Grall delivers the body and its loot to the group.

Treasure: Though difficult to spot in the powerful,
churning currents, the skeletal remains of a long-dead
explorer makes up the tatzlwyrms’ meager horde. A DC 12
Perception check spots the skeleton wedged in the debris.
The skeleton still wears a suit of +1 scale mail, while clutched
in one bony hand is a masterwork cold iron longsword. A
DC 18 Perception check reveals additional treasure in the
rubble and mud below the skeleton within a rotting leather
backpack that contains 38 gp, 520 sp, a pewter drinking
stein worth 12 gp, a silver ring worth 35 gp, a jade carving
of a nude female elven monk worth 85 gp, and a watertight
scroll tube. Inside the tube is a partially completed map of
the northwest corner of the Greenbelt that seems to indicate
that the explorer approached from the north, reached
the source of the Skunk River, and was working his way
downriver. The PCs can use this partially completed map
to aid in exploring all of the hexes of the map that form a
triangle between areas A, B, and U—exploring these hexes
with the map’s aid takes half as long as normal, and areas
I, J, and N are noted on the map.

"So this is what became of the last one to try and map this place out," Grall says, "I wonder what that says of the ones who hired you to follow in his footsteps."

"Yeah I don't think any of us would have survived very long without the others," Joey says, "Unless this one's team abandoned his body, I'd wonder more what made him think he could handle this hostile land alone."

"Surprisingly common assumption among bandits."

  "The only reason we're getting anything even close to support, is that we seem to be the first explorers to not die within a week of those taking up the free offer of 'explore and keep what you find, no strings attached we swear'."

Shelly squeaks, "Technically no strings attached. They just don't mention the danger up front. Though it should be obvious from the fact others have gone on ahead of you."

Tread looks at the nude elf monk inquisitively. "...what was he doing with this? I guess he found it somewhere in this area?"

Shelly squeaks, "Or he just admired the beauty of a naked elf girl."

Tread pffs... "Doubt it. The kind of people who take up this dangerous life are either like us; interested in justice, or like the bandits; interested in money. This statue is worth more to explorers for its coin value." she stuffs it in her own backpack.

Shelly peeks at the map. "Oh boy! This guy did some mapping for us!"

"Sorry, Shelly," Joey says, "We've already explored the areas he mapped.  And did a better job of mapping from the looks of it.  Let's at least bury this poor fellow."

"Let's burn 'im," Grall suggests, "And the big snakes too if you're worried about giant zombie snakes."

He gets to work building a pyre.

  "I would go with Grall, but it could take longer than usual for them to burn considering he's been river scenery for this long."

  Shame about the redundant map though, but at least it suggests the did not miss anything on the way.

Tread agrees to burning. There is already a tatzlwyrm head back at Oleg's and really, she can't think of much other use for the creatures.

Shelly says a prayer for the dead and for their souls to move on. Spirits whisper as she prays.

Being wet didn't seem to slow down the burning process any longer than it normally takes.  The night and following morning pass without event.  About lunch time, the group comes upon something of note.

V. Trapp ed Thylacine
(CR 3; Standard)
Creature: A series of quick, yipping barks come from an
open pit in a clearing here. The pit, once covered by a
layer of branches, has claimed a brush thylacine, and the
hungry creature paces the confines of the 10-foot-square,
20-foot-deep pit in a frenzy.
Anyone who comes within 5 feet of the pit’s edge causes the
side to slip away. A DC 15 Reflex save prevents a 20-foot-fall
into the pit and exposure to the frantic thylacine’s hunger.

Joey doesn't approach, but Grall begins to get closer to take a look down the pit.

  The dice continue to hate the party avoiding obvious lurking hazzards, so Scott can't tell Grall that taking a peek into a hole with a wild animal inside it is probably a bad idea for his face.

Shelly is curious about the creature too and goes to the hole, some food ready.

Tread seems to hang back, but not far behind Grall.

Grall and Shelly fall into the pit!  The animal yips in surprise, then snarles, ready to attack!  Just as it jumps for Shelly, Grall swings upward with his axe, sending the rat-dog's head flying out of the pit!

"Who makes a pit trap you can't stand at the edge of to recover your prey?!" Grall hollers in anger.

"Judging from the lack of any markings, I'm guessing the same trapper who's body we found smushed under one of his own traps," Joey surmises, "Is Shelly ok?"

"She's fine.  Throw us a rope, would ya?"

Joey gets on that.

  Scott gets ready to jump down after them, and instead catches a severed head.

  "So, this may be a bad time but thank you so much for being a reasonable person."  Geee, party vs Wrathful Grall.  That would have been bad is likely a vast understatement.

  "Glad to hear you both are going to be okay, welcome to every other day exploring the greenbelt Grall."  This said as he drops the head, and goes to help Joey with the rope.

Shelly gives Grall a hug while the rope is being lowered. "Thanks for the save, Grall!" she squeaks.

But she will grab the rope once offered.

Tread assists with bringing the two back up out of the hole.

Grall blushes from the adorable otter hug.  Not something he's used to.  "I... uh... sure!  Sure thing, Shelly."

Scott snaps him back to his usual "cheerful" self.  He'll help the little squeaker up out of the hole first before climbing out himself.

"Thanks for the rope."

"You're welcome," Joey says, not having anything else to add other than his holy healing aura to restore both Grall and the princess back to full health.

"And the heals too."

"No problem."

  "At least it wasn't a very good trap, which is the only pleasant surprise about this whole thing."  You take 10 feet of fall damage.  That's the trap.  Then again, that could have easily killed someone in this system.  Your wizard fell on his keys and takes three damage, he dies.

Tread says, "Well next time, I'll tie a rope to whoever wants to peak and hold the other end." After all, she is definitely strong enough to hold up any one of her allies, no problem. "Grall, you volunteering as the scout then? You seem both tough and eager."

Shelly smiles brightly.

"And I can turn invisible," Grall boasts proudly, "Yeah, I'll be your scout..."

He eyes Scott.

"Though I've been accused of being near blind and deaf.  If Scott here is more perceptive, he might be a more practical choice.  Either way's fine with me."

Joey looks over at Scott.  "Yea, my vote is for Scott."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Mon 24 Feb 2014.

  The wonders of having actual points in Perception, even if you only have a 14 Wisdo-Sweet Kord Grall's negative stats.  Maybe The difference between 5 and 6 Int is why Grall holds conversations beyond laying eggs and people eating?

  "May as well, not like I would be going so far ahead of everyone you wouldn't know if I ran into a problem anyways."  Of course you still rolled a 1 on that pit check.

Tread sounds unsure as she asks, "Do I sense tension in the group? Because we should take care of any of that if we want to live."

Shelly huhs?

"Huh?" Grall says, looking over at Tread in confusion.

"Well... you were blushing before..." Joey points out.

Grall sputters, face turning red again.  "WHAT?!  NO!  Sometimes my face gets red when I lop a starving rat-dog's head off in a rage!  Don't know what you're talking about!"

Joey chuckles.  "Fair enough."

  Right, it has nothing to do with being hugged by an adorable fuzzy (who is haunted).  "I think we're good,  though if Grall wants a minute before we get going again that's fine too."

  Once world map travel is good to go, he'll hope his perc checks don't fail so bad in warning the party of the next 8 random encounters in the next two tiles.

Tread smiles and says, "Alright then. Let's get going. I'm sure Grall is ready if the rest of us are."

She continues onward.

Shelly trots along with the others, giggling.

The day and night and next morning pass uneventfully.  The next day's exploring is in the area where the fangberries were.

"This place," Joey recalls, "Watch for swarms of spiders."

No spiders attack, though.

No so forgettable can't remember if it was kobolds or goblins willing to fight to the death over said berries either  "Maybe the spiders got bored waiting for us and went home."

Shelly sings a haunting tune as the team wanders. (This'll work for the general feel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxYqyWgYNyE ) The occasional spirit moans in harmony with her at random, sounding like whales in the background.

Tread mostly keeps an eye out for her team, making sure everyone stays together. Though she does occasionally comment about "if only Eli were here..."

Joey of course compliments Shelly's singing.  Another uneventful day, night, and morning.  The group comes upon the rickety bridge across the Torn River they encountered long ago.

"We really should get this thing fixed up at some point," Joey says, "But I suppose until it's within the legal borders of our kingdom, it's best to leave it as-is."

"Afraid of someone complaining you fixed it?" Grall asks in some confusion.

"No...  Just worried it'll be considered a waste of kingdom money if our people don't directly benefit from it."

"Tsh.  Politics."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:32, Tue 25 Feb 2014.