Somewhat chastened by the previous day's bumbling performance, Freggo is determined to make better ground the next day and not to be such a fool. No more does he waste time gesturing, posing, and dreaming of castles in the sky. He marches in line with the group stoically.
He aids the group by occasionally scurrying up a tree or hill to scout out the area. He is increasingly aware the the closer they get to the lair of the enemy, the more likely they are to encounter armed resistance. Freggo is sure to look for goblins and shortcuts both, when perched atop a tree.
[sblock=OOC Magic Item Allocation]
Not everyone stated a preference, so I've allocated the leftovers below. Just let everyone know if something else would be better, I just wanted to help get things settled.
Potion of Healing - Ah-shahran (as suggested by Freggo)
Holy Water- Level 1 - Kali
Holy Water- Level 1 - Viator
Holy Water- Level 1 - Velani (leftovers)
Everburning Torch - Freggo
Everburning Torch - Kyalia (leftovers)
[/sblock]
The first day had been tough, too tough, something didn't feel right. Kali had walked the wilderness for years, but yesterday's little trips, falls, scratches, and general annoyances seemed somewhat out of the norm.
Kali searched for the other beasts around him, did they feel it too, was there something unnatural about it.
The first day had taken its toll on Viator. The drain he felt from the day before warned him against pushing himself further today. His training had warned that but he thought he knew better. Confidence knocked, he spends the day keeping an eye out for traces of the missing town folk, along with the goblins, trying to work out what may have happened to them. He secretly hopes that one of the folk had the presence of mind to leave something for them. Just something.
Kyalia, Kali, would you show me some of your ways? You seem to be at home during this Hunt. I would love to further my knowledge.
With his headache faded after his meditation, his keen eyes help him find the easy track through and his companions closeness bolster his spirits.
Ah-shahran's attention had a different focus today. Trusting the others to keep the path, he kept his eye on his companions. His rambling today consisted of humorous anecdotes and wise experience, timed to lift spirits whenever they began to flag, and retune concentration when it began to slip. Gorm aided the efforts, acting at times like a playful puppy, and others like a hunting hound.
Velani
"Ungh... retirement's caught up on me faster than I thought! Five years ago, I could have taken to this trail with nary a hard breath, and now I find myself huffing and puffing like a crone. I'm going to have to dig a little deeper and find a younger version of myself today! .... Not that I'm old mind you!" Velani smiles and laughs, joking at her own diminished capability, always trying to lighten the mood through the clouds and downpours.
"Let not this foul weather deaden our hearts or feet, friends. Nay, let it wash away the grime of travel and renew our faith in the cycle of all things. Trust in Lady Dol Arrah, and let her Light shine even where the clouds darken your sky."
“I can certainly do that, Viator,” Kyalia says to the Eladrin.
During the day, the elven huntress spends most of her time searching for signs of the goblins' passage, tracking their movement and comparing it with the map they have got, in order to validate the direction they are taking to get to their hideout.
Where it is possible, she explains to Viator, what she is doing and why, and what information she is reading from the tracks they have found.
And the second day is glorious, well... rainy and glorious, muddy and glorious- there are no slips, spills or falls. You work together to counter the weather and the generally miserable conditions, and seemingly without trying (too hard) learn to get a long- to work together.
Kali en route learns a little from his chatterings with the woodland creatures, although communication is limited, most of the creatures of the wild are cunning but not clever, at least not in so far as communication, in summary-
"Bad pass this way."
"Big bad!"
"Many bad"
The most intriguing thing, repeated by a number of his woodland and wild friends is the sense that something 'big' passed this way, something 'big' accompanied the Goblins- a big creature?
Kyalia has more to add, her tracking skills can easily discern that there were in excess of thirty creatures passing this way, by their tread a mixture of Goblins and Hobgoblins, and... some others, maybe half-a-dozen folk with booted feet smaller than the Goblins, and with a much lighter tread. There are no other clues, nor can she guess what manner of creatures they are.
Oh, and the 'big bad'- a four footed Drake, a large creature with a heavy tread that did not go round the natural barriers of briars and thorns but instead went through. Clearly something that is used to travelling between points A and B in a straight line- a blundering brute of a Drake.
What's more one of the prisoners has been doing his or her best to ensure that the trail is still warm, between them Kali, Kyalia and Viator pick up three buttons, a cork (from a bottle of "South Paw", a Fallcrest brew), and half-a-dozen pieces of cloth. Ah-shahran makes sense of it all- Kartenix, the Guard Captain, the buttons and the cloth are from the uniform of a Watchman...
Your confidence begins to grow, yesterdays frowns turn to thin smiles, which grow wider (regardless of the miserable weather and conditions) as the day progresses and the clues gather.
And so it is, early evening, with the sun sinking beneath the horizon that you spy the ruins of Rivenroar Castle, you have not made good time today- you have made great time, surpassing all of your expectations. By the look of the trail you have certainly made up considerable time upon your quarry.
Yesterday you guesstimate you were 6-8 hours behind the Goblins, the trail you see before you now- heading in to the ruins is probably less than two hours old.
[sblock=The Journey (& XP)]
So that was another Skill Challenge (of course), the first day you had three successes, and one failure. The second day- five successes, including a '20' from Kali- good work, and nicely played out.
That's another 50 XP each for the journey, that should put you on 375 XP each. You are all fully rested- full compliment of Surges and Powers, and that counts as the first encounter of the day- one more and your up for an Action Point.
I'll post again in an hour or so with what you can see, then you can work out what you are going to do, the big question is of course, do you rest or proceed to the action. But more info first and a chance for you to have a nose-around perhaps.
Good work people![/sblock]