As you follow the river bank to the west you come up to another river going to the south after about two miles. There seems to be something sticking out of the ground in front of the river.
Perception
As they follow the river bank to the west and come to another river going to the south after about two miles, Elathras sees something sticking out of the ground in front of the river. As he takes a closer look he identifies it as a statue overlooking the river here; it is worn and weathered, but its demonic shape, with bat wings and ram’s horns, can still be discerned. The statue’s outstretched arm points to the southwest. Stopping the team he point out the statue.
"did you gentlemen notice the statue, how it's demonic shape seems to be pointing to the southwest? It is an ill omen, how do you want to proceed, following this branch to the west or follow the direction of yon statue and follow the other branch of the river to the south west?"
A foul visage indeed. We should at least bury the thing, if not render it down to rubble. Give me but a moment, and I will judge if it's aura merits the sledge or the shovel. As for swimming the river to avoid a bit of adventure? Why would we do such a thing. The mere thought is ridiculous. We are being brave today. Bears or demons matters naught, the true test is yourself. You must master your thoughts, that they not suggest cowardice. Then, only then, might you earn your dog and the charge!
Looking at the statue, Mitleid shakes his head and spitting out a glob of spittle. "That evil thing points to the Southwest. Can anyone of you make a map? One of you bookish types?"
Ok, I edited the Area Map. If you note you are on the east side of a north south river that feeds in the Canyon River you were following. So in order to continue following the Canyon River you either have to swim the smaller river or look for a ford, which is a survival check. Hence Ranger work. Or you could just not cross either river and head south. We know how Mittlied doesn't want to get wet![/ooc]
Irenicus nods and pulls out some parchment and begins to draw a rudimentary map showing the statue and lay of the land.
Lads it's merely a semblance of evil, true evil radiates a palpable miasma enough to sear the soul. Smash it or leave it and we shall proceed to find it's maker. Why, the locals would have you believe that everything here is evil, but look closely and perhaps they are simply seeing statues and bears, eh? Onward.
"Remember the townsfolk told us there were bandits to the south. If we aren't sure where the bear is, maybe we could head south, and poke around looking for either it, or those nasty bandit types."
As Irenicus draws out paper and pen to draw a map and Dolgrin determines the extent of the evil of the statue Elathras, kneeling on his haunches, asks the group, pointing out three different directions.
"Are we going to cross to the north bank of the river or are we going into the wetlands between the rivers or staying on the south bank here and heading south-west following the direction of the statue? Once we decide which way we are going we will find a Ford or we can swim the river."
As Elathras point he keeps a keen eye out looking for anything unusual.
Looking around Mitleid fingers his arrows and begins his mantra.
I am nothing. The bow is nothing. The target is a point, the arrow the way. Let the way meet the point.
An old castle on a hill top, that's very interesting
seeing the castle off in the distance, Elathras asks the team, pointing out the castle to the others
"I realize we have agreed to follow the river to look for the 'red bear' but either before or after can we go check out that old castle? At least lets travel the north bank of he river so were over near it when were ready.
with that Elathras begins looking for a ford to cross the river to the north bank.
Virgil looks at you like you want me to do whut? He is more of a trapper than a tracker, but he will try.
About a mile and a half south of you is a ford across the river. Just one problem, the river splits again north of it. You look north and there is one about a 1/4 mile north.
this is lovely land, a shame it is accursed by the crypt, maybe we can deliver the land from this blight so it may thrive
After Virgil leads the team a mile and a half south they ford the southern river and then he continues leading them north to a second ford and crosses the northern branch of the river. Elathras asks
"Shall we follow the river looking for bear tracks until we are directly south of the castle and then decide if we are going to go to the castle or continue following the river?"
as the team follows the river Elathras will keep an eye out for any tracks on the bank of the river and any other unusual things in the forest.
"Good idea, Ela. Let's keep our options open. Wonder if some bandits might be holed up in that castle?"
You cross the ford to the north and follow the river south along the left bank. After about an hour or so you come along some tracks heading southwest.
Elathras keeping his eyes peeled on the mud at the bank of the river spots some tracks, he stops and examines them for a moment and then calls out to the group.
"Hang on a minute, fellow hunters, there are tracks leading to the south west, if we can shall we follow them?"
Elathras attempts to follow the tracks
Roll a knowledge nature please.
Need to have 1 rank. Irenicus has a +9 to his skill. They are heading to the lake.
as the team follows the tracks it becomes apparent that they are deer tracks and they continue on following the river towards what appears to be a lake. As they near the lake Elathras asks the team
"Shall we rest here for a moment and see what we can find?"
Elathras continues looking for any sighs of traffic or anything interesting.
You spot 2 deer off in the distance.
Where there are tracks, there are frequently tiny fellows with stilts and elaborate track-presses. There are sometimes also the actual thing which is making tracks like monster, which is also sometimes an actual monster, although not all monsters are ill mannered.
Dolgrin looks around hopefully.
Sadly I see no tiny fellows, so perhaps it is what it is. Has anyone been studying botany or biology? I get them so confused.
1 buck, 1 doe
is the Halfling speaking common?
watching the deer in the distance, fingering one of the javelins in his war-quiver he asks the team
"Shall we hunt the deer, venison would be good and the hides should earn a little gold."
at least enough to not chop wood for my supper, if nothing else
drawing a javelin Elathras attempts to stalk closer to get with in throwing range
The tracks were deer.
Initiative
"I say we take the deer. We can dine on those to keep from having to head back to town and get more rations."
Wdrozgúk follows along in the back, keeping alert during the march.
His only comment about the demonic statue is "Ugly; really ugly!"
waiting until just before the archers are ready to fire, wanting to bring the buck down himself but not to ruin there chance, Elathras pulls a javelin from his war-quiver and running forward hurls it at the Buck
"Yes, just deer tracks there. Venison for dinner, I presume?"
"Do any of you have any long range spells or bows? Those deer are going to spook soon if we can't get some arrows in the air quickly."
Virgil sighs, pulling his shortbow and approaching the deer. He signals his advance to Mitleid, pointing and frowning vigorously at the buck. The ranger slinks almost silently through the underbrush towards their prey (or at least he thinks so).
Edit: What a miserable stealth. Attack looks good though, I added a damage roll.
2nd Edit: If it wasn't clear, Virgil is targeting the buck. And no, Virgil doesn't have Knowledge: (Geography). Sigh.
Mittlied pulls out his longbow and takes a shot at the buck to try and finish it off before it runs:
The buck drops and unless someone else can fire and the doe she will run off.
[I]Elathras lets out a whoop and seeing the dear drop he runs and removes his javelin from the tree calling out
"well shot Virgil and Mittlied. we will feast tonight"
After clinbing the tree and removing his javelin he proceeds to where the buck dropped and aids in butchering it, offering the heart to Virgil since he put an arrow in it first.
"the heart is your right, Virgil"
handing the still warm bleeding heart to Virgil Elathras finishes carefully removing the hide and rack from the beast to use later
when they set up camp he will lay the strips of meat over the flames to jerk them for the journey
Virgil shudders, looking down at the heart confused. "Uh, thanks."
The ranger pauses, before offering it back to Elthras. "I... uh... can't eat hearts. Arden wouldn't have wanted me to."
At that, Virgil begins digging his arrow out of the deer and helping the half-elf prepare the venison.