In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 86):

Boris plans on staying up with Stoney a bit, see if he snaps out of his fugue. After a point if he doesn't, he'll go back to sleep, trusting in God to heal his friend.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 88):

Stoney plans on just staying still, until the paralysis wears off.

The remainder of the your evening is spent in relative peace...relative as various sounds of unpleasant, large beasts echo in the darkness; some sound as if they were passing within mere inches of your encampment.  Despite this, nothing more appears within your firelight, leaving simply the gleaming bone fragments to remind you of the evening as the first rays of sunlight begin to appear through the forest canopy.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 90):

First moving his fingers, then his hands and so on around his whole body.
"Wow I ache all over, what was that thing?"
Padding around his pack.
"There is it, this will help my muscles."
Takes a long drink from his wineskin.

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 91):

Ondrea had kept an eye out all night for something else to stumble into their camp so it was at first light that she shrugged off her blanket and started to see to something to eat. Once everyone had eaten she would be ready to continue on the trail.

"Lets us hope that such abominations are a once off."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Mon 31 July 2017.

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 92):

Lare nodded at the warrioress' comment." A nice thought, but I suspect that it's just wishful thinking." the barbarian replied, wiping his hands off on his pants, then pulling on his pack and securing his weapons for travel.
" You going to live then? " he asked Stoney smiling at his friend. "That's the only time I've not seen you drinking since I've met you." he added.

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 93):

"I was afraid you weren't going to be around to let me drink your wine! Praise the Lord, you seem all right now." Boris deftly snatched the wineskin from Stoney's numb hand and took a swig of his own. "There are medicinal uses for this, apparently!

"Now, we were endlessly tracking someone? Until we run out of island? I think this is the wrong path. Wherever the Saracens were camping, it's not a bloody couple days march from the town. Let's go back, try to pick up the other path, eh? Besides, we might run into more of those demonic bone snakes on this route."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 94):

Larz looked toward Ondrea at Boris' words. "You make the call, I will follow." he said nodding.

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 95):

"Now we have committed so much to this route I am woe to abandon it. Let us walk until lunch and then make the decision ?"

-

Boris thought a moment. "That will lose us another day, mind. Let's ask Stoney what he thinks?"

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 97):

"Stoney, are you going to be okay to walk?" Larz asked looking at his weakened friend. "What say you? Continue or head back the other way?"

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 98):

"Walk?"
Tries jumping up and down to test his abilities.
"A little slow, but I'll manage with the help of my friend."
Takes a long drink from his wineskin.
"Nothing that my friend hasn't gotten me through, yet!"
Wipes his mouth clean.
"Direction?  Did we lose the trail?"

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 99):

"I can't say. But we were supposed to find the Saracens' camp, yeah? It can't be more than a day's march from town, probably less.

"There was a second trail, other than this one. I think this trail is when the Saracens moved into the area. The other leads to their camp, methinks. But we need to go back and take the other trail to find out. If it still remains after the rain."

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 100):

The large warrior just smiled and shook his bushy head at his friend's antics. "You'll be alright." he said chuckling to himself.

"I say we do as Ondrea suggested. Let's follow the trail we're on until mid day. If we come up empty we can always head back." Larz commented.

"We no nothing about their camp, where it is, how far it is...nothing..." he added in response to Boris. "Because every group of brave fools the village has sent to investigate get's themselves killed."

With light from the suns rays fully covering the land, you step out from your shelter to survey the terrain.  The previous nights storm had done a real number on the landscape with only a slim chance of finding any tracks to follow.  Mulling over your options in frustration you notice something that had escaped your vision when you first setup camp.  High above the rock formation against which you slumbered, was a well worn, but still clearly visible, carving into the rock face.  While both nature and weather had caused some heavy erosion, its features were still very prominent.  It looked like a giant face, twisted into some sort of horror grimace, with its mouth gaped wide.  It was hard to tell from your vantage point, but you could almost swear that the mouth was some sort of opening.

In reply to The Power s That Be (msg # 102):

"Well it looks like we have another choice."Larzander commented pointing to the mouth opening. "We could go investigate that."

The barbarian looked around for an easier approach, other than the obvious strait climb...

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 103):

Boris nodded, vigourously. "Praise the Lord! He has guided us here, and shown us this mouth of madness. Surely, it is a sign!"

He checked his gear, then had a simple breakfast. The wine sat warmly in the pit of his stomach.

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 104):

Larz, grinned at Boris' comment..."Surely you got the madness part right."

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 105):

"Yes. Not all signs and omens are good."

In reply to Boris Underhill (msg # 106):

"Into the mouth of the beast"
As he takes a gulp of wine.
"I dont know of a better idea, it is a little off task though.  Maybe we can get a better vantage point to see the camp that is attacking the city.  We need to help those people."
Shaking his leg to shake off some of the dirt from camping.
"It would be nice to get ot higher ground, too."

In reply to Stoney Applesmith (msg # 107):

"Right then." Larzander replied strapping his sword across his back. "I'll go first, if I can find something solid I will tie off and drop a rope for the rest of you."

"Unless one of you lighter lads wants first go?" he asked.

OOC: If no one else steps up, Larz will attempt to climb to the opening. Hopefully barbarians bounce...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Fri 04 Aug 2017.

In reply to Larzander Gunderzen (msg # 108):

Ondrea studied the face in the hill for several minutes before adding. "It may have also been the lair of these things." She sweeps a hand over the bones and dust.
Once they were prepared for the ascent Ondrea held the bottom rope for Laz as he climbed. Her intention was to be the last to climb so if something was to attack they still had a defense at the bottom of the cliff.

-

After studying the rise for some time, and a few failed attempts to find a suitable climbing point, you stumble across a small, slightly worn area of dirt.  Further unveiling the discovery, you find a path leading up one side of the formation;  much of the foliage had been intentionally placed so as to conceal the small trail.  Carefully and cautiously, one by one you begin to move up the cliff face.  The formally hidden path weaves in and out from the rock face, where it vanishes but you discover indentations with fresh scuff marks, then reappears just as the climbing becomes near impossible.  The temperature and humidity begin to climb as well and before long you are all covered in a thick sheen of sweat.  Finally, you reach an area where the solid rock had been carved away and you are able to stand on solid, level ground once more.  Ahead of you, perhaps 10 or 15 feet lies the large, ghoulish stone face in all its horrid glory.  Despite how worn the stone was, you could still see that whoever carved it had little skill or care for its design.  Rough edges and chisel marks were plain as day from top to bottom.  The eyes were no where near equal in proportion and the nose was horribly crooked.  The mouth, however, seemed to almost possess a true nature of the sinister.  The teeth, carved both top and bottom, were a tangle of jagged, twisting stone and you could swear you actually heard it breathing. With apprehension, you approach the horror and find, much to your relief, it was not in fact breathing but was the sound of moving wind.  Peering into the gaping maw you discover that a cave disappears into the back of the stone face; a cold breeze groans through the black opening and whips across your faces.

In reply to The Powers That Be (msg # 110):

"Well Mr Underhill I think your skills may be best suited to taking the lead with this little adventure. I do not need a light source but I have candles for those of us who do." Ondrea spends the time as they ready themselves looking for tracks in the dirt and dust that might indicate how used the trail may be.

Ondrea Avalor rolled 3 using 1d20.  Survival (Woodland) = 12.


-

In reply to Ondrea Avalor (msg # 111):

A little winded, Boris looked around. "Who, me? My skills? I'm a merchant and traveler! I'm pretty quiet, yes, when I'm alone. But we expect to encounter a band of armed ruffians who are poised to attack. Should that happen, being quiet won't matter much and being alone is suicide.

"I say let's go in together, expecting a fight."