Expedition - Fingers: The Kobold Tower - 05 June 2021

[Rusty Tincanne]

I was thinking something similar. Maybe casting light on one of them if needed...

Able puts dirt on the small fire to (hopefully) avoid being noticed. He then quietly wakes his companions, indicating they should be quiet and ready for whatever may come.

[Spearmint]

Idriss

"Anyone speak giant?" he whispers. What are those trees? Have we wandered near a giants orchard? Did we stumble on their potato patch?

An artisan pool speaks of crafting not a wild dribbling spring, perhaps it was a clue we should have noticed.

If it is their 'turf' it is going to be difficult driving them away. Suggest either keep still and quiet or flit away while we can. Silence spell anyone?

[Zorroroaster]

Silent sits up quietly after being awoken, and gazes across at the giant figures. He remains still, only his eyes moving between the distant humanoids and his own companions.

[Alethan]

Rhybek

Rhybek likewise wakes quietly, grabbing his battleaxe and gripping it tightly, his eyes never leaving the dark shapes.

[Marullus]

Able smothers the fire and quietly wakes the others. Everyone holds still in their alcove of the trees, waiting with baited breath, hoping to evade discovery.

The two giants spend some time casually perusing for fruit in the high treetops, then making sounds of disappointment as they fail. They come along the edge of the grove, stopping about 30' from the group. They sniff the air, both curious about something. But then they shrug and head on, not noticing the tiny folk below the trees, nor the fire that was previously emitting smoke and cooking dinners. They continue on westward, then disappear over the west-southwest horizon into the darkness.

Date: 11:30pm, 05 June 2021
Light: None (Moonlight 15%, -4 penalties)
Astrology: Moonset 12:18am. Sunrise 4:31am.
Weather: High of 58 F, now dropped to 50 F, 10mph winds from South.
Distance travelled: 13.5 miles since Farrow Farm
Injuries: None

Rolls:
Observation [1d6] = 2

[Rusty Tincanne]

Ablesworth breathes a sigh of relief. Once he is sure the giants have passed out of sight, he will rekindle the small fire for a bit of warmth. At the appropriate time, he wakes the next pair on watch and settles down to sleep with his winter blanket.

[Zorroroaster]

Silent watches the giants depart, a far off look in his eyes. He returns to his bedroll after a time, though he doesn't seem to sleep. He rises when it is his turn for the watch.

[Dram]

Neegan - Them was some big folk. Think they will be back. When his watch over he lays out his bedroll.

[Marullus]

The rest of the night passes; a storm rolls in, a light rain pattering steadily on the canopy overhead and dropping in fat drops from the leaves into the campsite. The party rousing after sunrise with time for breakfast and spell casters to meditate accordingly. The rain has tapered off to a misting with occasional light drizzle, the constant dampness that is common in this land, promising much of the same for the day ahead. To the south are foothills, to the north rolling plains, stretching as far as you can see both east and west.

Date: 6:00am, 06 June 2021
Light: Sun
Weather: 46F, 4-6mph winds
Distance travelled: None today
Injuries: None

[Spearmint]

Idriss.

Rises early going through his studies, writing calligraphic notes in his spell book and committing to memory what he thinks will be useful in the day ahead.

"Shall we check out that arbour of trees the giants were inspecting. A good lot of fruit supplies could bless us."

Idriss will go if accompanied, large sack in hand to collect what might be there.

[Zhym]

"Sure, okay," says Fingers. "Then to the kobold tower? Which is north?"

[Rusty Tincanne]

After having his coffee and feeling awake, Ablesworth nods as well. Apple wood is useful in the making of mallets. I will tempt fate with you two. Though I gladly confess that I almost dropped a load in my pants last night at the sight of those two creatures! As tall as a ship's mast, they were!

Able packs his damp blanket, shoulder's his pack and points to the foothills rolling plains. North looks to be that direction. Roughly. I suspect heading northwest yesterday caused us to miss that meeting house we had aimed for. Such is life.

Edit: Thanks to Marullus for checking my reading comprehension.

[Alethan]

Rhybek

Rhybek nods in agreement. "Let's check out the grove of trees real fast and then get on our way. I don't want to get caught nicking stuff from a giant."

[Marullus]

The group diverts right along the grove edge to where they first spotted the giant humanoids.

They discover a grove of ancient, craggy apple trees beginning their fruiting season. The branches above, however, appear to be cracked and splintered in various places and almost all the hanging fruit is gone, which supplies some insight into the giant's disappointment. On the ground you find some drop-fruit, however, as well as large black feathers, each about three feet in length. The drop-fruit has bruises and spots of rot (as is normally the case) but many are also partial, as if they were sliced into chunks above and allowed to fall. The hungry and not-so-picky adventurers are able to gather up a sack-full of more promising specimens which they can later divest of bruises and bad spots for eating. (+5 man-days of food. Please track and add to the +2 man-days of potatoes.)

After the quick stop (about an hour), the group heads off northward across the plains. Your morning is uneventful, the rolling grasslands revealing nothing of interest to your passage once more, the misting and occasional drizzle persisting throughout this time.

As the sun is reaching meridian, the clouds begin to roll off and the rain is less frequent. The haze lifts on the horizon and you see a ruined city on the horizon straight ahead of you, raised on a motte above the plain. It is about four miles away, a bedraggled looking ruin. The surrounding wall is nothing but rubble, collapsed efficiently along the entire southern side which you can see. An inner keep and two towers remain, along with standing pieces of out-buildings which surround it.

Date: 11:45am, 06 June 2021
Light: Sun
Weather: 46F, 4-6mph winds
Distance travelled: ~7 miles
Injuries: None

[Spearmint]

Idriss

Will take a few feathers too, large chicken or giant vulture?

"Anyone want to scout ahead?"

[Alethan]

OOC: So they've acquired 7 portions of perishable rations in all? That means we each don't have to use one of our rations for a day and then we have a spare ration if needed.

[Marullus]

Fair enough. And, I forgot to ask for rations this morning, so we'll say this covers it and Bandy keeps the last few potatoes for stew.

[Alethan]

Rhybek Baerdrum

Rhybek glances over at the tall blonde-haired man and shakes his head, "I'm not built for sneaky stuff. But maybe someone else here is..."

OOC: There is no Bandy here. Only Zuul.

[Zhym]

Fingers starts to shift uneasily. Why is everyone looking at him?

"Okay, see, here's the thing about sneaking alone," he says. "It's great until someone sees you. Then you're dead. And I don't wanna be dead."

[Rusty Tincanne]

Fair point, lad. I don't want to be dead either, so as long as we have the same goal, I'll go ahead with you. Ablesforth starts toward the ruined keep with Fingers.

Character sheet updated with new prayers for the day. No rations deducted.