Cheers! No worries, Mothman!
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The orcling climbs down off of the mule when it becomes clear that it won't be able to navigate in so little light. He leads the creature, murmuring to it in hopes of keeping it calm. Or maybe to hide his own nervousness.
Jasper climbs back into his saddle and sends ShadowWing forth as an inconspicuous spy, but he waits for the others before falling into his normal position in line.
Shrugging, "It just means you were in the perfect position to save us if it was a trap. Then we would owe you." He moves over to the woodsman and tries to assist in finding tracks.
Welcome back! Oh, and speaking of absences, I'm going to be trying to catch up in all my games in the next day or two. We had fun, but now it's time to try to get back to normal.
Adalwin raises an eyebrow as Reekis moves off into the tree's alone. "That's brave. Is Reekis feeling ok?" He whispers to Jasper Hiding a grin behind his tiny hand, the orcling whispers, "I'm no expert in such things, but he didn't appear to be feverish."
Just in case the hiatus ends before I return, I wanted to let you know I will be unavailable from Sunday 21 through Sunday 28. Feel free to bot Jasper as necessary. See you at the end of the month!
ShadowWing flies off of Jasper's shoulder into the shadows periodically, coming back to circle the leaders, then those in the back, forming a loose figure eight in the air over the party before landing again. The tiny owl seems agitated.
ShadowWing flies down to rejoin Jasper and Percival, scolding them a bit about some perceived slight. Jasper nods as though he understands the bird’s agitation, but is really looking around for threats or clues.
Jasper can lead into the dark with his darkvision if we don’t want to stop in the woods.
His excitement at crossing the river dulled after the vine's attack, Jasper waits to see how the others choose to proceed. "I think Percival can wade in again. Want me to try it?"
Jasper retrieves the flask of acid and flings a conjured drop of acid at the animated plant.
Percival isn't panicked yet, but complains loudly as he tries to pull himself free from the oddly animated snack he was munching on mere moments ago.
Surprisingly, Oliver avoids the worst of the entanglement.
ShadowWing is very upset about all of the hubbub and flies into a tree well away from the suddenly-animated plants to observe unmolested. Percival, for his part, is surprised to find that the succulent greenery that he was about to nibble on while the humans talked like they so often do has taken on a life of its own and tried to wrap itself around his muzzle.
The poor animal is quickly held fast and nearing panic. He may never eat grass again!
Jasper looks around, even as he tries to guide the mule into the current.
Jasper claps excitedly, "Good jump!" He climbs onto Percival and carefully nudges him toward a spot on the bank where it looks like the mule could safely enter the stream.
"Can we use the mules to cross to the weir? Is the water too deep or fast for that?"
I am copying this to all my games. Sorry for late notice, but I am headed down the road to vacation for a week. Connectivity and availability may be an issue, so please bot for me rather than waiting too long. I will peek in if I can and normal posting is expected to resume in nine days. I don't say this enough to the people in RL, let alone to my virtual friends, but I appreciate you and this game we share. Peace.
Jasper hangs back, not wanting to give the group away with his bumbling.
Jasper looks at the girl. "Stay near us." He winks to put her at ease.
"Hold up. I saw something move in the underbrush just ahead. See where the stoneway would meet this bank if it came across? Company's waiting there."
To Eljoy, "I didn't get a good look, just saw motion that didn't match with the river or the breeze. I can stay here with the campers - and cross with Percival once you are in position. How will you signal you are ready?"
Jasper keeps his voice low to share, "I think there's something or someone hiding across the way. Might be planning a surprise if we cross here."
As the light dims, Jasper starts peering into the shadows more closely, knowing some of his friends can't see in the darkness as well as he can.
"Ah ... no thankyou," the slight girl says, looking dubiously at the shield. "It looks heavy ... and I've never used one before, I wouldn't know how." With a cheerful smile, he climbs into the saddle. "Me too! They are too heavy for me and I have no idea how one would use it. Maybe as a wall for a night shelter!" He rides past the glowering lumberjack toward Adalwin. "Can you tell from the tracks how many we are following? The girl said lizard monsters caught the children..." He turns toward the girl, but thinks better of raising his voice, so mostly asks the trees, "I wonder how big a lizard monster is?"
Meanwhile, Jasper is slowly riding Percival away from the confrontation, looking from one combatant to the other and wondering who's right.
"Almost done! Jeva, is it? The armor these monsters were wearing will hardly fit you, but you might want to carry one of their shields to protect yourself."
Jasper pockets the ring for future examination. Maybe someone in town will recognize it. I don't want anyone trying to sell it until we try to find his family. The well-crafted dagger is too large for him to wield, but maybe one of the others can use it, so he keeps a hold of it. "Weapons and armor is all the goblins had. Maybe we can sell them in town?" He leads Percival to the pile of weapons and attempts to load them on the poor mule.
Surprised at being asked, Jasper thinks, frowning in concentration. "Miss, much I'd like to sit at a nice fire and hear your story so we can find your family, I think our gruff friend is right - we need to keep moving, looking for the other missing children... Oh! Have you seen them, by chance?" He moves over to the fallen forester and starts checking his pockets. "He may have family in Falcon's Hollow, too. We should bring them news of his passing and anything he might have wanted them to have."
Jasper spins on his heel and moves to view the spot where something had been sneaking up on Oliver. "There was another, sneaking about. Don't let your guard down yet."
Jasper steps back, closer to Oliver, glancing gratefully his way, before conjuring up a ball of acid to fling at the goblin.
Jasper feels like a surge of energy comes directly from his blood and powers the orb directly into his target's face.
The little fellow shrieks an uncharacteristically loud shriek as he realizes his spell has failed and what's about to happen is going to HURT, followed by a sickening thud and silence as the wind is driven from his frail form at the impact. He stays on his feet, but only just.
Jasper moves, gathering his spell components once more. As he comes around the end of the bushes near Oliver, he suddenly turns and cast an arc of rainbow color in the wrong direction and yells "Hah!" as another goblin is awash in brilliant color. "Adalwin - there is something else, sneaking up behind us. I thought it was Oliver I heard, but he wasn't moving yet..."
Jasper hesitates as the goblin closes with Eljoy, not wanting to hit his friend by mistake.
Quickly switching spell components, Jasper conjures up a bit of acid that flies toward the dumbfounded goblinoid.
Jasper sees the goblin-creature fall into a deep sleep as he's reaching his hiding place. I thought she was going to wait for my signal? I hope Reekis' aim is true for the other one.
Nodding as Anor moves right and Reekis maneuvers quiet as a ghost, the orcling moves left .
At the woodsman's suggestion, Jasper looks surprised, but climbs down. He divests himself of nearly all his gear, carrying only his small staff. He whispers to Anor, "If you go left and I go right, maybe we can catch them in between. When you see ShadowWing fly into the clearing, do your trick. When you do yours, I will follow with mine. Good?"
Jasper readied his color spray in case it become necessary, but waits for the others to make to first move.
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