The nameless man watches as Kit and Shank head off, feeling even more at loose ends then usual. The big cleric vanishes off with the lady captain, and Ovo seems to have gotten a following among the mongrel-pirates...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:34, Tue 06 Sept 2016.

The scouts are out long enough that it was an overnight, but the anxious scout and the ever-nervous D'Amboise spot each other with relief part way thru the next day.

Ovo is giving lessons to some of the crew men on combat basics .

Thatch has been in conversation with the local mage, but no one has seen signs of Mordecai since the scouts left. There is some speculation (okay, gambling) on the part of the crew if he hung himself or not.

Kit, as ever as Kit is, walks with a slight slip to her step, half-seeming not to touch the ground as she does and ever thankful to be back. She lifts a hand in wave as she spots a familiar form, though she does not call out.

Ovo watches anxiously -- glad to see Kit, but concerned over the non-presence of Shank.

He does not break the silence the girl maintains, but he does wave to her.

Just as Ovo waved, he felt a tap on his shoulder and heard a quiet snicker. "Got you! You really should keep a better watch, I would hate for some cat burglar to make off with our possessions. Shank said with a grin.

Once Kit was on board, he nodded to her and then motioned for everyone to follow him to the map room for his report. Once the others had gathered he began, "Our scouting mission was a success, in large part to our new friend here. We would have likely been captured by giant ant-men had it not been for her keen sight. They came out of a building here. He pointed to the location they had spotted the giant ants.

Pointing then to the map around the letter I, he continued, "We watched a Bugbear arena match here. Not much worth of note, but it was strange.

Moving his finger over to the cliffside that had collapsed (D), he said, "Here we saw things, they looked half dog-half man. They were guarding something, I don't know what but they seemed to be doing a good job of it."

"We found the temple, and with it the kobold patrols. They tend to travel by the dozen and there were leopards as well." He said as his finger hovered over the temple (H).

"Last, but definitely not least, we found an area patrolled by snake men that looked very promising in terms of the other ingredients on our ever-growing list... Sorry we kept you waiting, the sun started setting and I didn't want to risk being caught by something more used to hunting at night."

In reply to Shank (msg # 402):

Thatch nods his approval, good work you two and glad to see a little caution there Shank with a knowing smirk.

So, the Kobolds are a heavy patrol and we have all these extra's to deal with to.

sigh, we do no have time to clear out the areas or further investigate what we came for by trying to talk to each group.  Most i assume will be unfriendly towards us and we are asked not to cause too much trouble yet.

Looks to shank as he states ingredients, I am working on trying to negotiate some of those ingredients out of D'amboises friends group mage, Oscar but we have not settled on a fair price.   I have offered a few spells and a little gold which is all I have right now so be prepared for possible help with this.

Smiles that Thatch smile, best we report this to D'Amboise's friends and see what they make of it. then plan.

Oh did either of you two run across Mordecai ????   they say Mordecai is missing.

"No sign of Mordecai. I thought he was here. With you. I think we should ask about the area the snake men patrol, even if you get some of what we need the rest could be hard to come by and I think it's our best bet. Let's go see D'Ambrose and the captain and see what they think."

Ovo presents a "report" on his doings, although he was not asked (and it doesn't seem particularly relevant).

"Ah've made meself some frineds wit' some of the locals.  Some of dem seem impressed wit' Ovo's exploits."

The dwarf chuckles at this, as if he finds it hard to believe.

"A few 'ave asked me to teach 'em some fightin' skills, an I've obliged.  In some cases, with more success than others; some of these lads are rather . . . unique, an' it's proved a bit challenging.  An' a few 'ave asked me to put in a word wit' D'Amboise, to speak to them 'bout the glory of Wotan.  I promised I would, an' that I had no doubt that ye'd be quite willin'."

OOC: I've worded this on the assumption D'Amboise is present for Shank's report.  If this is incorrect, I'll reword.

"Silly man missing?" Kit asks, a slight hesitation to each word as she connects what is being said with the clear absence about them. She gives a look around, narrowing her eyes in concern and turning to look out over the lands they came from as though expecting to see a trail behind them or a lost figure in need of rescuing. She sees neither and turns back with a half-hearted look upon her face.

D'Amboise is indeed relieved at Kit and Shank's safe return, though is unsurprised that the latter escapes his and Ovo's vigil.  The priest listens thoughtfully to the pair's report, noting the strange sights they have seen, but concentrating on the kobold's temple and patrols.

"Can you get us there unheard and unseen ?" he muses.  "Noisy and clumsy as the rest of us are !"

He had noted the shields bourne by some of the men in imitation of the symbol of Wotan that he himself wears, but had thought these merely tokens and fetishes, so the request passed on through the Dwarf is unexpected, though he is quick to confirm Ovo's promises on his behalf.  "Of course," he assures the Dwarf, and moreover any of the crew that may be listening.  "I'd be more than glad to do so."

While he's been looking out for any sign of their scouts, D'Amboise had not considered that he'd need to keep an eye out for those who remained with the ship, and is chagrined to find that their nameless companion has seemingly vanished.

In reply to D'Amboise (msg # 407):

Thatch returns to the group after a long outing, humming he smiles at the group, well I got some of our stuff we need, compliments of a wise trade with Oscar and myself.  Cost me two spells and 25 gp but thia is what I got:

crocodile brain (he has one he has been studying, but he is willing to give it up for a fair price) both sacs from a poisonous giant frog, one pair of ogre scrotum he had gotten from one of the amazons in trade, and the ichor from a single mane.

Also, here D[amboise, some clerical spells or that is what Oscar tells me, take a look at them but ve careful just in case.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Tue 20 Sept 2016.

The priest nods, taking the scrolls from Thatch and after muttering a brief prayer to Wotan, unrolls the parchment to study them.

The natural ingredients found, combined with what Shank reports as having found, would be almost everything you needed, minus of course the tiles from the garden itself, and the sets of Kobold horns, as well as two sets of Ogre testicles needed for Shanks own cure.

Ovo looks at everyone else in turn, expectantly.

The priest's eyes widen uncharacteristically as he flicks through the parchment, deciphering at least the gist of what is writ thereon.

"Powerful healing magic," he mutters, "to banish poison, heal a bad wound ... even raise the dead !  A fourth ... would allow us to communicate with a plant," the idea of such is not beyond his experience, though it is something he has never witnessed.

"The last ..." he pauses, beyond surprise, his tone bordering on disbelief "... this ... a simple spell, but the writer ... it is beyond anything I could accomplish ... though I am at a loss to know why so powerful a servant of the gods would have need for such."

"On the face of it, the prayer-spell would create water ... but while I might manage twenty gallons or so, if Wotan permitted, this would produce ... perhaps eighty ?  Or maybe more, maybe much more ... I confess I am not familiar with elemental workings - Wotan is a god of battle after all !"

"Enough water could bring down battlements, or flood a trench, or swamp a boat -- but eighty?  Mebbe it's s'posed ta make sure a unit's got enough ta drink."

The priest grins at Ovo's practical response. "I agree.  Simpler for a less experienced priest to cast the spell a few times.  Simpler yet for the army to bring sufficient barrels of water with them, else camp near a fresh stream and trouble not the gods above with such petty matters."

"I suspect this spell must do more than it seems ..." D'Amboise looks up speculatively at the beached boat at his back and snorts.  "Who knows ... perhaps ?"

In reply to D'Amboise (msg # 414):

Owwwing at the list of capabilities the scrolls have he traded for chuckles at he lst one.  I think if Woton permits a large quantity of water could be helpful  and alos looks at the beached noat  er ship.

Secure the scrolls for now and lets see what we can plan about the info our scouts got for us and then what we can do for your friends.

"Our aims, then," the priest attempts to summarise:

"We need to meet with this Occulasii Ressulem who leads the Kobolds, and see if he has news of the one we seek ..."

"We need to deal with the Frog-king if we wish to refloat the ship ..."

"As to the ingredients we still must seek - there's the place Shank and Kit found where the Snake-Men patrol, the garden itself where we might find the tiles, the graveyard where ghouls are rumoured ..."

"Which would just leave Kobold horns, which could be problematical if we wish to stay on their good side ... though perhaps we could find where they dispose of their dead ... and one intact Ogre."

He pauses.  "We may be old and grey before our task is done !"

"Did I miss anything ?  Wotan grant I did not !  Then we must determine our priorities and how best we might accomplish our aims."

Shank had listened to the description of the scrolls with some interest. He wished one would cure his insomnia but he kept that to himself. He was tired. Always tired. But he was hopeful now. He could see respite on the horizon.

"That sounds about right, my friend. I think we should save the kobold horns for last in case we do need to burn those bridges..."

Ovo starts to speak, but as Shank expresses his thoughts first, the dwarf merely nods vigorously.  Then he expands: "'n more than that, I think we should do those things that require makin' friends first.  Get it out of the way, 'afore we do somethin' that unexpectedly makes that task harder."

In reply to Ovo Goldenshield (msg # 418):

HHm,, it will take some sneaking about to get to the Kobolds area so what is closest, maybe we work our way out.

Is it Frog king or Lizard Men.

Not sure speaking frank we can do much with the Lizard Men and peace talks but if we encounter them, we can try to avoid conflict.


D'Amboise, does Wotan allow you to use messengers, cast a spell upon a small creature, mouse say and deliver messages?   I remember others gifted to do that.


Chuckles, intact Ogre, dead or alive???   And of course getting out of here is a task unto itself.

We can make plans accordingly after diner.   Do we want to include the Captain of all our thoughts and plans.  With that look of not really Thatch scans he group.

"The Frog-king last," D'Amboise says firmly.  "There I do expect a fight ... and if by that battle we can clear the way for the ship to depart, then we may can gladly burn those bridges that Shank mentions, as long as they are firmly behind us !"

"Include the Captain ?  Of course.  I trust her as I trust you.  Her first concern is for her ship and crew ... our plans should not involve conscripting her men into our fight save where it concerns matters affecting the ship itself."

"Better they stay here to hold this place at least as somewhere safe to which we may retreat."

In reply to D'Amboise (msg # 420):

Smiles, action is what you want so be it.

We strike out for the Kobolds first.  So lets go over that intel about the area and decide a good path.

Yea, the crew can hang here and protect there boat and when we are ready to go for the frog they can help then since it probably will entale the boat too.

Now the giant ant-men we will have to skirt - no sense dealing with them now/yet.  We can go this way around them and maybe avoid the letter I area too.

Now this cliffside that had collapsed (D) has those half dog-half man guarding something.    We may have to check them out if we get no ware with the Kobolds.  but they would need more recons to decide how to approach them.

To the temple we will have to capture a patrol or some of them to get a message back, and see what happens.  I do not like staying in the area too longnor drawing them to here so we should find a place to hang.

The area patrolled by snake men we will have to avoid too.

Chuckle, to bad we cannot cause trouble making one group go after another. Sighs but that is wishful thinking.

Drawing a path on the map of least resistance to the Kobolds. We go this way ???