Is there a portion of the crater that looks rougher or lower that may be an easier climb?
The halfling finally remember muscle coordination and scrambles up the crater.
"Simple enough when tha gets hang of it."
Ghadmyr seems unable to make any progress. Any chance someone may be unable to assist him?
Ddraig, having finally climbed out, throws a rope down to Ghadmyr, and ties the other end firmly round a tree-trunk.
Healaugh tries to help pull Ghadmyr out of the crater, hauling gamely on the ropes. The elf is surprisingly heavy.
Macmorr drops a rope, after helpfully putting a few knots in it.
"If'n that don't work, can always make sling for him," muses Healaugh.
"Perhaps I should cut down a tree and make a ladder?"
"Don't reckon he'd approve. Seemingly he likes identifying trees when they're upright."
Ghadmyr ties the end of the rope around himself and begins to climb back up.
Ddraig, seeing Ghadmyr's plight, pulls on the rope to help Ghadmyr out of the crater:
Healaugh reckons Macmorr may have better luck.
"Have tha out in no time, Ghadmyr lad," he lies.
.
"Here, grip it between your legs and pull yourself up. No, not like that, more like... Yes, that's right. Up you come."
Healaugh's effort counts for nothing, but Macmoor is able to make a difference.
"Reet. Now I sees way of it."
"Come on - just one more push and you are up!"
.
Ynyr has been following along more or less in a dream - thinking of the love he has yet to win. Coming to his senses he realises that he needs to get out of this crater. Seeing a rope, he attempts to climb it.
"Now why did I want to come down here, in this pit, sort of?"
The rest of the group watch as their distracted arcanist attempts to make his way out of the crater...
"Up tha comes Ynyr. Top of cliff's this way."
Ghadmyr joins in the effort, although he's dubious his assistance will amount to much.
With the aid of Healaugh and Ghadmyr, Ynyr lurches back to the top. The trail continues through the woods to the east. It is now mid-afternoon.
Ghadmyr takes a few minutes to rest, having thoroughly exerted himself, not to mention injured himself, climbing down into the crater.
Rested, Ghadmyr addresses the group, "I say we continue on while daylight holds."
"Funny thing, this boar being so hard to find. Reet odd, think on. Big beast like that just vanishing."
Healaugh muses aloud as he follows Ghadmyr down the trail.
Ghadmyr continues along the trail, looking for signs of the boar, or anything else particularly noteworthy.
Ynyr thanks his friends for helping him out and promises to pay attention to where he is stepping in the future...
"Now where is it did you say were were on our way to go to?"
The group travels north-east for about 250 feet before coming to a fork in the trail. One way leads north west and the other leads east .
Ghadmyr notices what seems to be signs of bear activity in the area to the northwest - claw marks on trees and spoor, but the claws seem much bigger and sharper than usual.
"Ynyr-lad, likely you missed this, but we're hunting huge white pig. Magical-like, seemingly."
He looks at the tracks to the north-west.
"Don't know as I recall boars having claws before, but happen I'm wrong. How's about that way?"
He points to the east.
"They are the marks of bear claws, Master Healaugh, but they look to be a rather powerful variety. I don't suspect that they would have anything to do with our boar, though, so I'm inclined to agree that the eastern trail looks more promising."
[ooc]So, east, is it?
The group make their way east, following the trail, which broadens out into a well-used trackpath, until they can see what appears to be a wooden bridge over a river in the distance. The river has been dammed to the north of the bridge, it seems.
Healaugh peers around the clearing. He sees very little.
Healaugh peers around the clearing. He sees very little.
The halfling knows... well, it's nowt t' do wi' haddock.
Ghadmyr looks around at the river, the dam, and the surroundings. . Does the dam resemble anything naturally occurring, like a beaver dam, or does it appear that sentient beings placed it there? Anything else in the area?
Ghadmyr
Ghadmyr notes that the dam is of humanoid construction, but also that the band of heroes is not alone... he sees two large, dim shapes hiding in the water on the southern side of the bridge.
Ghadmyr speaks quietly to his companions. "That's no beaver dam, gentlemen, and we are not alone. There on the south side of the bridge, something is watching us. We ought to approach very carefully."
Ghadmyr starts moving toward the bridge to get a closer look, totem in hand, with a stance reminiscent of an animal ready to pounce.