Caith seems perfectly happy to leave the mysteries of the sea to be mysterious for the moment, other than quietly observing "There's a lot of useful bits in a whale carcass, even after tha' meat rots. Plenty of scavengers about too." to Usopi.

She offers the opinion of "If there's shelter ta' be found in either the caves Dann spoke of, or in whatever remains of Salthold, then the men we seek could have taken shelter in either place. If they're nay inclined ta' trust tha' local folk, caves might seem a better bet to a pack of mercenary wolves wary of an angry mob."

Caith's apparent curiosity about the caves in particular is entirely undisguised as she adds "...And in truth, I've a mind to go see for myself what lies beneath the surface of both water and stone as well."

Usopi wonders what use a whale carcass might have aside from meat, but chooses not to inquire at the moment. He  scratches the stubble on his chin as conversation starts about what to do from here.

"It is true Caith, I had not thought that the mercenaries might have stopped in the area. I assumed they had moved further on since they've a few days on us still, but if they have some sinister purpose in this region then there is no telling where exactly that purpose may reside." he says, grinning at the woman's perceptive nature.

He looks south, and then turns back to the group, "I would suggest we stop at Salthold first, simply to ensure it is as vacant as our friend Dann's story suggests. We might leave our ox and cart there, housed in some abandoned stable? I doubt it's ability to reach the cave lest there be some path to it, which I do not recall from the tale." he patted the oxen on the neck, uncertain of the wisdom of leaving the best and their load unattended, but it might be possible to hide the cart within the ruins of Salthold.

"From there we might easily set out for the caves, both to check them for mercenary occupation and to examine the crystalline man. It seems early now to camp without some other task at hand. Usopi scratches his chin again, "I wonder if the man in the stone is perhaps aware of his surroundings despite being frozen? Better to be shattered in to shards of rock than to be imprisoned for eternity. Our more learned and intellectual members may find some path to free him, and if not then we might at least end his imprisonment and send him to his gods."

" So to Salthold then? Are we agreed?". Brannon says breezily, already turning away from the coast towards the low hill...

Dann casts a hard look at Usopi. "You do what you will warrior. But I am not going back into these caves."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:53, Sat 20 Apr 2019.

Usopi raises an eyebrow at Dann,, "Are you not curious as to what the man in the crystal might have to say? Perhaps some clue as to how he was place there and how we might avoid the same fate? And what if he was placed there unjustly as a torture. Would you wish to be left in such a state if others came upon you? If the group has no wish to go there then I will accept that. It is simply mild curiosity, as well as the possibility Caith raised of the mercenaries using it as a hold that draws my attention to it."

Usopi shrugs at Dann's hard look, "Regardless, both are to the south of us, no? Let us be off then."

The large knight began leading the oxcart south along the road. The topic could be discussed further when they reached Salthold if need be.


OOC - Edited to actually respond to what Dann said and not what I read incorrectly while at work. :D Should still work with Caith's post as well, since she never addressed the disparity directly, but simply our exchange.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Tue 09 Apr 2019.

Caith remains silent after Dann's steadfast refusal to return to the caves, but her pensive gaze in his direction is a loudly unspoken question in itself.

She listens to Brannon and Usopi's replies with the same pensive air though, so it is not a matter of trust, nor misgivings about the past that occupies her thoughts, but a rather more practical matter.

The Hedgewitch offers a solution to one problem , perhaps two as she opines "If Salthold still has buildings standing, then mayhap there will be one that can be made fit fer use as a stable there, aye..." then points out "...Regardless of that, if ye leave the cart there, it would only be sensible ta' leave someone with more sense than tha' oxen ta' keep an eye on them, I suppose?"

She shrugs as she looks to Lann with an impish expression and observes "I've nay doubt that young mage'o'war be far too inclined to go looking fer a giant ta' argue with ta' challenge his great prowess in single combat ta' keep watch over any thing so humble as an ox cart..."

Caith turns to glance in Chlainn's direction, then look to the barrels in the cart and grin as she shakes her head and remarks cheerfully "An' he'd nay be watchin' much at all after hittin' the first barrel of 'Old Headcracker', be it but a single bandit makin' off with an oxcart on tha' sly, or a whole flock of flyin' cattle..." but hastens to add in her own particular form of kindness "...Though I've no doubt that he'd fight either ta' tha' death, if he could still see straight ta' aim at tha' time."

She points a finger at Brannon as she teases "...An' tha' Hearthwarden? Oh, he'd spend all his time distracted any remainin' architecture, nay keepin' his attention on tha' cart, so no, better take him along ta tha' caves ta' take a learned look at tha' place..." and turns her attention to Alphail.

Her smile is unmistakably wolfish, more akin to a baring of fangs, as she asks the Hunter in tones of honeyed sweetness "...Perhaps ye'd best come along ta keep an eye out fer him, lest any harm come him while he's distracted by the wonders wrought in stone?"

Caith observes wryly, with a graceful gesture towards the border warrior as she mention his name "As Usopi seems keen ta' see same said wonders, that leaves only the conveniently available Dann, who strikes me as a man who has well learned ta' keep a sharp pair of eyes out fer trouble, an' nay go chasing after giants by himself."

Her tone is sharper than fresh hewn flint as she concludes "An' as someone had better be ready ta' deal with tha' consequences of curiosity? I'm going ta' keep an eye on tha' lot of ye."

Caith mutters to Dann in mocking complaint "Are ye sure I can nay persuade ye ta' herd them, and I'll watch tha' oxen instead? Ye've taken tha' least troublesome charges, that's fer sure!"

OOC: Fine, so Dann keeps watch at Salthold, then smaller party of PCs to the caves for a look. Is anyone else going to keep watch with Dann, or are the PCs leaving him to hold off potential bandits by himself?

_{EDIT:Tucking Fypos...}
This message was last edited by the player at 05:32, Tue 09 Apr 2019.

"I'd rather like to see this Selentine fellow..." Brannon says whistfully.

OOC: In character Brannon is keen to see anything ancient, especially Selentine. Out of character, I'm away again this weekend til after Easter, so it may make sense for Brannon to stay behind?

"I wonder if the ancient man holds magical items that we can use," Lann muses.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

The companions crested the hill under Danns somewhat reticent directions; below they saw a small holding near the coast that was broken down and showed old signs of fire.  The main building was little more than a pile of old, charred timber but the out-buildings appeared somewhat more intact.

A large hawthorn bush lay along one side of the field and the doors of the largest outbuilding lay on the ground outside it.

Scant bones were scattered about the salt crystal spattered field before it....all appeared calm.

Usopi continues along toward the hold. From a distance there seems to be no sign of occupiers, though he keeps his eyes open for movement during the approach, and boot or hoof prints as they get closer that might indicate the mercenaries are around.

If he sees no signs, then he will head in to the hold. If one of the smaller outbuildings that still had doors was capable of housing the ox cart then he would lead it inside so that it would be more secure. If not then the large one would have to do.

”At the least we aught to see if the caves have been claimed by the mercenaries or some darker force. If Dann does not wish to accompany us then Caith’s suggestion of a guard on the cart seems prudent, and the rest of us can set out with haste and plan to be back before nightfall, though I worry that without Dann’s aid locating the caves may be difficult, as he is the only one with first hand knowledge of it’s location, and their tracks from so long ago must be well gone by now.” he says as they make their way toward the buildings.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:21, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

Lann approaces the farm and does a walk around to check for any hidden areas or danger.

OOC: What is the time?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

OOC: Late afternoon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:44, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

Caith looks at the ruins of the farmstead, mutters "That's a trifle more than scorched..." to herself in disapproval, but simply adds it to the list of things to be dealt with, and puts her mind to the task at hand.

Her more cheerful note is that "Well, at least they left plenty of firewood behind..." as she looks to the other buildings for likely shelter, the hawthorn bush to see if the buds have opened yet and the glittering in the fields as she ponders the puzzle before her of salt apparently growing from untilled soil.

The bones are no mystery to her, but simply more work to check to see if the bones of men lie among the beasts. She sighs and gestures at the bones as she says "Some damn fool sowed a war by tha' look of it. Behold the fine harvest..." in a tone of scorn mingled with sorrow.

Caith's only comment on finding the caves is to look to Dann and ask "Give me a direction ta' start from, aye? Or Alphail a trail ta' follow..." then shrugs as she concedes "If the bees an' yer directions agree, then I'll ken tha' path from that much."

She keeps an eye out for trouble, and keeps quiet while she seeks the way.

OOC: As far as Brannon's player being away goes, if the PCs take a quick look at the caves before dark just to check for inhabitants, there'd be no need for Brannon to make the trip to the caves just yet, right?

Also, if it's Early Spring, there's edible flower buds on Hawthorn Caith would be after. There's a lot of money in salt, so if nobody pulled a Carthage here, it must be welling up from salt water somewhere to the surface...

And if need be, Caith can cast Divination to ask a few questions of the bees, unless Alphail can find an old path through the shrubbery.

_{Edited for clarity after further data on remains.}
This message was last edited by the player at 05:01, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 937):

Usopi leads the ox cart down to the ruined holding and notes that it will fit within the barn and the oxen could be housed in the stalls at the rear of it...it wouldn't take much work to hoist the broken doors back up..though they will not hold against much effort.

Caith quickly determines the bones belong to at least two cattle.

In reply to GM (msg # 938):

Chlainn's face is red as he (-3 to all stats) surveys the area.

"We should turn in for the night!  I wonder what happened here?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

Lann suggests exploring the cave.

OOC: He will cast perception of sorcery to check for magic if/when they get to the cave.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:24, Wed 10 Apr 2019.

Caith picks through the cattle bones and concludes that none of the former human inhabitants of Salthold lie among them at least, and looks for signs, if any, in the cattle bones of what killed the beasts and left their bones across the fields.

OOC: Yeah, I know, it's highly unlikely to be any marks on the bones to tell, but it's also worth a look.

Her reply to the intoxicated knight is a simple one of "Two dead cattle worth of bones and a burnt out farmhouse in fields full of salt? Probably famine from failin' crops, but finished off by war or banditry."

She looks pensive at Lann's eagerness to explore late in the day, but merely asks Dann "How long did it take ta' reach the caves from here when ye came this way before?" followed by the obvious query of "And which direction did ye travel in ta' get there?"

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 941):

"Maybe they were just hopeless at cooking!!!!  I should know!  If I tried anything beyond 'burnt'!!!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Thu 11 Apr 2019.

OOC: In the interests of just moving things along lets say Dann has no issues with answering the questions. :)

Dann indicated a patch of woodland to the left across the access track to the holding, this must be Gradys Tangle that he had referred to before.  When asked how long he shrugged, " Not far..."

Leaving Dann and a resigned Brannon to watch the cart he group moved quickly to the woods, Aphail manages to find a faint trail not used for at least a year.

Ahead the woods cleared somewhat and the path headed sharply down towards a small brook in a heavily eroded gully.

There were only animal tracks in the dry mud leading out of the gully on the other side.

Usopi grins as they find little sign that the path has been traveled recently by anything imposing. Perhaps there would be no creature or man to battle after all.

”Let us pray that it is only the natural world and the woodland creature that inhabits the caves ahead.” he says merrily as he heads forward in to the gulley

Brannon endeavours to get the team to take some of his paper and charcoal. "If there's anything interesting, try to get a copy - or a rubbing... The more detail the better and don't let it smudge if you can..." He trails off rather forlornly, as he realises the others do not share his enthusiasm for documenting all things ancient. He abandons his attempts at encouraging documentation, and settles down by the cart, bow and arrows to hand in case of trouble.

Lann promises he will help Brannon to document the details when he is not fighting. He allows the big Knights to take the vanguard while he stays in the middle protecting the witch.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:41, Thu 11 Apr 2019.

Caith nods and replies "Aye, I ken ye'd nay be a scullion ta' leave watching a pot ta' boil, as only tha' truly noble born could manage ta' burn water..." then jerks a thumb towards the burnt out building as she adds dryly "...But that strikes me as an unlikely place to meet a noble in."

She thanks Dann for the directions without rancor, as whatever his reasons may be, there are worse watches to keep than being left to guard a corpse in a ruin.

There is an approving nod from Caith when Lann makes it clear to Brannon that he does pay attention to the fine details as well as the broader stokes of battle.

"Just takin a quick look around fer any new inhabitants first, Hearthwarden." she assures Brannon as she repacks her bag, including a slightly damaged, but beautifully carved scribe's box, and leaving a sack of miscellaneous oddments on the cart to lessen her own load for the moment.

Later...



Caith politely refrains from pointing out being eaten by woodland creatures, natural or otherwise is a common fate, and simply asks Alphail "What beasts of the forest do ye ken passed this way?"

In reply to Caith Cernach (msg # 947):

The group enter the gully, there is little water in the stream at the bottom this time of year and they advance over smooth stones.

Trees grew along the edges of the gully above them as they advanced, ahead the gully grew darker and less sunlight filtered through the trees above, in places the water was deeper.

Then, abruptly, the gully stopped, water was flowing out of a weathered fissure in the rockface slick with black slime and green algae. It formed a fall of quite sizeable proportions which shadowed the rockface, there was a pool below the fall.

To the right of the fall against the rockface was a large scorched area blackened and scattered bones lay all about the place, some projected from the shallows of the pool.

Lann moves forward to examine the charred bones. He will summon a fey to ask about what happened if his friend do not mind.