The third night since their desertion is spent marching southward again through the thick forest of the Oytwood. Fortunately this part of the journey was uneventful and the group was able to make good progress throughout the night.

Shortly before dawn they finally reached the end of the forest and looked out upon the broad strip of grassland separating the Oytwood from the range of hills known as the Stark Mounds.

Much closer though, about 400 feet ahead of the group, is a rocky outcrop at the top of a small hill that looks like a naturally defensible position that might be a good place to camp and rest through the daylight hours.

OOC: Main game map updated.
Game Map for Group 0 also updated to show where the group has travelled so far (the numbers indicate the group's location at the start of day 1 to 4).

"Dat looks like a good place to sleep fer der light hours, easy ter defend n stuff" Minmorc will say confidently and will head straight into it, Vera in one hand and Helen gripped in the other one, just in case someone else has had the same idea.

In reply to Minmorc (msg # 2):

"We'z be marching more then when the overseer'as be marchen us." Oopses says rubbing his feet.

"Not dyin' as much, though !" Dregz tries to look on the bright side.  Goblins don't have very long legs and his feet are sore too.

The priest eyes the hilltop with some misgivings, not sharing Minmorc opinion as to the defensibility of the chosen rest spot - give him a nice dank cave safely beneath the ground !  But with the enthusiastic Orc there, perhaps it will turn out alright.

"We must be nearly home by now ?" Dregz suggests optimistically, betraying a shocking lack of knowledge of matters geographical.

Jurz stays quiet as they travel, knowing that they are heading towards home and trying to work out what was going on back in the cave. At least he had been able to usher the big frog away from the rest of the group.  Who knows what effects killing a massive frog in a shrine of the frog god would have?

He will leave the details of the camp to the others, while he concentrates on his spells and how to use them. 

Eventually he will ask Bulldust for the frogs and start speaking to them.  "So which one of youse is Moffa?" he starts the conversation.

OOC: After a good sleep in the frog cave all fatigue is gone. Everyone is back to full hit points as well.

The clerics were able to spend time praying/meditating when you all stopped for supper after crossing the swamp, so they can renew their spell choices for today as well.

Jurz was able to question your two frogs there as well, but of course no one else understands the language of amphibians.

The group hasn't quite reached their chosen campsite just yet, though, so everyone roll d20 for a Spot check, please, as Minmorc leads you all toward the rocky outcrop.

 She grumbled about swamp water matting her feathers and making her clothes damp and stinky, but she came along with the others, wanting to get away from those frogs before she tried to eat one, and ate an ally! At least here she would know any frog here was likely a friend! She kept an eye out for a good camp spot.

10:28, Today: Raven rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Spot Check.

After talking to the twp frogs for a while Jurz turns to the group.  ”Dis froggy is Moffa and shes says it is a curse, like wid de princess.  But de curse swaps to de new person.  So no kissing eider of de froggies!” he says sternly ”And  did udder froggy is de one dat started it all.  Der froggy god gave him der special powers and told him to go do der kiss wid one of us sleeping in der cave.  And dey have done it before.  Maybe some of does udder froggies was peoples once?” he suggests as he relates  the stories of the two frogs back to the others hoping they will come up with some sensible questions he can ask.

---
22:14, Today: Rog rolled 11 using 1d20+5. spot the campsite.
22:14, Today: Jurz rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Spot the camp site

Riza marches along steadily with Minmorc and doesn't waste time when the outcrop is found. A defensive base that they can set up is definitely worth it considering everything they have gone through so far.

After hearing Jurz's update she pipes up "shame we can't use these frogs to kiss any enemies we come across"

OOC: rolled 17 spot check

Minmorc confidently marches towards the rocky out crop.

OOC: Spot check 9. I know naaasink, I know naaasink!
"Pokeball go, moffrog, I choose you, moffrog, use kiss attack!"

Jurz starts to smile as he builds on the idea.  "Yesss.  Next times we has a  fight we gets a Humie unconscious and Moffa can kiss it!" he says excitedly.

"Dat's one ways." he says still grinning, "What else coulds we do?" he asks hoping for something tha might be a bit easier and quicker.

"Dat's powerful magic," Dregz shakes his head, "'an hard to get rid of."

"Dat stuff we got from O'Baddy's hut was like dat too.  I'll have to look in der Holy Book an' see if I can find anyfing about it."

"Ties der frog to a long stick den poke der humie wid it. Jab! Frog curse on a stick."

About half of the group spot something up ahead at the rocky outcrop. Arlein is the first to spot it when she is 200 feet from the rocks, then Grakk when he is 110 feet from the rocks, then Dregz and Riza at 80 feet away, Raven at 70 feet, Oopses at 30 feet and Rog at 20 feet.

Arlein's reaction is either ignored or misinterpreted so it is Grakk who alerts the others.

You see a large head and shoulders poking up among a group of rocks where it is difficult to spot because of the shadows. Even at the distance of 110 feet you quickly recognise it because it looks so much like your dreaded overseer, Uberthud the ogre. There is no doubt that he has seen you and is watching you walk closer.

OOC: The terrain between the forest and the rocky outcrop is a gentle uphill slope covered in fairly thick grass about 2 feet high.

In reply to Wyrm of Wyrd (msg # 14):

Correction, smelled.

Minmorc will stop at Grakks warning and will peer around until he sees the ogre. He'll plant the but of his spear on the ground and will sweep Helen around in a complex gesture, muttering under his breathe. He'll then rest Helen on his shoulder and call out "Oi, ogre, watcha doin up there?"

"Hmmm." Jurz muses as he makes sure he is towards the back of the group.  "Does anyones have de potions of flying?" he asks grinning broadly  "Den Moffa could fly up dere and kiss de ogre."

However, he does look around to see if  there are any bolt holes and to check if the ogre has any friends around.

In reply to Jurz (msg # 17):

Cowars behind Minmorc.

 "Shoot Moffy with da sling? Kiss da ogre? Make him into a frogre?" She gives a short hiccup of a laugh (think Sheldon's laugh). "Else, wat we do wit it? Poke it wit a stick?" Again the short hiccup of a laugh, but still she readied her weapon in case of attack.

The little goblin does not see the Ogre at first, but once alerted by Grakk soon manages to make it out amidst the shadows.  While Dregz has no doubt his tribe can easily slay the creature (assuming there is but one !) he's equally sure that some of them will bleed in the doing so ... and is cautiously optimistic that the Ogre might even be persuaded to join them, for life in a swamp on edge of the Elf lands can not be much of an existence.

"Ask 'im if 'e wants ter join us ?" he suggests to Minmorc, one hand shading his eyes as he peers upwards.

"Whaa... Err... Oi Ogre, join us or die!"

Riza is shocked at the appearance of the ogre and immediately draws her bow and will be prepared to fight and hide if anything happens.

While everyone else stops and stares at the ogre, Minmorc makes a show of waving his oversized weapons about and muttering madly before calling out to the ogre. Riza's immediate reaction is to ready her bow. After an unbiased glance around at the strange assortment of races that makes up this little group of deserters, Dregz suggests the ogre be asked to join them. Naturally, Minmorc translates this suggestion into a shout of, "Oi Ogre, join us or die."

The ogre just looks mystified for a moment before cracking a huge grin and shouting back, "Oh, dat's a good un! Me boss is Die-Arda. Me already joinded Die! Hur, hur, hur!" The he turns his head and shouts something over his shoulder. [Language unknown: "Ul, Ast! Uletne en nde rateraect has om nall leave! Host ha ivolpe oseras antfi hatorearerut ma sanartiou!"]

Moments later a second ogre comes into view between the rocks behind him, then a third and fourth. All four ogres squeeze out through the gaps between the rocks and form a ragged line in front of the rocky outcrop. The leader (O2) stares at the mismatched group in front of him and sneers.

"So what the carkin' 'eck are youz lot supposed to be, eh? If youz been sended to take over der watchin' from us, youz is carkin' late! Carkin' 'ells! Look at youz! Der bosses is really scrapin' der bottoms of der barrels dis time."

OOC: Main game map updated.

"Yep.  We's de best dey got." Jurz shouts up the hill.  "Dey says dey needs all der big guys for someting special."   he adds, hoping that will get the ogres out of the way, and that they might be able to by-pass this watch point before the next watch arrives.