Door to Nowhere

[Kwargrow]

The falling blossoms are quite aromatic. A small orchard on the inside of a bend in the river seems a good place to make camp for the first night.

Taylar agrees to stop and camp at the orchard. "This caught our attention, and it might have interested the abductors."
After helping set up camp, Taylar will search the orchard, looking for signs of other people inhabiting or frequenting it. If he finds any useful fruit or other plants, he will add those to inventory.

Spoiler: Rolls

74

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Plumeir helps pull the canoe from the water, then make camp. "If our culprits truly did come this way, this is a compelling place to make camp." Afterward, he tries some fishing, though he has no spear or net, to try to provide some fresh meat for the evening.

OOC: 62

 

[astarte]

Even though she still doesn't fell good, Astarte will help her comrades with searching of edible plants and preparing the camp.

---

roll: 80 (please include the seasickness)

 

[MacConnell]

... Astarte...

Taylar...

Plumeir...

... Astarte...

Spoiler: Investigate

Astarte: 47(investigate) + 32(tuning) + 80(d100) = 159
Plumeir: 61 + 62 = 123
Taylar: 46 + 33 + 74 = 153

Spoiler: Prospecting

Astarte: 51(wariness) + 80(d100) = 131
Plumeir: 61(observe) + 62 = 123
Taylar: 46 + 74 = 120

Setting the canoe so that it could not accidentally end up back in the water, the three friends trudge up the bank to prepare for the night. Whether the cause is physiological or psychological is of no consequence, Astarte leans against one of the small trees for her head to stabilize while the two men continue on ahead. Fortunately, she recovers quickly and the world no longer feels like it is trembling under her.

The two men stop in their tracks, looking at one another then back to check on Astarte, who looks like she will be fine. Overtly, in about the center of the clearing is the remains of a camp. No effort had been made to disguise it. Forgetting about anything else for a few minutes, the camp becomes the focus of all attention.

Though there are definitive game paths, it does not appear that the area has ever been frequented by people. The camp is at least several days old but not likely more than a Tenday. Correlating all discovered evidence, of which there was more than at the mining camp kidnap site, it appears that a small group of adults came from the north and departed to the south, following the river. Birds and small animals had been cooked on the fire but no fish and approximately 6 or 8 people had slept on the ground. It also looks as if the camp had been used for more than a single day.

It may be the wrong time of the Cycle for gathering vegetable matter, but trapping and fishing are good and quickly provide a suitable amount of meat.

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar: full wellness
Astarte: full wellness
Plumeir: full wellness

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.

 

[astarte]

When Astarte spots the camp she suddenly stops and staring at it, she asks: "Guys, do you think what I think? Taylar, can you use your talent and check out if our Evipaun cuties were recently here before setting to hunt for new kids? Or you may even find out some additional useful informations." After that she'll precisely scan the entire camp side, and then she'll walk slowly to the south following the footsteps of the abductors; all this hoping to find any new clues about them, their methods or more.
If her companions wish to follow the bandits without taking some rest, she'll agree. Otherwise, she'll collect brushwood to make the fire and then consume a few tubers of those she found yesterday.

---

roll: 46

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar manipulates waylines to improve his senses and studies the area in and around the campsite and the orchard. He is trying to determine if the mystery campers came by boat or across land and if they had any animals with them. He will also look at the greater area to determine if there is some place to observe this spot from another location.
"We should rest here tonight and set a watch. Keep your weapons close in case there is trouble."

Spoiler: Rolls

55

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Plumeir decides to prepare an evening meal, trusting his new friends to their individual tasks. He is confident in their skill and in his preliminary findings. "Whatever the final decision on whoever made this campsite, I agree that we should take our rest tonight and begin fresh in the morning.”

OOC: 51

 

[MacConnell]

... it appears that a small group of adults came from the north and departed to the south, following the river...

Both Astarte and Taylar have a meager talent in Divination, but neither knows of any manner by which to determine events of the past. Perhaps there may be such a possibility but more mundane methods will have to suffice for the moment at hand. Other than his newly developed skill of Tuning, Taylar can enhance his own hearing, which is of no consequence to the current investigation. It is simply a matter of deduction to affirm the preliminary findings.

Not only does the remains of the previous food preparation indicate that whoever camp here did not eat any fish, there is absolutely no disturbance along the bank of the river except for the place where the party, itself, climbed from their boat. The people used the same trail followed by larger game animals, both coming and going. It is highly unlikely that the deer and swine tracks interlaced with the booted prints of people have anything to do with one another. The looser soil that incorporates the small grove quickly gives way to the harder, needle-covered ground of the conifer forest which affords no tracks to follow. As darkness grows, the only other idea to come to mind is for Taylar to enhance his vision in order to see heat, but there are no residues. Since the camp was established multiple days in the past, it was simply a matter of being thorough to try it.

While it was yet light, Taylar realizes that he can walk inland from the grove into the much taller trees of the surrounding forest. Finding one that he is confident he can scale, he looks down on the camp from a height of about five times that of the cherry trees. Even above the canopy, the main trail following the river can be determined from the patterned thinning of the leaf cover. The morning brings no new insight, but everyone feels rested and refreshed. There is enough remaining of last night’s meat to compensate for some dry rations to carry along.

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar: full wellness
Astarte: full wellness
Plumeir: full wellness

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.

 

[Kwargrow]

After relaying what he learned to the Investigators, Taylar says, "Since we know our targets came through the game trails, and not by river, we should abandon the canoe and track them on foot. If we continue over water, we might miss valuable clues that will teach us more about our opponents."
Taylar will help break camp and drag the canoe from the water. He will procure branches to lay on the ground and store the canoe upside down on the branches to keep the vessel in good repair for their return trip. On one of the trees he will carve each of the groups initials in Maldrog as a sign for anyone else that they came this way.

Spoiler: Rolls

65

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Plumeir will help Taylar carry the canoe out of the grove and into the conifers, also collecting branches to conceal its location. "What little we are discovering agrees with what we have been told: our kidnappers have come from the north. I have never been this far. I have no idea what we may discover."

OOC: 58