Expedition - Lug/Rescue II - 28 April, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

Continuation of prior expedition thread.

---

The gnomish leader seems to understand a bit of common, but seems more comfortable responding in his native tongue (not spoiling now because I assume Dorvar is translating as you go):

"Oh, how gracious! We would be happy to have an escort to the south! Because of our wagon, we expect to be slow-moving, and there is a vicious pack of dire wolves in the moor to the south that has threatened us in the past. It's because of this that we had never yet come to that settlement. Hopefully with your help, we can avoid any such trouble!"

The gnome issues a few politely-worded requests to his fellows, and they finish up their packing and preparations, sheepishly returning from their hiding spots in the bushes.

There are ten gnomes in total, six men and four women.

[Zhym]

"If we meet any dire wolves, I'll Reason with 'em," grins Lug. "Or Smurf Grill with 'em, I guess, but that doesn't sound as cool. I dunno why Xavro couldnt'a named it Logic or Emotion or something. Oh well."

When the gnomes are ready, Lug looks for the fastest way out of the forest. Can he head due south by now?

It's never a promising sign that you're about to get a smooth trip back to town when the DM opens up a new thread.

[AleBelly]

It's never a promising sign that you're about to get a smooth trip back to town when the DM opens up a new thread.

Varas scowls at the gnome's words. "You might be friendly, but we are very tired and slowing us down further could cause us problems. Slower travel in the presence of dire wolves? Sounds like mercenary work to me. Are you willing to compensate us for acting as escorts?"

[Zhym]

"Aw, come on Varas," sighs Lug. "Do these little folk look rich to you? We're helping them, and I bet they can help us. We're making friends, not being escorts!"

[Keehnelf]

May 11, 1 VC - 7:40pm

The gnomes finish packing up, satisfied of the friendship of the group, and help them find a comparatively easy track southwest from their camp. They follow it and after about a day's travel they break free of the forest and into the moor.

At this point, the group angles back southeast toward the expected position of Vaul, and as they gain distance from the forest they see clear sign of the extent of the devastation. As far as they can see, the entirety of the forest east of their position is in flames, apart from those sections already so heavily damaged nothing is left to consume. Behind the billowing clouds of smoke, the broken shoulder of the Finger of Doom lurks like a lumbering and insensible titanic beast.

The party encounters no other sign of trouble, and two days later finds itself within sight of the Order of the Skull tower to the northwest of Vaul.

Please deduct three days' rations each. If this is more than you have, the gnomes eagerly split their meager supplies so that no one starves.

[Keehnelf]

During the trip, Dorvar learns that this group hails from the rocky hills east of the Finger. About a year ago, their kingdom was invaded by a mixed force of goblins and hobgoblins attacking suddenly from the Finger and the north, and their people enslaved. This group managed to escape, along with some supplies, and resettled in the forest. It is clear from the tale told that they found an ally or allies in the forest that aided them in their resettlement, but they do not share any information about that party. Judging by the situations described, Lug is fairly certain this is Xavro and that they are trying to protect him from possible threats.

The gnomes are jovial and easygoing despite their bedraggled condition, living in the wilds and hiding from enemies for over a year, and they reveal that they are skilled jewelers and craftspeople, capable of building and repairing almost anything. They are humble about their capabilities and describe their work mainly as a diversion from their troubles, but the few examples of finished items they present are remarkable in their cunning construction and homely beauty.

[Zhym]

Lug looks for a good spot to plant the Jarban sapling if he hasn't done so already on reaching the moor.

He gives the Tower of Wendell an angry look. "Still don't like that place," he says. "Let's go around. We wouldn't be welcome anyway."

What's our rate of travel? How long would it take us to get back to Vaul?

[AleBelly]

"Aw, come on Varas," sighs Lug. "Do these little folk look rich to you? We're helping them, and I bet they can help us. We're making friends, not being escorts!"

"Rich enemies are better than poor friends. I don't see what we get from helping them except trouble." Cranky, Varas follows the group nonetheless.

[Zhym]

I just noticed this:

This is getting a bit ahead of the Harrowing Thread, but a road has begun construction leading to the Tower of Wendall, allowing folk to arrive there within only a half-day's travel and as a result with a reduced danger (1 in 10 chance of encounter per half-day instead of 1 in 6 like with the wilderness, and some encounters have been removed entirely from the table due to PC actions).

The road will be complete on May 15, and until that time the route has been marked and is periodically patrolled by pairs of Ducal guards on horseback.

So it's almost 8 pm and we're at least half a day out of Vaul.

"Better camp for the night," says Lug. "We'll finally reach Vaul tomorrow. We should have enough food to last us until then."

Vaul may be under siege by the time we get there, but this group wouldn't know that, so there's no urgency to returning other than having enough food. If Vaul is under siege when we get there, we could join the battle, wander off and try to find food, or maybe even get into the town by using the censer Lug got from Xavro.

[AleBelly]

Lug looks for a good spot to plant the Jarban sapling if he hasn't done so already on reaching the moor.

He gives the Tower of Wendell an angry look. "Still don't like that place," he says. "Let's go around. We wouldn't be welcome anyway."

What's our rate of travel? How long would it take us to get back to Vaul?

Varas produces a key from his pouch as Lug mentions the tower. "It's as much my tower - and Dorvar's tower - as anyone's. I mean to stay there for the night - it's safe, secure and better than camping out in the open. I have matters to discuss with the boy wizard anyway. All of you are welcome to stay as my guests."

Varas will help plant the jarban tree before nightfall.

Varas will not head back to Vaul without stopping at the tower first. If the others don't want to go there, he'll take his leave of them.

3 days' rations and horse feed deducted.

[Zorroroaster]

Marge eats the last of her rations, sharing part of it with Dog.

"Little tinkerers. Can't leave well enough alone. Still, they're closer to the earth than most folks, gotta give 'em that."

She pats one on the head cordially as he walks past.

3 days deducted.

[Zhym]

Lug gives Varas a sidelong look. "Okay," he says, "we can stay at the tower if you want. Does it have food?"

The big man remembers what he did to the tower's food stores last time he was there.

"On the other hand, I have plenty of rations."

[Keehnelf]

May 11, 1 VC - 8:20pm

The party has dinner while planting the jarban sapling at some distance from, but within sight of, the tower. Varas and whoever chooses to accompany him approach the door as the sun has finally disappeared below the horizon, the stone of its construction a ghastly orange-red in the reflected light of the distant forest fire.

Varas tries his key in the lock--to find that the lock has been changed.

[AleBelly]

Ha, I was going to check it for traps first!

Does Varas see any lights coming from the tower, or anyone around? If not, he'll check the lock for traps then walk around the structure, looking for signs of movement. He'll also look for possible windows to climb up and into.

[Zhym]

As Varas checks the tower, Lug wanders around the ground nearby. He seems to be looking for something, but he hasn't said what.

[Zorroroaster]

As Varas checks the tower, Lug wanders around the ground nearby. He seems to be looking for something, but he hasn't said what.

Ha! Good things come to those who wait!

[Zhym]

Lug disappears behind the tower. He emerges a few minutes later carrying a large, bulky, heavy-looking sack.

"Orrin and I stashed some mithril ingots here a few weeks ago," he explains. "We couldn't carry them and Naila both after Lars got killed. Luckily, they were still there. They aren't worth a lot and the blacksmith can't use 'em until he gets better wood for his forge, but I thought I might as well bring them back to town."

[Marullus]

Niles continues through the days in the company of the gnomes, greatful for the rations shared by Lug as well as those shared by the gnomes as the trip stretches into the third day. He is intent in his discussions of magic and illusion with them, as far as their limited common can accommodate.

He catches up at the tower just as Varas tries his key, raising a concern. " something is wrong here. I came and spent several days with Wendall not long ago. There were tents, with construction workers expanding the tower. He had guards protecting this door. If no one is here then something is very wrong."

[Keehnelf]

The wooden construction atop the tower is complete--the upper windows are the only ones, and they're barred and shuttered. No light is visible. Varas notes that a black banner marked with a white skull hangs from the upper wall of the tower--a new addition.

[Zhym]

"No one's home," says Lug. "Varas, you got any other ways in? Or should we camp out for the night?"