Jader looks into the shed and does a quick inspection. Though filled with worn farming implements, it seems nondescript and is thankfully empty of any dangerous creatures. He continues to the garden, which has suffered none of the ravages from the ankhegs. Other than simple neglect, these gardens are undisturbed.
Tess nods at Jader's instructions and keeps her trident at the ready to prevent anything dangerous to harm the already strongly weakened group.
She keeps an eye out for Jader, as instructed.
Jader wields his shield and scorpion whip as he tries to stealthily search around. He looks back at Tessamine and motions everything is okay
He lumbers along with all the Stealth of an elephant
However he does notice some animal skeletons in the field and even more disturbing a skeleton of a small humanoid
He tries to see how fresh the skeletons are without getting any closer. Also he looks to see if anything of use is nearby the skeletons
Jader relays all this information back to Tessamine to share with the group
Regaining consciousness, Kar stands painfully. He winces, but otherwise makes no sounds of complaint. Thank you all, he says simply. He then fishes out the potion from his sash and drinks it as well.
Feeling much better, he once again moves to the edge of the group and silently keeps a watch open for anything that might approach.
Vashina waits with the injured and tries to keep her eye on them, though she's not exactly feeling at her best right now.
"Well this place isn't exactly what i was hoping for. A safe place to stay and exploring the wilderness is what i signed up for. So far this has been anything but that!"
Vashina sits down outside the small shed and looks over her wounds while she waits for news on Jader's scouting trip.
Jader will investigate the sheds near the farm with the skeletons. Then after this he will go back towards the ocean then move down the path between ...to investigate the grove of trees. Then to investigate the farm to the east
Upon getting Posh's spell, Tess nods dutifully. "Thank you, I'm sure this will be a great help. Separating is necessary for the moment, it seems, but I think being aware of each other's situation is going to be key. This appears to be a dangerous place."
Upon hearing Vashina comment on their current situation, Tess offers a quip in return. "Indeed, Vashina, so far this place seems to be quite the fixer-upper." She snickers at her own small attempt at a joke.
Then, she realizes something. "Oh, that's right!"
She then fishes out the healing potion Jader gave her earlier, and hands it over to Kal. "Kal, you should drink this."
As Jader's investigation continues, everything he relays to her, she immediately relays to the group.
"Skeletal remains? Interesting...could he tell the race?" inquires Posh, rubbing his leg. "Oh, I suppose it'd be safer to inspect that more closely in force. Perhaps we could feed some more Ankhegs..."
Kar looks over at Posh after his last statement and opens his mouth likes he's going to say something. Then seems to think better of it and simply turns back to his watch.
The remains about the center of the garden appear to contain mostly animal bones, and there doesn't seem to be anything of note besides that amongst the plantlife. Jader continues on, around the rows, and towards the trees.
Standing near an evergreen tree is a fruit-bearing tree with spiny branches and reddish-purple, apple-shaped plums. A few plums have fallen to the ground to spoil in the heat and birds have pecked at others. Nevertheless, there are still many fruits to pick and eat.
As Jader Investigates the groove he sees some trees with fruit on them and wonders what they are. He moves to get a closer look
Jader seems to have no idea what the exotic fruit is, but he relays back to the party what he has seen, and describes the fruit. He also states ”It appears to be relatively safe if others would like to join me if you are feeling up to it that is.”
Tess relays the information, like before, and suggests they join Jader together. "I think first and foremost, we shouldn't leave the wounded behind, but if everyone can walk, maybe it's better to keep moving."
Let us continue forward. Kar agrees with Tess
Kalathiel accepts the potion with a nod of thanks and quickly drains it of its contents. It works extremely well, mending cuts and soothing most of his pain. He casually tosses aside the empty vial and leaps to his feet. "Ahh, that's so much better. Still a bit of a bruise on my leg, but that'll disappear soon enough."
He does a couple stretches, then picks up his blade. "We should indeed keep moving, if possible. One brush with death certainly isn't going to deter me," he states emphatically. He takes a few steps in Jader's direction before stopping and looking over his shoulder. He motions with his head to the others. "Shall we?"
A soft groan escapes his lips as Posh climbs to his feet. Leaning on his walking stick, he nods. "I'm not gettin any younger sittin here. By all means, lead on."
"You know, there was a group of reports I had to catalogue about this hidden chamber below a special tavern in Absalom..." he begins, diving into another tail of someone elses making.
Kar will quietly pick up the vial that Kalathiel tossed aside and stay near to Posh as the group moves on, intending to support him should he stumble. But ignoring his stories.
As he sees the others coming his way Jader waits for them. Cautious of another attack from an unseen foe he keeps his eyes and ears alert.
”It wouldn’t due to be attacked or the others be attacked after I gave the ok that everything is safe”
Vashina follows along with the group as they head to Jader's location.
She sees the fruit tree and if givent he opportunity will take a moment to inspect the fruit.
"I'm confident that this fruit is edible, so that's some good news for a change."
Kalathiel nods. "That's good to know."
His eyes move up and down the tree, inspecting it and the area around it.
The disturbed soil catches his eye, and Kalathiel crouches down to investigate. "What do we have here..." he mutters as he inspects the spot, using one hand to clear away the loose dirt and dig for whatever's underneath.
Finishing up his story of valor at the world wound, he notices Kalathiel inspecting the dirt. "Must say, friend. You are quite impressive. To be able to be sooo wrapped up in my tail and still notice such a small thing."
Turning towards the tree, he nods "Well, at least we know we won't starve, yet."
While everyone looks around, Tess keeps her guard up much like Jader, making sure to anticipate any unwelcome surprises before they have a chance to, well, surprise.
"At least the place doesn't seem to be... overrun or anything. We're not dealing with a kobold infestation or anything, it seems more like it was just left to nature. If anything, it should be pretty easy to retake and continue where the last colonists left off. Of course, that's assuming that whatever happened to the last guys doesn't happen to us."
After Kalathiel points out what he sees in the dirt. Jader comes closer to see for himself. Perhaps after we learn all we can here we should go to more closely examine the skeletons in the field, one appeared to be a humanoid skull he mentions to no one in particular
Kalathiel begins to move the soil about, eventually finding a small, flat leather pouch like a wallet. You can tell that it has been buried for quite a while, but it's not significantly deteriorated. Inside is a note.
You recognize the name Rayland as Rayland Arkley, the leader of Talmandor's Bounty, sent with the initial colony.
"Oh my! What'd you find good sir? Seems you are just full of surprises. It's like the time I was wondering through the archives, minding my own business and all of a sudden the damned thing flooded! It was the strangest thing...I of course was valiantly trying to save the precious documents..." and, he dives into another story.
"...Oh, yeah my skillful saving of the documents wasn't the surprising part. It's not supposed to flood down there." he adds as he finishes his tale.
Kalathiel's brow furrows as he reads the note over a few times silently. After Posh's tale finishes, he speaks. "A hidden note. All was not well in Talmandor's Bounty, it would seem," he says grimly. He reads the note aloud for the others to hear, then holds it out for any of the others to read for themselves should they so desire.
"Seems like the camp was split through some sort of inner strife... I'd wager that's an important clue towards figuring out what happened here."
Tess looks around.
"But before we jump to any conclusions, let's explore further. We haven't checked inside the palisade, after all."
"See this is why i usually keep to myself" mutters Vashina quietly.
"More clues but still not any real answers." says Vashina as she picks one of the fruits and checks it over for signs of bug related damage. She takes a small bite to see what it tastes like.
If Vashina doesn't spit out the fruit or fall over dead, Kar will gather a few to eat as well, and some more into his pack for later.
The plums are sweet, if a bit squishy.
We should go to more closely examine the skeletons in the field, one appeared to be a humanoid skull. Then continue around the perimeter, before entering the palisade. That would be my suggestion
Jader says as he motions to where he saw the humanoid skull in the garden
"Sounds like a good idea to me. Let's go."
Tess walks over, ahead of the rest, eager to investigate more.
Jader follows Tess but more cautiously with his shield and scorpion whip at the ready. He points to Tess where he noticed the humanoid skull and the animal skeletons as they draw closer
” I don’t see anything more than I saw before do you see anything Tess? Should we get closer? Kalathiel likely would best at discovering clues. Kalathiel come see this!”
Tess squints her eyes, her vision made troubled by the bright sun.
"I'm not seeing anything of note, either. Though, I would like to keep the skull, I might figure out a way to get information about it later.
...
That probably sounded very strange, but trust me on this."
"Tastes like a plum to me." says Vashina between mouthfuls.
She cautiously follows along with Tess and Jader as they head over to check out the skeletons.
Kalathiel follows along, making a few small notes in his journal as he goes. He looks up when Jader calls out to him. "Hmm? Oh, yes, right." He puts it away and goes to stand beside the half-orc.
He quickly spots what Jader was referring to. "I see it." He holds up a hand, gesturing to the others to wait. "Odd for skeletons to all gather in one spot like that, though. Don't get too close just yet. Just a moment."
Kalathiel. Thanks for coming over. I also think the same thing about the skeletons. It is almost like this is where some creature piled the remains after it was done eating them. Usually this would be in its lair though wouldn’t it?
Jader looks around at who has gathered. Then he looks at Kalathiel to see if the elf mans wit and intellect can come up with any more information without getting closer. He then spouts
If we can’t determine anything from this distance then perhaps we should approach cautiously. I fully expect the skeletons to animate or worst some creatures to pop out of the ground like we saw with the ankhegs
Kalathiel strains his eyes and searches about the skeletal remains. He spots something slightly out of place and points, indicating a plant in the center of the skeletons that seems somewhat out of place, though it's nearly impossible to tell until he points it out.
"That plant, right there," Kalathiel says, pointing out one in particular. "I've heard of things like this. Carnivorous plants that can alter their appearance and blend in with other plants around them. First time coming across one, though. It would certainly explain the skeletons."
He pauses, rubbing his chin. "I'd expect it to ambush us as we approach, so be careful. It has far less dire implications for the settlement than the undead, but it's still a nuisance that will need to be dealt with sooner or later."
Perhaps another day then? Kar responds. A day when we are a little better prepared, maybe?
Very well let us continue along the entire perimeter before entering the palisade. Kalathiel, with your sharp elven eyes why don’t you lead
Squinting to see what the man is pointing out, "Oh? Well, how stout of a plant is it? I mean...would it be something perhaps I could pepper from here? It's not like it can walk right?"
With a shrug, he adds "Though, with our current state perhaps making a not and returning later wouldn't be a bad idea either."
"I've heard of plants like that but I've never seen one myself either. I'm curious to know how the plant feeds, but not curious enough to risk our lives. Maybe we should mark off this area when we have more time?"
"It can move around, I believe. Not the fastest creature out there, but it can move," Kalathiel notes. He adds, "It doesn't look likely to move right away, though. Looks like it's staked out a nice little feeding location. Unfortunately there are bigger problems we have to investigate. We can make note to keep anyone else away from here until we have a chance to get rid of it."
"Good call. It wouldn't do to lose even more people than the colony already lost."
Tess looks around.
"Alright, where to next?"
You continue around the garden area, passing to the north side of the garden with the small skeletons within it. A path continues along to an intersection to the east, with rows of small cottages lining the crossroads of the two streets - streets that have no doubt been formed by months of regular foot traffic. The scene is silent and still The houses are recently built, but there is no sign of life or activity. Many of the simple homes have no proper shutters, and in some cases even lack doors. Nearby, once-cut grass has begun to regrow undisturbed. Gardens and plots of farmland behind some houses have begun to grow wild as weeds threaten to choke out the vegetables and herbs.
To the southeast a solitary cottage stands atop a sloping hill, a stone well in front of it.
Kar will point towards the lone cottage before saying, There. Drinkable water and shelter. We should start there.
Tess nods at Kar's suggestion.
"If anyone is still in here, that cottage could be a good place to find them.
Tess looks around at the buildings, actually pretty pleased with what she sees.
"This place really doesn't look too bad... If you don't think too hard about the disappearances, this looks like an honestly lovely place to live."
"You're probably right. It's a problem for another day."
Falling in step behind the companions, Posh begins whistling softly, glancing around.
"Oh, yes. It could be our base of operations, if no one has staked a claim already. You know...at least until we get our own homes built...and the real owners return." chimes in the gnome. "Qutie lovely, you know? At least compared to the tents outside."
The row of cottages gives you the impression of a ghost town - still and silent. Each house tells a similar story...the occupants are missing, but their belongings are there. You pass a few mundane items of interest and make note of their location on the way to the southern hill.
This solitary cottage is quite obviously built to be apart from the rest of the colony. A large stone near the entrance is painted with the words "Levin Farm." Just south of the cottage is a tilled vegetable patch that grows wild from neglect. This cottage has a thatched roof, a single entrance with a working door, and a few shuttered windows.
You see some odd tracks here, and these tracks continue to the north, back into the town proper. One set is 3-1/2 feet wide, heavy and flat, and corresponds to no natural creature. The other is a set of odd, starfish shaped footprints running down the center of the flattened trail.