Berrek looked at the spot where tracks disapeared, brow furrowed in concentration.
Thinking: "Powerful enough wizard could fly off; cleric could air walk; druid could shape change hmmm. But maybe it's more simple...."
He stands directly on the end of tracks and looks straight up.
Saying: "It may be rope trick. But I don't know how to ascertain it. We could make one hell of surprised mage once he descends. And we can always stay hidden or retreat if he stays long enough for us to determine he is too powerful for us."
"Yeah, I'm seeing nothing." Anton states matter-of-factly. His adrenaline seems to be dropping after the thrills of the fight, combining with the rigors of a long day's travels, the cleric stifles a large yawn. He seems willing to defer the decision to others, willing to wait here (and hopefully rest) or make camp (and definitely rest).
“Apart from finding evidence of some kind, such as someone pushing off as if to climb, there really is no way to prove your theory one way or the other Berrek ... unless something or someone emerges from the space such a spell creates,” Eltyr remarks, glancing up briefly to see if anything does appear from the space above. “So let’s just head back to the campsite we found and sleep on it.”
With that Eltyr turns around and walks off, heading for their campsite, unless something does actually appear as he looks up.
"Very well. If you don't mind, I'm curious I'd like to stay and watch. Or, if Menhir will stay, I'll sleep here and he'll watch. I don't have spells that need to be recovered, few hours of sleep should be enough. What say you Menhir, would you stay here?"
Berrek puts dry twigs in an area around where tracks dissapeared and then looks over the bodies of fallen for any valuables.
OOC: Berrek has no intention of waiting until something pops up, he will take 20 on hide, probably on some nearby tree (if possilbe with both door and the location within the range of his darkvision, if not, the location stays within 60') and prepare to sleep. He counts on his training to wake him (Quick recon + dry twigs)
Lidia is not convinced that the bad guy is still hanging around. However she certainly has no objections to Berrek keeping watch. It fact, she thinks its probably a good idea. The only thing is "Berrek its a good idea for someone to keep watch just in case you are right about there been a portable hole. However, we really need Menhir to keep watch while the spell casters get their rest.
Menhir looks between Berrek and Lidia without comment; seemingly content to let the druidess speak on its behalf to determine the evening's arrangements.
Berrek shrugs. "Make camp two or three hundred feet from here. It hsould be safe enough for camp and far enough that I can warn you if needed. I'll stay here and keep watch. If you hear thunderstone going off come as soon as you can."
Lidia is not too keen on Berrek's idea. Especially has she has already found them a good camping place. However she recognises that a compromise is needed, so says "OK. Unless anyone has any objections we will do that."
"While I'm not too fond of the idea of sleeping so close to a pile of rotted bodies, I understand the reason behind it. This might seem like a silly question," Anton unclasps a few of his armor straps as he realizes the night is winding down. "But should we maybe build a pyre for the bodies?"
Standing knee deep in the ground, the earth elemental responds to Anton's question with a suggestion of its own. Menhir merely points to the ground underfoot with a stubby stone digit.
"Collecting enough firewood would take long time and somebody would have to be close so that it doesn't spread. We can do that tomorrow. If you think we should get back to the camp together, I'll go too. I'd rather not, but I'll follow group decision."
OOC: did Berrek find anything of value on any of the (un)dead
OOC: There is nothing on any of the bodies worth salvaging.... everything is either burnt... charred.. or part of their anatomy... and some are both heh....
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Noticing he’s alone in his wish to return to their original campsite, after taking a few steps and hearing the rest speak, Eltyr returns to the group with a perturbed expression on his face.
“All of you really want to camp this close to the door, even after we’ve found there are people interested in entering the tomb, and our spellcasters have nearly, if not completely, exhausted their supply of offensive magic? Considering we’ve found a perfectly good secluded camp site, which we can reach, and we’re not at full strength, I find setting up camp on a bare hillside to be a very poor tactical decision indeed. In fact the only sense that people are showing here, is that we’ll likely be safer if we all stay together ... so on that basis alone, I’ll camp here with everyone else, even if I don’t agree with the logic of such a choice.”
OOC: unleashed, I don't think we're thinking on camping on the mound. The idea is to camp in sheltered spot, simply somewhat closer to the mound then original camp is.
EDIT:
Quote:
as it is this happens to be the only good spot to take cover and rest for good long ways it seems
I found this, sorry everyone. It seems you/we go back to original camp.
Last edited by Neurotic; 1st July 2009 at 08:54 AM..
Seeing that this discussion could go on half the night. Lidia seeks to cut it short by summarising the situation. "Well I think we can agreed that we should not split up. This means that we need to camp within seeing distance of where the tracks disappeared. Even though the artifacts let us see in the dark, we still will need to be with in about 100'. However, the only decent camping spot in the area is our current camp, which is over 10 times that distance away. That means that we will have to camp in the open. I don't think the bodies are relevant, as Menhir has indicated that he can bury them. So Barrak the decision is yours. Do we camp in the open and keep an eye on the possible rope trick or go back to our camp."
Lidia looks around to see if there is any possible camping spot, while waiting for Barrak to answer.
As the wind starts to kick up the air chills a bit.... nothing out of the ordinary mind you but on a vast nearly completely open plain the wind tends to kick up a bit more than it does in the city..... you see only the two options you've already laid out before you...... camp in the open... or go back to safe shelter at the original camp.... then again you could always camp inside the tomb to stay nice as warm.........
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"I'm curious and I'm not afraid to be alone here. I agree that you need to recover spells and that you need Menhir to watch over you, but you also need me for early warning. Burial and everything else can wait until the morning.
Please, don't stay out here because I'm staying. Go back and get your rest. I don't realy think there is rope trick here, but I couldn't rest not checking the possibility.
Menhir, could you please make human sized ditch in which I could lay hidden with top layer of grass as undisturbed as you can make it?"
Berrek indicates a spot with small bump on the plain, out of burnt out area, place that still retains hardy weeds and grasses however weak.
OOC:
by taking 20 on hide and with menhirs help Berrek should be quiete safe. I'd say +X for circumstance and +2 aid another (if possible) should be quite good. Concealing entire party under this conditions is almost impossible and I you said we're in no shape to fight. Berrek specializes in reconnoiter missions and spell stealing ensures that lone caster has little chance especialy if Berrek gets surprise round too.
Failing to fully understand the intricate plans being discussed, the earth elemental listens impassively to the ongoing debate. When Berrek makes his request, Menhir turns to examine the indicated spot for a few moments before nodding silently and sinking down beneath the ground underfoot. Moving effortlessly through its home medium, the elemental glides over to the chosen spot and, after determining the composition and depth of the topsoil, sets to work. Menhir goes about the task of creating a small sinkhole beneath the indicated spot by alternatively absorbing the earth in one spot and evenly expelling it into the surrounding subterranean area.
From the surface, it appears as if the grass covered turf slowly rises gently in a ring while at its center the turf sinks more sharply down into an oval depression just over two yards in length and one yard in depth. In all the process takes a few minutes and leaves the surface vegetation largely undisturbed once Menhir rises up out of the ground to survey the results of its handiwork.
OOC
With its high strength I figure it'd only take a few minutes of labor for Menhir to move a few hundred pounds of topsoil. I took some liberties in describing the unique way in which it'd go about the task however. Digging must be a whole lot easier when you don't have to push down into the ground before picking up and moving the dirt. Being able to do it all without having to first tear and remove the surface turf is just fancy.
"Barrak. I am deeply troubled about you staying here on your own. However, I can see that you are determined, so I will say no more. We will meet you at the camp in the morning at the latest."
Lidia turns and starts to walk back to camp. "Menhir. Can you come and keep guard on the camp, while we all get some sleep?"
The earth elemental doesn't bother to answer the druidess' request; it merely sinks into the earth to its waist and slides along the ground behind her as she heads back to camp.
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