Vishantos follows at as quick a pace as he can muster. "I won't be able to keep this pace all day..." he admits, wheezing a little. "We'll need to take it a little easier in the afternoon."
"Oh, thank goodness!" Vishantos rests in the wagon, catching his breath.
Nerek too expresses his thanks for the ride. "These legs weren't built for long walks," he says as he scratches his nose. "But the blessings of Abadar abound everywhere."
He takes a moment to pray over the wagon, asking Abadar to strengthen it.
******
"Mr. Rhoddam? Nerek Lodetracker, travelling priest of Abadar. I'm sure you're aware of the situation that has struck Falcon's Hollow, this blackscour plague? These fine gentlemen," he takes a moment to indicate Calar, Vishantos, and Laurent, but seems to almost overlook Geddoe, " and myself have heard of a possible cure from the local herbalist. We were told you might be able to help us, by directing us to the eldest trees of the forest where we might find elderwood moss. Time is of the essence, so any help you could possibly give these lads and myself would be greatly appreciated."
"Rhoddam, is it true about your nephew Jack? Has he taken ill? I don't think Laurel'll be able to stop it if so. Her gran's cure, of which Nerek here was just speaking may be the only thing to save him if he's got the taint. Let us help."
"Don't forget to ask about the dwarven ruins, and I guess that witch as well," Geddoe muttered quietly to the ones speaking to the bosses. As for himself, he contented himself with keeping an eye out for trouble.
Calar stood behind the group, letting the talkers talk, and took in the scene. He watched groups of lumbermen go to and fro, but most of all he tried to study Milon's face as the man took in the news for the dwarf and Laurent.
"Ahem (cough). I suggest we check at the witch's hut first. If she's still there, she may be able to give us more information, or she may even have the ingredients we need on hand. Then maybe we can use that as a base point from which to explore the other locations."
"If we head out now, we can probably make it to the river by evening, and then we can figure out how to cross it while we camp."
"Yes, let's make haste for this witch's hut. Let's just hope we don't have to trade our eyes for information," Nerek chuckles after the last, but its a weak chuckle, absent of mirth.
"Well boys," Nerek says, "Let's get a move on."
Of course, he'll actually wait for someone else to take the lead before he goes anywhere. And he'll keep his crossbow out and ready, just in case any of those aforementioned beasties show up.
Calar will loosen his hammer from its bind and hold it in hand as they proceed north into the woods. He keeps quiet as they walk.
Laurent loosens his longsword in its sheath and marches behind the others, whistling a low tune as he goes and keeping his eyes peeled for whatever nasty things might want to have the party for a snack.
Laurent approaches Nerek and quietly asks, "What do you know about the ruins? I know naught but what others've told. Just a pile of stones from what I hear."
Geddoe looked at the others, and seeing that they were keeping weapons at the ready, followed suit, drawing the dagger on his hip and holding it so that it was less noticable.
'Suddenly,' he thought, glancing at the others' weapons, 'I feel inadequete.'
Vishantos walks alongside the others, humming absently to himself. Occasionally he mutters "...no, that'll never work..." or "mm hmm, mm hmm that's a good idea. I'll have to remember that..." Once in a while he suddenly blinks and looks around as though startled to find himself walking through the woods.
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Your progress north goes well, and without incident. Occasionally as you crest a hilltop, you can see over the trees to the glistening surface of the lake.
DC 16
The trail you have been following is a dear track, up ahead you see the rotting carcass of some small animal.
DC 20 (Geddoe Only)
You recognize the faint outline of a hidden pit trap, the animal is obvious bait.
Vishantos sinks deeper into thought, head down and hand on forehead.
Geddoe glanced at the ground and chuckled. "Huh, deer," he said, mostly to himself, proud that he even recognized the tracks of an animal that he had only seen in the distance. He then glanced forward, and frowned. "Carcass up ahead, flies all over the thing. Maybe a squirrel or a rabbit...?"
'Why does this not feel right...?' he wondered.
Calar turns his head in distaste, and starts to veer away a bit to better make sure he doesn't catch sight and, more importantly, catch smell of whatever animal is rotting.
"Careful guys, rotting animal up ahead," Calar says agreeing with Geddoe. "We should probably veer away, no need to smell that," Calar says as he starts to veer.
"Can't tell what it is either. Best stay on our toes just in case something bigger's still 'round."
"Dwarven ruins don't crumble overnight!" Nerek states emphatically. He scratches at his nose.
"Pue, what is that smell? Deer you say? Looks rather rancid."
Nerek will follow the lead of the others and steer clear of the carcas.
"Uh . . .whoa shi . . ."
'Damn, should've seen that coming...' Geddoe lamented, crouching down and searching for any more surprises.
Calar lurches backwards from the trap in front of him and snaps his body into a quick crouch -- he peers outwards into the forest, his eyes straining to see anything out of the ordinary.
He whispers back to his friends. Friends, now that is an interesting word, Calar muses as he looks back at the group behind him. "Probably just a hunter. We probably scared him as much as his trap scared us. I doubt there is any danger, I think we just stumbled onto his hunting site." After Calar whispers his thoughts to the party, he shrugs his shoulders to see if anyone agrees.
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I meant the area as in around the lake, now that you know there is a hunter... need to be more clear me thinks
anyway, [ressing on you approach within a few hundred feet of the lake, the wet keeping all but the most resolute ferns from the undergrowth. You can see clear across the smooth surface of the lake from your vantage here in the woods.
Geddoe finds himself listening to the strange wizard's mumblings and rantings.
Calar pressed onwards, glad to be in the lead after his near fall and somewhat embarrassing overreaction.
As the miles grow underfoot, Calar starts humming an old dwarven drinking song taught to him by his landlord. Within minutes, his embarrasment is forgotten and he is striding confidently through the woods.
Nerek looks around and listens intently for anything out of place. The trap has unnerved him slightly, so much so that he hasn't scratched his nose sense Calar discovered it.
"Another hunter's trap," Nerek points out as he cautiously approaches the animal. If it seems safe, Nerek will examine the animal, attempting to ascertain the severity of its wounds.
"We are definitely in a hunter's stomping grounds. This is the second trap we have seen. I suggest we all remain alert until we have put ourselves past this area." Calar says what he imagines everyone else is thinking.
Vishantos puts his staff away and unslings his crossbow, but holds off on loading it. He peers around into the forest.
Nerek will hook his crossbow on his belt and draw his mace. "I believe the only correct thing to do is put this poor creature out of its misery." He'll then brain the fox, as long as no one disagrees with his plan to euthanize the animal.
"I think you might be right, Nerek. Get it over with and let's get out o' here before we find that hunter.
"Eiiieee!" Nerek yelps from the pain. He'll turn and look for the attacker, pointing him out if he spots him.
Nerek will cast CLW (sacrificing Divine Favor) on his turn.
"S#$%! What was that?!"
Calar curses as he sees the arrow and begins to creep towards where he believes the arrow came from.
As Calar makes his move he shouts back, "Take cover!"