic there, but once he does he decides to go back to helping in his normal way by singing a inspirational song.
(Singing Inspire Competence)
He also wishes to pain it yellow for some reason.
Given the great size and the fact that so much lumber is needed to build it the party moves northward to the coast of Candelmere Lake. Even so it takes over a week to construct. Over a dozen large trees need felling some for construction and some for the rollers that will be needed drag it to the water's edge. The horses are with the exception of Illthir's horse Walker trained for riding rather than heavy labor.
While the wood is cut and shaped hundreds of yards of hemp must be hand braided for lashings. There are no nails and so pegs are needed and wedges must be cut with axes made for war. There is no metal for wheels, gears, or axles and so horse power is out of the question this time out, yet the thing must be able to safely accommodate more than half-dozen horses and even more passengers and supplies. What ends up taking shape is an outrigger raft with a lean-to and centralized horse pen. A rough rudder is built for direct steering. Since there is no sail cloth to be had, the party makes do with rough-hewn oars. The whole thing is pretty rough considering you only have one small (any-tool) plane for sanding and actual ship construction does require several specialized tools. And so most of the wood still has its bark.
Finally the job seems done and the testing begins. Without any baggage a couple of horses help drag the thing out into the water where some of the party members. Loose bindings are identified and mended and once that is done the vessel seems lake worthy.
No floor window is included in the final raft because as someone explains one can just look over the side into the lake's crystal clear waters. That night the party goes to bed (as they have since arriving at the lake) exhausted.
Posh seems to think that helping out involved using a tool to carve out a window. Afterall, we need holes to see out of in something that goes under water, right? However he failed to see the obvious lack of logic there, but once he does he decides to go back to helping in his normal way by singing a inspirational song.
(Singing Inspire Competence)
He also wishes to pain it yellow for some reason.
The party proceeds down the river and into Candlemere Lake and along its coast, each night the party stops close to shore to allow the horses off to drag the craft as far up the rocky beaches as possible.
As he navigates the small craft, Durgan thinks back to all the times he helped the Lodovka family on the harbor.
It was hard work, but it was worth it. Alia's ingenuity and Durgan's preparedness created a boat out of nothing.
Scarlet didn't know a thing about sailing, but she at least recognized the river's features. Maybe it would help.
Listening to Scarlets figurings on how the geography should best be planned for Zokon chimes in with his own analysis
"It seems to me that we can travel a bit faster and safer if we steer to the leeward side of the river to go with the current and avoid obstacles, plus it seems that side of the river has better feed for the horses."
He also hunts as he can having made a simple wooden spear to fish with, using his rope to make it easy to retrieve
"Now this is a way to travel! Right Hestor?" Illthir is delighted to be on the new ship and was more then happy to share that with anyone. Even if that was currently just her horse.
This wasn't a pleasure cruise though. There were plenty of work to be done. She tries her best to help, and with a bit of magic even manages to be helpful!
"Hmm. I wonder if the stag-lord has considered an amphibious assault? Now if we had a catapult or something ..."
The party moves past the small forested island in the center of the crystal-clear lake. Amid the springtime blossoms they note the outline of ivy-covered, stone ruins deeper inland from the isle's rocky shore.
The next day the party makes it to the murky Tuskwater. The lake is rung on all sides with steep hills and cliff-faces. near midday the party can see the little ruined fort on the far side of the lake standing atop one of the highest hills.
Looking for a place to put in for the night is difficult the "ranger" of course knows from the maps he's seen that the Tuskwater is a bowl most times of year with the hills looming high on every side. But with the spring thaw (as is happening now) the water level elevates high enough that some of the lower vales flood. Two places look promising up ahead, except that Alia and Zokon both notice that the first is already occupied by something, just back from the water, in a thick stand of trees.
Scarlet's keeping watch, as usual. River water isn't really her forte- the former boss loved swimming. And of course her bro told her it wasn't as bad.
Whatever that thing is, Scarlet was in no mood to engage it. She motions they keep moving.
Zokon gets his bow out.. "Let's not engage if we don't have to, but we should move around it and as shallow as we can, so we can get footing if it comes for us and maybe goto option 2 or keep going to get away from this area" he says all the while eyes zeroed in on the beast
"Oh wow! That looks big." Illthir crouches behind something and peers at the monster, once it is pointed out to her.
"Let's make a note of where; might need to deal with this after the stag lord?"
The party finds another flooded cove to put into for the evening and plan their next move.
Alia ponders, seeing the creature.
"If that is what we think it is...does anybody know about those? In the stories, they don't seem particularily cunning. Maybe if we could lure it towards the Stag Lords Stronghold...how many of his peasant bandits would reconsider their employment, do you think? Could be two birds with one stone..."
"Hmm. That might just work ... But how?"
"What? You don't run up to big scary beasts and tell them Oi, plenty of food in the Stag Lord's fort!"
"I don't even know what it is. Fine. Let's scout it out first and see what our options are. I don't want to run into this thing if we need to retreat."
"We may be able to lure it out and get it to help us.. but we need to think about how fast it can move, how does a person get it's attention and then get away, how do we lead it to the bad guys and then make it goto attack them?" he says off the top of his head
"Lets first see what we know about Hydra, then we can try and formulate a plan based on that..."
People are milling around too much. Scarlet gets impatient.
She draws her swords and creeps up to the strange beast.
And what does she see? A trail, perhaps? An illusion? A trebuchet she can use to launch the hydra into the camp?
People are milling around too much. Scarlet gets impatient.
She draws her swords and creeps up to the strange beast.And what does she see? A trail, perhaps? An illusion? A trebuchet she can use to launch the hydra into the camp?
Illthir didn't feel too confident with this plan, but it was something. And she did what she could to help! Traveling by boat had allowed her to save her magical song; which might come in handy now!
"Thank you Illthir, that is most helpful."
"Where should we position ourselves? Closer to the fort, but out of the direct path? So we can intercept Scarlet and the Hydra en route if needed?"
Meanwhile, a quarter of a mile away (more or less), Scarlet is tromping "stealthily" through the forest when she begins to wonder if perhaps she has gone too far--east that is. So far there don't seem to be any hydra tracks (whatever they look like). She begins to wish Zokon were there. A ranger would really come in handy about now.
Suddenly there is a noise and the sound of something whooshing through the air inches from the top of her head!
March. March. March. What was that-
An owl?
Not a nocturnal owl, at least.
Hopefully she hasn't walked into a wizard's trap.
Zokon will decide to go anyway after Scarlet has left, he will try and catch up riding a bit of the way and then follow Scarlet at a distance seeing as he has faster speed for an hour.
Seeing the Owl swoop nearby he will move up to Scarlet
March. March. March. What was that-
An owl?
Not a nocturnal owl, at least.
Hopefully she hasn't walked into a wizard's trap.
Illthir didn't feel too confident with this plan, but it was something. And she did what she could to help! Traveling by boat had allowed her to save her magical song; which might come in handy now!
Zokon will decide to go anyway after Scarlet has left, he will try and catch up riding a bit of the way and then follow Scarlet at a distance seeing as he has faster speed for an hour.
Seeing the Owl swoop nearby he will move up to Scarlet