A cold sun greets you as you leave the sanctuary and Gregors behind. It is uncomfortable, but as a group, you've faced privation with stoic persistence. This day is no different.

Ulrich leads the way, followed closely by the remainder of the party in their usual formation. Myrrick follows up at the rear, alert and aware.

Marching order:
Uthecar -- Ulrich
Bruno -- Gilden
Zan -- Kullonar
Myrrick

After about an hour's march, which takes you past the first hour after midday, you come to a great tree that overlooks a flowing river. Its branches are bare. Above you, water rushes down from a steep drop into a wide basin, leaving a fine mist hanging in the air. A wide stream travels in a southeastern direction; along the river are the forgotten detritus of spring; clumps of dead flora, denuded trees...and a sickly scent that leaves your mouth dry like a bad hangover. You halt and take stock of your surroundings.

Welcome to the valley, gentlefolk. Feel free to spend time role playing.

Myrrick scans the area for anything moving unnaturally, or generally out of place. “We’ve a few hours before the sun begins to descend. It might be prudent to spend some time setting up a base camp. Explore the immediate area and prepare for a long cold night.” Despite the dangers they face, Myrrick seems content, and at peace with the situation, even if a bit at unease.

Uthecar looks to the sun and their surroundings.  "Don't you think it's a little too soon to strike for camp Myrrick?" (we're only about 1.15pm in the afternoon from the description) A trail camp won't take us long to establish and there is no guarantee it will be required again if we intend to explore."

Uthecar takes a deeper breath in.  "What would cause that sweet scent?  To me it seems more than the decay of late spring."

OOC:  The sickly scent, does it seem specific to an area, or is it all over and general without a set location?

"We don't have time for that Myrrick, Gregor will leave without us tomorrow at noon. Then we have to trust to our memories to find our way back as we'll be without our guide."

Gildan breathes in the fetid air and frowns at the scenery. The cold isn't bothersome to him but he sees the dead trees and shudders. Whatever is here is meant to be destroyed.

He agrees with Myrrick about camping sooner rather than later but doesn't push the issue when others object.

"This isn't the kind of land you should travel through in the dark."

OOC: You haven't moved far enough to determine whether it is specific to the current environs, or just a general scent that's off putting. You do note that the air seems still here, once you move away from the waterfall.

Myrrick shrugs, "It was only a suggestion, the sun will be down in a few hours. I agree we shouldn't travel much in the dark. If there are undead here, we can't see them without torches, the cold will much of our vision. If you wish to spend the entire time exploring, so be it. I will follow."

Kullonar spends several minutes watching the waterfall, enjoying the mist on his face.
He turns to find the others milling about and walks down to the water's edge. He wonders what sort of fish live in here?

Uthecar will travel for a bit to see if the scent is far reaching or specific to the area they are in.

"You may be right Myyrick, lets find a spot we can come back to when it gets dark."

“Doesn’t have to have a camp set, but we do need a rally point. With at least a means of starting a fire. Shelter can be set quickly
Enough. We can explore as much as you all feel comfortable doing. Come back to the rally point in the worst case.”

"Agreed. Pelor would be proud of your planning ahead."

Ignoring the talk, Kullonor enjoys the feel of sub-arctic ice crystals upon his face. The taste of frostbite is delectable. (Joking...kind of!).

The party convenes and discuss some ideas for their travel in the valley. As you all move a bit deeper and look around, the vale opens wide. It's almost as if you have too many options, and seem a bit frozen in place. Tempers don't really flare, but there's some simmer to your discourse. Uthecar notes that the scent has stayed with you to this point.

WHAT'S YOU GONNA DOOOOOOOO!

There is a mound? We start exploring the mound in front of us.

OOC: Where do we see that there's a mound? Is there a map of the area that I'm missing? I don't see it in the game maps thread.

There is not a mound right in front of you, actually.

You're in a vale (small valley) and mountains surround you. A waterfall greets you at the entrance to the valley. The waterfall feeds a quickly moving stream that heads southeast. You see one landmark for sure: a bridge spans the stream approximately 60' away. It appears to be in good condition.

Perhaps 300 feet off in the distance, you see a rise on this of the river. Is it a mound, or just a hillock that's part of the scenery? Hard to tell.

The walls of the vale are pockmarked and sheer - could crypts line the walls, hidden from view?

The air is a bit fetid. There is very little sound.

Party's actions.

Edit: The map as currently shown, offers very few clues. That's part of the charm - you get to fill in the details as you come across them. I offer a few clues above. Go back even further to the initial post when you first entered the vale. There is plenty for you to work on.

Just give it some thought.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:29, Thu 09 July 2020.

Prompted by some inner sense (thanks to The Seer), Kullonar wipes the condensation from his face and takes a measured look around the area.
"Bruno...why do you suppose the trees and foliage here are dead or dying? Is it not Spring? Should they not be budding with leaves?  And that smell? If I'm not mistaken it's the sickly, putrid scent of something rotting. Flesh perhaps?"

Kullonar begins to walk toward the bridge; perhaps it will offer some clues.
(Seer: Which way is the wind blowing?)

A couple things: Spring is a misnomer this far up in the heights. It's cold, frigidly so.

There is no wind, thus the seemingly static nature of the smell. As for the bridge, good idea. Kullonar makes his way to the bridge. It's a fairly standard structure, though no roof, but well made and kept. It's rounded, as well, so as you approach and climb atop the middle of the structure you get a bit of a view that wasn't available from ground level. In the distance you can see the hillock with a bit more clarity - it does indeed look like a mound. You also note another across the river, though it is about half the size of the other.

Is anyone else exploring the area around the entrance or the bridge?

Bruno listens to the various exchanges, but since they seem to dance about each other and they do not break out into discord he stays quiet.

In response to Kullonar's question he shrugs, "This place seems to have been cursed to me. Whatever its original holiness some power is seemingly drowning it out and replacing it with... Well, what we see.

"Let us search the area around that bridge before using it."