[D&D 4e] IG's "Those Left Behind, Chapter 4(e)"

[Leif]

Uulark Simental, Longtooth Shifter Cleric of Sehanine L11

Relaxing on the bearskin evidently makes Uulark uncharacteristically chatty, because he props himself up on an elbow and continues speaking softly to Talashia, "So what is the plan for after we reach Timberfall? Will we re-supply there for the 5-day march to Ironfall? Maybe we'll be lucky enough to encounter the hags quickly to put that threat behind us -- or meet out own end. Either way, our worries will be over."

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, druidic human ranger

Shai finds a place on the floor and lays himself down, Dyspeer coming to curl up beside him.

"Been a lot of strange days," he mutters as the others contemplate Caerwyn's choice of time to stroll. "Suppose everybody's got his way o' coping." Dyspeer juts his nose forward, licking Shai's face and huffing.

"All right, all right," he says with a smile. "We'll sleep." With that, the big man lays his head down and closes his eyes until it's his turn at watch.

 

[industrygothica]

Afternoon turns to dusk, and dusk into night, and Caerwyn has yet to return from his walk. Shazi remains quiet on the roof, but not for a lack of anything to report. Somewhere in the northern sky tiny bursts of color light up the night. Fireworks for sure, but not without an arcane component. Yes, there is a celebration going on somewhere. And somewhere,
Shazi hears a scream. I wonder if a scream counts? the mephit thinks. Surely she'd want something a bit more tangible.

Inside, the fire crackles and pops with warming comfort. The night passes quietly enough, though some are obviously more worried about Caerwyn then they're letting on.

A sharp rapping on the door brings you all out of your slumber, and Ike running to answer still in his sleep clothes. The door creeks open, and the morning sunlight creeps in to greet you. After a brief conversation with an official-looking man on the other side, Ike closes the door and looks grimly at you all as you wipe the sleep from our eyes.

"Been another one turn up missin'," he says. "Marshall Ternsval never came back from gatherin' fire wood last night. Sent a couple groups into the woods, but nothin's come of it. His wife's a mess."

 

[jkason]

Shaimon Hu'u, druidic human ranger

Shai and Dyspeer stretch and yawn in remarkably similar fashion, then the human half of the pair stands as their host reveals the turn of events. He looks around.

"And Caerwyn, he didn' come back, neither," he says with a frown. "I think maybe we need to be looking into this wood that's swallowing everybody up. Sure, critters sometimes eat a fellow, but not nearly as often as this seems to be happening."

 

[Friadoc]

"How many missing does that make?" Buurt asks as he gathers his gear, and makes ready with his kit. Protecting communities from woodland dangers and incursions was what he'd been trained to do, originally, before he happened upon the life of an adventurer. He makes no mention of Caerwyn, though. It's not his place, nor his idea to add worry and urgency to the situation.

"Have they all disappeared in the same area, or around the same time?"

 

[Leif]

Uulark Simental, Longtooth Shifter Cleric of Sehanine L11

"Then, being Heroes, we should investigate, yes?" Uulark quickly gathers his equipment and is soon ready to sally forth.

 

[Scotley]

Rogash

The dwarf begins to gather his things, "I guess we best see what we can find."

 

[Shayuri]

"That idiot," Talashia spits as she gathers her things, throwing them angrily into her bag...though anyone can see the raw concern hiding behind her tantrum. "I'm sure he thought very highly of himself...striding out there alone and playing the hero... Yes I KNOW I could have... No, you don't understand, I know Caerwyn. If we'd come after him he'd just have come back with us, waited for us all to sleep, and THEN gone. He's as stubborn as..." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, terminating the one-sided conversation she'd been having with Shazi.

She turns to Ike and says, "Thank you for your hospitality...it seems the town will have to wait for now though. Fate smile upon you, sir."

Then the sorceress glanced around at Shai. "Dyspeer should be able to track Caerwyn, yes? Lets get moving."

 

[industrygothica]

GM: Up to you guys.. help the town, find Caerwyn.

 

[Leif]

Uulark Simental, Longtooth Shifter Cleric of Sehanine L11

Uulark looks very thoughtful as he says, "With all due respect, Talashia, Caerwyn is a full-grown man well-acquainted with the hazards of roaming these woods alone at night. Whatever it was that drew him out away from the safety of home and hearth, he knew what he might be getting himself into. And, still, we don't know that anything untoward has happened to him. Nothing but pure conjecture has been offered upon that point so far. In light of all this, my vote is that we leave Caerwyn to the fate that he has freely chosen for the time being, and dedicate our efforts towards helping those who have asked for our aid. And who knows, we may yet find that the two are more interrelated than we now suspect. We could possibly find that Caerwyn already has a head start on us in helping the townsfolk, although, admittedly, it would be questionable why he would not fill us in about his plans if such were the case."