Adela looks a little surprised at Rhiann's idea, but after thinking about it a moment asks the important question, "Is anyone of us skilled enough to finish the cabin? I know enough of tools to know where the handle is. My knowledge sadly ends there though."
"I actually do know a fair bit about putting things together." she says moving a bit closer to study the unfinished structure.
"Then I appoint you Foreman!" Adela smiles. "What are your orders?"
While she is adapting to living in the wild, a shelter for nights with bad weather would be nice.
"Hmmm...An interesting idea. I'm a bit curious as to what caused the builder to abandon the cabin, and finishing it would definitely set up a good waypoint, and maybe a place to shelter if the weather turns on the way back. What do the rest of you think?"
Erik's tone is grim : "I think we should be really careful. Something bad happened here. You don't abandon good tools to rust if you're called to another job. No, something made the builders run... No-one, not even the kobold and the mites, has scavenged the tools that were abandoned... There's probably some sort of trouble still around."
With an arrow on the string and Malki beside him, he warily circles the around the clearing the cabin is in, looking for tracks, clues and trying to assess how long the tools have been out there from the rust on them...
1 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
1 rank +3 trained +1 wis
Rhiann also realizes the roof would not be completely waterproof either way unless something is used to fill the gaps.
Roderick ponders the missing roof with surprising seriousness. Perhaps the young man is in his element after all.
"So if we use rope or cords, it'll only take a few hours to place and secure the previously cut logs to form a roof, given they're already cut to a taper. If we take an extra day I'd have time to study and determine the best cuts to be made to the existing log structure so we can add the roof logs to be solidly connected without needing any rope or taking any time to make cords from the surrounding bushes or saplings. It'll take a bit longer but be more secure." Rhiann explains.
As Roderick points out a few key details, she nods. "It won't be completely waterproof, that'll take gathering s mud, pine sap, or moss and thatching it, and it'll have to be replaced every few months."
Alyssa listens as the others discuss the matter of the unfinished roof. Rhiann's words make sense, but so do Erik's.
"While I do like the idea of finishing the house, I agree with Erik - we should be a bit careful before we put our hands to it. Lyra, can you help Erik and Malki keep an eye on ghe surroundings?" At her request, the small thrush flies up to scout the area from the sky.
"As for what to do about the roof, I'm not really an expert and I'm not sure how much help I can give. But from those two options, I wouldn't mind going with the second one. I don't think we're so pressed for time that we can't spare a day more to make sure it's done as securely as possible"
Erik carefully studies the surrounding woods. The vibrant green leaves of the ash trees are broken up by the ash flowers which have burst from their spring buds. The vertical striations of the bark identify the trees as white ash .
The marks are likely from a grizzly, a fairly large one at that.
As Erik examines the gouges in the wood, Malki barks drawing Erik's attention to two mounds of earth a short distance behind the unfinished cabin. Both mounds were marked with branches tied in a cross formation, but one has fallen over. The mound with the standing cross is considerably larger than the other mound.
Clearly something tragic occurred here, but there was at least one survivor...
Erik reports "Something large, bigger than a man judging by the height of the marks, has been clawing at the trees. Maybe someone who knows more about the wild than I do should take a look. There's also a couple of graves back behind the cabin - but clearly someone survived to bury the dead..."
He turns to Alyssa and asks "Did your bird see anything?"
"Hmm... in the long-run, laying peat or sod down on top and growing a living roof might be the best option." Rhiann mutters to herself before Erik's comment draws her attention to the tree markings.
Walking up to inspect them, she takes in the height and depth, remembering some of the woodcraft her father had taught her. "This was most likely a grizzly...a really big one!" Looking over at the graves, then taking in the whole scene she lets out a soft sigh. "Given the smaller grave, I'd say a family was here, and sadly an adult and child didn't survive...probably from the bear. No wonder the survivor didn't finish the house." she says sadly.
...
Walking up to inspect them, she takes in the height and depth, remembering some of the woodcraft her father had taught her. "This was most likely a grizzly...a really big one!" Looking over at the graves, then taking in the whole scene she lets out a soft sigh. "Given the smaller grave, I'd say a family was here, and sadly an adult and child didn't survive...probably from the bear. No wonder the survivor didn't finish the house." she says sadly.
Erik shakes his head as he replies: "If they had time to bury the dead, that doesn't explain the abandoned tools. There is something more here."
He turns to Alyssa and asks "Did your bird see anything?"
"You can ask me directly, you know!" the little bird replies after landing on Alyssa's arm. "Didn't really see a bear or another mean animal like it. But I did see an arrowshaped clearing south of here. I think it's the place with the radishes Svetlana was talking about!"
Alyssa looks sadly at the graves and ponders Erik's words for a bit.
"You're right that, logically, the survivor shouldn't abandon these tools. But... We're probably talking about a grief stricken person here. Maybe they didn't want to take the tools and be reminded of the tragedy that befell them every time they used them? I'm not saying we shouldn't be careful, mind - I understand your reasoning, just wanted to point out that there could be an alternative explanation besides this being a trap."
Rhainn nods as Alyssa's suggestion, her thought process in line with Rhiann's own. "I think it would be worthwhile, though we should check out the area and be wary. But perhaps we should check out the radishes first. It will give us a chance to clear the area."
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Adela moves over to the graves and performs a small service to Pharasma.
Just in case it is needed to let the dead here rest properly.
"Let's go and see if that clearing is, indeed the radish patch, and collect them, while checking out the area. We can see what we can do with the hut afterwards before moving on." 4Rhiann suggests.
"So what does everyone think? Set up camp and check out the hutm or move on to the berry patch first, then double back?" Rhiann asks her companions.
"I vote for the radish patch. Lets get one thing sorted before we start another." Is Adela's suggestion as she finishes performing the rites over the dead.
"This place worries me. Let's do that radish patch job."
One of Pharasma's psychopomps takes note of Adela's benevolence and devotion even in the wilderness, and the cleric feels a minor blessing surround her and her companions.
Following Adela's prayers, even Erik can feel a calm permeate the area, and a slight breeze blows through, a supernatural sigh of relief.
After mulling over Roderick's suggestion, the party decides to press on to the arrowhead-shaped clearing which Lyra had seen as described by Svetlana.
Soon enough, the woods give way to a clearing. Throughout the clearing are leafy green plants covering the earth. The taller ones have small white flowers with tinges of blue on the edges of the petals. Yet before the group moves past the trees, several see they are not the only ones who appear to have found the radishes. A section of the field appears to have recently been harvested as the leafy greens have been tossed aside and the remnants of the gloriously blue-white moon radishes connected to their ends have been evidently been gnawed.
Four kobolds appear to be lying in blissful discomfort groaning and rubbing their distended bellies, their dark soot-colored scales clearly stretched to nigh bursting. One lets out a loud belch while another rolls onto its side and almost begrudgingly crunches into a perfectly round orb very much identical to the celestial body from which its name is derived, chews slowly, and then emits a brief series of hisses and growls.
The other kobolds make noises which don't seem to be speech and appear to fumble around trying to reach for more radishes half-heartedly. One's face definitely takes on a greenish tinge, and it clutches the front of its snout.
The kobolds appear to be warriors given their armor and the weapons lying among the greens. They would very likely be easy to kill or subdue in their current state.
.
Taking the basket Adela begins selecting the healthiest Moon radishes she can find in an area away from the Kobolds, keeping an eye on them discreetly of course.
Rhiann shadows Adela as she collects the moon radishes, keeping an eye on the gluttonous kobolds, and wary of any other possible creatures.
Erik looks at at Adela, strolling about without a care in the world, gathering moon radishes, and he shrugs. Seeing Rhiann shadowing Adela, doing close protection, he takes up overwatch, hiding and keeping a lookout with an arrow on the string...
1 rank +3 trained +2 racial+1 wis
With Erik and Rhiann keeping watch on the gluttonous kobolds, Alyssa tries to help Adela gather the Moon Radishes, figuring it would be best to get it done faster.
Surprisingly (or perhaps not so much), the kobolds do not notice Adela and Alyssa nor their shadow Rhiann, allowing them to dig up the blue-white taproots for several minutes. Eventually, one of the kobold's fanged jaw drops open in shock as it stares at the two women digging the moon radishes from the field. Its nictitating membranes blink across each of its eyes in turn as it clearly doesn't seem to believe what it sees.
After a momentary pause, it croaks,
It drags itself up with effort relying heavily on the help of a spear it retrieves from the ground next to it. The other kobolds squawk in alarm and seem to also be trying to rise, but mostly seem to succeed in flailing (or even rolling) around. Their over-stuffed bellies clearly an impediment to becoming battle ready.
The first kobold leans on his spear and groans audibly before saying in broken Common, "Stop! No closer. Moons belong to Sootscales. Stop thie—*braaaaach*!"
The effort appears to have been a bit much as the speech triggers a hearty belch leading into a retch. The kobold sways slightly grasping its snout with one claw, but the spear, butt firmly planted on the ground, keeps it upright.
Rhiann studies the kobold, shifting her grip on her weapon and taking a step closer to ensure she is between the kobolds and her companions collecting the moon radishes.
"There are plenty 'moons' for everybody. Leave us alone, and no-one will get hurt!"
Adela smiles politely at the barely standing Kobold.
Alyssa speaks up as well, hoping to help get her companion's words across. She is unsure of what Adela is saying exactly, but assumes she is reinforcing Rhiann's stance as well, in her usual calm and polite manner.
"You are clearly in no condition to fight us. Let us take the radishes we need, and we will leave you alone. Atrack us, and those may very well have been your last meal!"
The standing kobold flinches slightly at Rhiann and Alyssa's threatening postures. It glances behind it to see its companions still hadn't achieved more than reaching their hands and knees and were clearly unlikely to do more.
It returns its gaze to the party before it. Pointedly avoiding Rhiann and Alyssa's eyes, it faces and addresses Adela directly.
It draws itself a bit more as if being able to speak its native tongue gives it more endurance to the discomfort of its gluttonous ways
Despite never looking directly at them, the kobold evidently is acutely aware of Rhiann and Alyssa as it swallows nervously when Rhiann fingers the haft of her warhammer. Its brave stance nothing more than papier-mâché courage.
Trusting the others to handle the unimpressive kobolds, Erik keeps hidden, staying wary for outside threats...
Adela nods at Reznor.
"We can fill the basket, they won't cause any problems." She tells the party. Going back to carefully picking the best Moon radishes.
Adela and Alyssa complete the gathering under the watchful eyes of Rhiann and Erik, overtly and covertly respectively.
Reznor continues to watch the party while casting baleful glances at its nigh incapacitated companions. It croaks something at them in hushed tones, the Draconic words in clicks, hisses, and growls. Their responses seem somewhat contrite in comparison.
When the party returns to where Roderick minds the horses, they find he managed to grab a handful of radishes himself and is letting the horses happily take them from his hands.
"If they didn't think they were as big as the dragons they worship, kobolds are almost cute, you know," he says with a chuckle at the overfed lizardmen.
That evening after the tents have been set up, and Roderick is cooking a stew; a flock of owls lands on tree branches encircling the camp. Their large eyes watching the nightly proceedings, and they hoot at one another in periodic bursts. It almost seems as if they are discussing the party.
As the hour draws late, the campfire light continues to reflect in the owl flock's wide eyes. The birds' continuous overwatch is a bit unsettling especially once everyone has lied down to sleep. The lone member on watch becomes the focus of their gaze, and the hoots begin to feel oddly personal.
Adela will perform her devotions in the morning. So she would prefer the last watch
.
"If they didn't think they were as big as the dragons they worship, kobolds are almost cute, you know," he says with a chuckle at the overfed lizardmen.
"True, though I have no doubt they can be deadly, especially to anyone underestimating them." Riann replies, considering the kobolds.
Observing the arrival of the flock of owls as she works to set up the tents, the warrior definitely finds their presence a little unnerving, more due to the number of them and their seeming attention to the group.
”Looks like we’ve attracted an audience.” she mutters, making sure to keep an eye on the birds as the night winds down.
When the party beds down, she opts to sleep in her armor, not the most comfortable thing, but a trade-off for being better prepared should something creep up on them during the night. With the spellcasters needing their uninterrupted sleep, and her ability to see a bit further in the dark, she chooses the mid watch, during the darkest part of the night, keeping her bow on her shoulder and fauchard at hand as she stands guard over her resting companions.
...
”Looks like we’ve attracted an audience.” she mutters, making sure to keep an eye on the birds as the night winds down.
...
Seeing Rhiann assessing the owls and their strange behaviour , he whispers to her "You think I should take some target practice?".
He too tries to assess the owls, like he would an intelligent opponent, wondering if they mean harm...
1 rank +3 trained +1 wis +1 studied target
As he beds down for the night, seeing Rhiann sleeping in her amor, he decides perhaps her caution is warranted, and sleeps in his own... and his rapier and bow to hand beside him. Malki finds himself a comfortable spot by the fire, trusting his nose to wake him in case of trouble.
"Yeah, I noticed them too. Something about their behaviour seems a bit... Unsettling. Go ahead and rest, me and Lyra will keep an eye on them ."
Tucking her familiar under her arm, just in case one of the owls tries to go after the small thrush, Alyssa does her best to keep watch over the camp during her watch, glancing over to the owls once in a while.
Somehow, I can't shake the feeling they're talking about me and Lyra...
"Not yet, but keep your bow close. It definitely doesn't seem natural." Rhiann whispers back before settling down until her shift.
The dream starts off with sadness, a rather burly man in woodsman garb weeps on his knees before two mounds of freshly moved earth. Two crosses made of branches and twine stand before both a larger and smaller of what are clearly graves. A preteen girl stands next to the man with one arm around his upper back and the other gripping his only unbandaged arm pressing her face into his shoulder, sobbing. The man must indeed be large as the girl barely reaches his shoulder even as he leans on his one good arm into the earth before them. Just to one side ghostly images of a woman and a small boy flicker in and out of Adela's view.
The scene changes, and Adela watches as the party enters their current campsite. The wisdom of owls appears just as it did in the early evening, however this time their hooting is all too clear.
"Look at these idiots," one owl with a patch of white feathers on its right wing hoots. "Don't they know they're being hunted?"
One with a darker brown set of tail feathers snorts (who knew owls could snort!). "Not a chance. No Moon hasn't allowed the pack to get close enough for the mutt to catch their scent. Besides look at how green they are. It's a wonder they didn't wander straight into the Trap Side."
"Oh that will be tomorrow, ha! Assuming they live the night," hoots one with white rings around both eyes.
White patch jabs a wing at Roderick and hoots a sneer, "If the boy keeps eyeballing me with such disrespect, I'm going to swoop past and peck his ear clean off. That'll learn him." Roderick is indeed currently giving the owls a sour look as he hammers down a tent stake. Because of his inattention, he clips his thumb eliciting a yelp much to hooting amusement of the wisdom.
Adela's dream continues and the owl pack continues to criticize just about everything the party does from camp setup to their meal and then determining their watch order.
"Poor fools," hoots one with much more white among its brown feathers than the others. "No Moon isn't apt to allow even one to live."
"Perfectly fine with me," hoots one whose beak has a slight chip. "I'll be enjoying that rather yummy looking morsel under the half-elf's arm once she's out of the picture." It greedily watches as Alyssa settles in for her turn at watch returning their gaze unknowing the horrible fate planned for her beloved thrush.
"Ah, and here we go," hoots a perfect example of a typical brown owl. It is such a typical looking brown owl as to be noteworthy of being representative of all such birds. It continues, "The pack is finally ready."
While Adela's dream sight watches in horror, large wolves silently and suddenly descend on the camp. Alyssa barely has enough time for a single scream before blood gushes from her mouth, her throat having been torn out. Poor Malki yips in pain and fear as wolves latch onto his hind legs and drag him into the darkness. Erik manages to leap up and block an attempted bite, but a large specimen of the lupine variety bodies him from behind knocking him off balance so other pack members can bring him down. Roderick is screaming in terror somewhere while Rhiann wrestles inside her tent snarling in the face of a wolf snarling in hers.
And then the worst happens, Adela sees a wolf with a burn scar on its flank dive into the tent where she lies sleeping dreaming these events before her. And suddenly she can hear the wolf's panting, feel the heat of its breath, and smell the stench of blood and dead flesh. Not just in the dream. But right there next to her sleeping face...
Adela wakes up!
And all is silent except for the sound of the crackling fire and the soft hooting of those damned owls.
Adela wakes, heart racing and gasping for breath, she screams at the top of her lungs, "Wake up! Wolves attacking!"
She is still sleepy enough not to feel any doubt that what she saw in her dreams isn't real as she scrambles for her shield and morningstar.
.
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Let's see, screaming in the middle of the night... yeah, trained reflex has Erik half-falling out of his hammock, blankets flying and grabbing at weapons even before his mind understands what Adela is saying...
Malki, meanwhile, is startled from a pleasant dream of chasing rabbits. He promptly surges to his feet, barking wildly, as his head swings side to side, searching for the source of the disturbance...
Wolf 1 = 4
Wolf 2 = 18
Wolf 3 = 12
Wolf 4 = 19
Wolf 5 = 16
Wolf 6 = 19
Wolf 7 = 18
The suspicions and unease which the wisdom of owls had given some, and the very real divine message of which they had been apart for one allows the party to find themselves ready when the snarls and teeth arrive. Bursting from all directions, lupine figures dart from the foliage seemingly frustrated they did not catch their prey unaware.
The two most cautious warriors in the bunch were on their feet in an instant armed and armored ready for the fight they somehow felt was coming.
Already sleeping in her armor, given the ominous feeling, Rhiann jumps up in an instant, grabbing up her fauchard and stepping forward to protect Alyssa.
"Adela, close in! Don't let them isolate us!" she calls out, preparing for the charge of the oncoming wolves.
Erik snatches up his buckler and then steps into a lunge.
vs ?FF?
+1 str +1 bab
+1 str
Malki, meanwhile, does not like this fight at all (7! And all bigger than me!), but gamely rushes to help Erik...