CHAPTER THREE: What the dead mage said

[Gelatinous Q]

Bran shrugs and says, "That's what HE is for," pointing at Stregghi, the acolyte on loan from Lassering Thay.

"So... Stregghi? How far do we have to go?"

Streghhi exhales sharply. The man is obviously in some pain.

"We are still most of a day's ride from the tomb — two dozen miles, give or take, over rough ground. At times trackless." He takes a drink from his skin, then spits on the ground. "If we press on, we might make it shortly after nightfall."

He adds darkly: "To see these euroz so close in to Tassin's Wood ... they are emboldened. I fear what this may mean for the village."

He turns to Glogs. "You were bitten, man, by your friend's arrow. Do you need healing?"

If you look at the map at the top of this thread, you guys are located about 5 hexes to the left of where the track turns off from the road between Tassin's Wood and Loegrimm. If you're able to zoom in, the hex is #20.20.

[hedgeknight]

Seeing Stregghi's obvious discomfort, Ulf asks, "Is there any healing for our guide?"

[Alethan]

Bran nods as he approaches the young acolyte,"Indeed, you appear to need some assistance, young Stregghi."

Bran lays one hand on the youth's shoulder and grasps his amulet with the other and asks for healing in the name of Clanggedin.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 7

OOC: afraid that's all the healing I have for the day, folks. We might consider resting for the night after we locate the tomb...

[Nuke66]

Gordon pipes up. "Yes, the tomb is our destination, and we have a plan. We should press on before stopping, it just would not do to have another band of orcs find us.

I still have some prayers for the day, but was hoping to keep them in reserve, lest we find ourselves with a party member gravely wounded."

Gordon mounts his trusty mule, Meathead.

After a two year hiatus, I don't even remember if we brought mounts.

[onlyme]

After a two year hiatus, I don't even remember if we brought mounts.

we did. I read...

[Gelatinous Q]

After a two year hiatus, I don't even remember if we brought mounts.

Alcastra hooked you up in the horse department.

"The use of mounts and tack is granted," Alcastra nods. "Your stipend should amply cover the expense of feeding and stabling. Should any ill befall these steeds, their cost shall be deducted from your final reward."

OOC: assume PHB prices for light horses and mules for your liability.
~~~
Your party has also just acquired:
<snip>
[*]4 riding horses and 1 pack mule[/list][/color]

[rredmond]

we did. I read...

I know right? These pen and paper games and the reading. Sheesh. I think it's worse in PbP

[Gelatinous Q]

So what's the consensus? Are you guys pressing on for the tomb or making camp and resting/praying/studying?

[Alethan]

OOC: my vote is to clear away from the site of this fight, making our way towards the tomb, and then make camp. If anyone has any healing spells left, we should use them before the end of the night; then healers can reset spells in the morning...

[onlyme]

same

[rredmond]

Sounds good.

[hedgeknight]

Agreed > let's roll!

[Alethan]

OOC: that's four votes for the above suggestion, so lets go ahead and go with that, GQ.

[Argennian]

OOC: round that up to +5

[Gelatinous Q]

Stregghi lays hands on Glogs while chanting softly in an unknown tongue. Glogs is healed of 4 HP worth of damage.

[1d8] = 4

After curing the soldier's wounds, he turns to the group.

"I know of a wayside, well-hidden from the path, about 8 miles short of the tomb. If we make haste and have no more interruptions such as this one, we might make it by nightfall. I only hope the orcs haven't found it before us."

[onlyme]

Iomhar quickly replies,

Either way, it seems the best course. I assume our mounts can handle it well enough? If so, please lead the way.

[Gelatinous Q]

About an hour after first spotting the orcs in the ravine, you start out once again toward Charrellsfane's tomb. The path seems to narrow the farther down it you travel, and it is not easy going, as the cleric warned you — many steep descents and rocky climbs, and sometimes the path itself virtually disappears beneath your feet. Yet Stregghi knows the blazes by rote — a snapped sapling here, a tiny cairn of rocks there — and your pace never flags.

Around dusk, you find yourself on a stretch of trail hugging a steep, heavily wooded escarpment to your right. Stregghi stops you short.

"Here is where we turn off."

He leads you on to a treacherous, scree-filled trace that rises toward the top of the ridge. After a mile of slow, difficult ascent — just as the sun dips below the horizon for good — you reach a large level span of table rock ringed by boulders that form a natural windbreak. A fire ring is nestled up against the boulders. There appears to be nobody else there. The temperature is dropping rapidly.

Actions?

[Argennian]

While still in the saddle, Savik will get out his short bow and make ready with an arrow, just in case something not yet seen decides to pop up and try to kill them.

He'll move forward into camp when the others do, only content to dismount once they're stone sure the place is empty and not housing an hidden orc ambush! "Made it by dark, as you'd hoped. Well done, Stregghi," the Wood elf offers with a nod and a wink before looking longingly at the empty fire pit.

[Alethan]

"Do we risk a fire? Seems it'll be cold tonight..." Bran says, cautiously.

[hedgeknight]

"My grandpappy's beard! What a climb! And yes, a fire sounds pretty dang good to me. We have cover and protection, and there is no way something will sneak up on us up here. I say we risk it."Ulf looks around for wood for the fire...