This is much heavier than that. It's a war canoe capable of carrying up to ten medium-sized people, made of tree bark wrapped over a wooden frame. Portaging will be very difficult.
Even if you didn't wish to use it going upriver, there is still the lake just ahead of you.
Looking around to see that Abbas, Burnsten, Gregor, and Rath are eying the heavy war canoe dubiously, Alexis sighs and says, "Very well. Let's stow the canoe in some shrubs by the shore of the lake so that we can at least have line-of-sight to its location while we explore this area."
"I have to agree with Biter on this one, hide the boat, and perhaps the next time we sit down and craft items, a folding boat would be in order."
Alexis takes out her task list and writes a new entry: "Self-contained, hypergeometic boat. Check. It's a shame that these feather tokens are not reusable..."
Biter helps the crew hide the big boat in some foliage, and he helps Gregor and Long'Ears cover the ground scrapings as best he can - hopefully keeping the boat's movement hidden from visual tracking.
Then he's happy to get back to the front to push a bit further this evening. Before heading forward, however, he asks, "So Pack is'ng to stay on this side of the river to move on?"
"Unless you, Elorin, or Gregor see a compelling reason to encamp on the opposite shore, then I see no reason for us not to."
Biter shrugs, "Works for me." Then heads back to begin scouting again.
So, the pack pushes onwards for another thirty minutes before setting up camp for the night.
Unlike camping at the colony, here the night forest is alive with the sounds of animals. Owls hoot, things rustle in the undergrowth, a swarm of bats flies overhead. It feels right and normal compared with the dead silence of the forests closer to "home".
The night passes without incident and you set out for a second day of hiking. The lake is not particularly wide, but it is long and takes you half the day to circle. On the opposite end of the lake, the river continues winding its was westward, deep and with a strong current-perfectly navigable by boat (if you'd brought it). Strangely, even though you are not bothered by strange monsters and the land seems perfectly safe, you encounter no signs of native habitation for the entire day. You end your day's travels camped on a small beach, feasting on river trout.
Biter sits, totally engrossed in downing his seventh barely warmed fish. His face, hands, neck, and much of the top of his shirt is covered in scales, juices, and not a little bit of fish innards. He looks up, happy to finally have a good meal in his stomach, "So what'ing to do now? Assignment was'ing for two days, and two days has gone by. Heading back to camp to report? Or staying out for more looking?" He looks around the darkened landscape, taking a deep breath, "Biter is'ing to admit… Biter is'ing enjoying being out here. Fresh Air." He holds up the remaining half of a gnawed-upon fish, "Good food. Notting to mind to stay out a bit longer."
"Hmm..." Alexis muses, "Well, there are still a few more items needed to complete your belt and the boots I'm working on for Pete."
She takes out her task list. "Let's see, we still need.... Being as we are all together, that affords us some additional support options for hunting, along with Gregor's botanical knowledge."
Biter nods in agreement, tossing the last half of the fish in his mouth, not even bothering to remove the bones, and walks over to the edge of the lake. Teeth crunching the fish's bones, he dives into the water, bobbing up a few seconds later feet from where he entered, much of the remains of his meal washed from his body.
"Biter is'ing to take a look around to see what can be found." He walks over by the elf and the bearded druid, smacking each man unceremoniously. "Quit being lazy and help Biter to find stuff for Alexis."
Glaring at the goblin.
"Keep your damned hands off of me."
Survival:
Pete snickers at the scene unfolding before him. Obviously the results of his earlier actions have born fruit.
"Aye, kich 'is ass, that thar"
"Biter is'ing to take a look around to see what can be found." He walks over by the elf and the bearded druid, smacking each man unceremoniously. "Quit being lazy and help Biter to find stuff for Alexis."
You catch Elorin gazing over at Alexis and he barely even notices that you are speaking to him. He come too out of his revery and turns to Biter, So what is it you want me to do? We have been wondering around this jungle for 2 days and haven't found anything yet. What we seek is probably further in somehwere but we were told to scout up-river for 2 days and then report back? Do we go out or head back as ordered?
"The task requested of us was specifically to take a two-day journey up river looking for navigable waterways while scouting and avoiding natives. The key part there, as it pertains to our timetable is 'while scouting'. In otherwords, we travel inland as far as a two-day journey, but we are also to conduct scouting on this foray. If the total length of our trek were but four days, we could not very well claim to have accomplished much in the way of scouting."
Alexis sighs and leans back against a beech tree, skipping stones across the water with telekinesis, "Even if he finds himself in a more bureaucratic role, Falcon is still an explorer and a mage. He understands both curiosity and the need for reagents. If we are not suitably equipped, our capability for handling more demanding missions will be decreased."
Biter regards Long'Ears, "So Long'Ears is'ing to help or not?" If not, then Gregor and Biter will head off to find traces or tracks of the indicated plants/animals.
"Allllsooooo," Alexis playfully messes with Elorin's hair using telekinesis, "we haven't been wandering around. You might not care for sailing, but some of us see lakes, seas, and rivers as a new beginning, not a barrier."
"We've learned exactly what we set out to discover — where the river becomes capable of supporting travel." She winks at him and teases, "Don't worry, I don't suspect I'll get to drag you onboard a ship again anytime soon. Anyway, I know you prefer scouting forests to surveying fathoms. Go enjoy yourself for a bit, I'll be alright..."
Gregor, with a disturbed look on his face, gets up and moves away from Elorin.
"All right Biter, let's get going."
The grizzled druid, stops and looks back at Elorin.
"That's enough of that sort of thing, elf. Find someone else for that."
"That's enough of that sort of thing, elf. Find someone else for that."
Biter regards Long'Ears, "So Long'Ears is'ing to help or not?" If not, then Gregor and Biter will head off to find traces or tracks of the indicated plants/animals.
He grumbles something under his breath to Biter, which is a non-commital answer. After the prompting from Alexis, Elorin follows and then joins Biter and the old grump, Gregor :)
Pete wakes up from his reverie, on hearing Gregor's outburst. He laughs, "Ach, Gregor, jealousy does not become ye! Now ye know why I be out 'ere in da niddle o' nowhere! Women, who needs 'em!"
A shout erupts from Biter - somewhere between a surprisingly child-like squeal and a surprised and angry animal - and jumps away from Gregor. One green hand going to his little rump while the other whips out his blade, holding it threateningly between the two.
Rage screws up his face as he yells at the druid,
"Women, who needs 'em!"
Rath raises a casual hand and smiles, answering seriously the dwarf's rhetorical question. "I am very much in favour of women, Pete. They are pleasantly 'bumpy'. Some time will have to tell you 'bout my Meri Devi."
He looks at Alexis, "Rajkumari, would you care for tea? Brought teapot and some ingredients."
Pete stares past Ravarath with a brief look of horror on his face, but when Rath looks over there, he only sees Burnsten looking at the pair.
"Aye uhh Rath, if'n ye could tell me 'bout yer Maree Davree, is that like a girlfriend, err somethin'?"
Rath rubs his bald head trying to puzzle out a concise answer. "Definitely 'something'... but not girlfriend, and not wife either really." He laughs, "When I figure it out, I will tell you. Go enjoy your scoutings and stop grabbing Biter's butt."
Rage screws up his face as he yells at the druid,
"What in the Nine Hells are you talking about? If anyone has been playing grab-ass around here, it has been Elorin!"
As druid now splits his scowl between the goblin and the elf.
Alexis grins at the boys' antics and shakes her head. "Tea would be lovely, Rath, thank you."
Rath nods and happily sets about making a small pot of tea, pulling out the items he's carefully stowed in his pack.
Biter points at Gregor with his sword, "Beard-man was'ing to just pinch Biter's behind! No one else was'ing near enough!"
Unless magic was used… Biter thinks as he looks around the group for anyone looking guilty.
Gregor knocks Biter's sword to the side with his club.
"Don't point that thing at me! Have you lost your little green mind? I have not touched you, nor would I want to."
Gregor begins looking around to try and make sense of this.
Perception
Sense Motive:
Alexis looks up from skipping stones with her launch item cantrip and asks, "What in the world are you threee going on about?"
Nobody's looking guilty, but several people look confused.
Biter looks around suspiciously, believing the druid but not knowing who could have been the culprit, "Something is'ing weird here. Someone was'ing to pinch Biter's butt. Was'ing someone to see it?"
Uncertain as to whether this joking is part of the team's planned hijinx, or someone getting frisky with magehand, Alexis has a look for herself, starting with the area where the men are standing.
Rath, down by the lakeside near where Alexis is tele-skipping stones, sets about making tea. He pulls the ingredients from within the small kettle: tea leaves, cups, spices, sugar, a small jar of milk, and a smelly fish-head. He frowns, quite sure he didn't pack the fish-head. He stares into the kettle looking for any other surprises half expecting a Jack of Hearts card to jump out of the kettle and spit cider in his eye.
His eye, remaining cider-free, casts a look at the general confusion shown by several of the party members. Something is decidedly not right here. He assumed the drama between Biter and Gregor was play-acting initially, but clearly it isn't anymore. He holds the fish-head up for Alexis to see and says quietly, "Rajkumari, this was in my kettle. Something odd is happening here."
Elorin speaks up, My mother used to tell me stories about mischievous fey playing tricks on travelers in the woods. She said they had magical powers and could turn invisible. Could this be them or something similar ont his side of the world?
"Is that a fishhead? Uugh!"
By the lady, have we stumbled across a colony of fey or other pranksters? Did I disturb a nixie or nymph?
"That's my thought too, Elorin. Alissariel and I used to play with some along the rivers as children, but... well, they were capricious at best."
As she continues to scan for magical auras, Alexis wracks her memory trying to see if she can recall anything relevant to such behavior whether among creatures she knows, or what she might have learned about Arcadia from her Father and Falcon.
Knowledge Checks:
Hoping to receive an answer, Alexis speaks aloud to any unseen creatures who might be able to understand her...
Pete stares at the antics of the others, and realizing there may be invisible creatures afoot, decides to stand up and draw his pick axe, ready for hostilities to commence.
Gads, I hate th' woods.
"Peeeete? Pick-axes and might be taken as a sign of insincerity. Play nice..."
Alexis continues looking around while she waits and hopes for an answer.
Alexis does detect magic - one additional aura she was not expecting. Before she can localize it, however, the campfire suddenly flares up and the ground beneath her and Pete suddenly becomes coated in grease. Reflex save DC 17 to avoid falling.
A faint buzzing sound comes from amongst the trees to the north. The sound starts low, but starts rising in volume.
Biter also takes the hint, moving his blade behind his back. You can imagine how effective holding the 4 foot blade behind the back of a 3 foot warrior is.
"Gentlemen, it would appear that we have overstayed our welcome. If something is attempting to chase us away, perhaps we should play along at present..."
Alexis was the main target, then Pete. If she's off by herself, then I guess two grease spells were needed.
Remembering the unseelie fae speak a different language than the seelie court, Gregor repeats Alexis's word in Aklo.
Nothing that prestidigitation can't clear up. Stay focused...
Before attempting to rise, Alexis casts a spell on herself.
She then attempts to regain her feet and walk slowly out of the affected area...
...but simply ends up falling on her butt again.
Pete curses under his breath, and sheaths his pick...while avoiding falling on his rear, he yells out some angry cuss words in dwarvish.
Understanding every word Pete says, Alexis says simply:
Rath pulls rope from his backpack and tosses an end to Alexis to pull her out of the greased area while keeping an eye open for the source of the buzzing.