The party is soon enchanted or bare-clawing its way up the tree at a good pace.  The climb is tiring and the druids are hard pressed to keep the spells renewed to keep the group moving.  Soon it is evident that spell simply won't last long enough.  The humans just aren't strong enough or have enough endurance to keep up with the other kinds.  The Anthros each take a human on their backs and continue the climb.

The Invar manage a couple of spells to help them along the way.  Kaithlian's fly spell extended through Vertium's new skills allow them to keep up easily enough.  Vertium is especially blessed by Halai as his spell continues for the rest of the day.  At one point he even catches Kaithlian as her spell begins to falter and she starts to drift back down.

As the sun sets, the group reaches the first break in the monolithic trunk.  The first branches are wider than most large towns.  Traveling between them is difficult, but not sheer or quite as dangerous as the trunk.

At last a relatively level spot is reached to make camp.

Kahmaul grunts, setting down Danathea before moving to take off his pack, still secured to his front. He looks at the human, "You took the climb well, Danathea. Though I must say, the distance was enough for me, I am done climbing... It is a good day-fortune has favored us. Now we make camp. We should secure the perimiter so we don't find ourselves rudely awoken in the night."

Dathnaea climbs down from Kahmaul and stretches.  "Thanks, Kahmaul.  It was actually a pretty smooth ride.  I'm more tired from hanging on than anything else.  You did all the work."  The woman gives a genuine smile and starts looking for a protected, comfortable place to sleep far from the edge of the trunk.

Tyler finds his feet after his Anthros ride lowers him to the ground.  He is quiet and visibly shaken.  As soon as the feet touch the ground, he wobbles and collapses to his knees.  From there he prostrates himself and mumbled words of thanks to Halai drift from out of the thick fall of hair around his bowed head.

Adryn calls his raven back once they start to set up camp. He whispers something to it, and shrinks back down into the form of a small silver figurine.

"We'll need to save its remaining use for when we get closer to the Yircat."

He places the silver raven back in his haversack, and finishes securing the camp site for the night.

Flynn waits for the spells effects to wear off and sets about making camp. Getting the bedrolls set and setting to work on the groups dinner. Once done he sits near to Kathain and asks, "There are some objects that we have come across in our travels which have so far stumped me. I am usually able to determine how such objects work simply by observing them, but alas, I've  not had the time to do that. Any chance you could give them a try?"

Kaithlian smiles at Flynn.  "Certainly.  What do you have?"

Once Kaithlian identifies what she can, the group settles down for the evening.  The guard must be set in such a dangerous place, but the trip to the branches was exhausting and the rest will quickly fall asleep.

GM:  Please give me guard order.  Please roll FORT vs. DC 23.  Please roll RFLX vs. DC 27 if you are NOT a guard.

Adryn will take last watch since he is usually up early in the morning for his druidic rites.


19:27, Today: Adryn Longmane rolled 16 using 1d20+8. Fort save.

Kahmaul will take first watch.

OOC:
09:22, Today: Kahmaul Quddus rolled 28 using 1d20+12. fortitude.

Tyler offers to take the middle watch.

With thing settled down, the group eats dinner.  Night comes with only a dimming of the light.  As Xamador rotates away from the local star, the ambient light within the tree takes over.  It is a soft blue, much like the fungus within the tunnel.

Dinner is eaten in relative silence, the silence of exhaustion coupled with wonder and apprehension of what is to come.

[Private to Adryn Longmane: About halfway through your watch you note movement above the group in the smaller branches.  It appears as if the branches themselves are moving.  Soon, you realize that indeed they are!

More accurately, there is a flock?  Small swarm?  Herd? of giant stick-like bugs meandering slowly down the thicker branches toward the camp.  You sense no hostilities from them.  Likely they are foraging for food.  Several of them stop and chomp lazily on nearby leaves.  They will be among the camp in thirty seconds.]

An odd rustling among the branches alerts Adryn to a strange movement all around the camp.

With only a few moments before the movement closes in upon the group, Adryn mutters a quick prayer amidst his companions. He attempts to nudge Aethen awake just in case things become hostile.

OOC: Casts 'Hide from Animals' on those within range.

   Aethen's eyes crack open with difficulty.  The rest had been welcome and much needed, and as such, had been taken to with gusto.

Autofail RFLX save

Flynn abodes lightly through the night and seems to not notice as the party is surprised.

As the group begins to wake, with a lack of urgency, you notice that it appears as if the branches themselves are moving.  Soon, you realize that indeed they are!  More accurately, there is a flock?  Small swarm?  Herd? of giant stick-like bugs meandering slowly down the thicker branches into and through the camp.  They don't seem hostile.  Likely they are foraging for food.  Several of the horse-sized creatures stop and chomp lazily on nearby leaves.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Sat 15 Sept 2012.

Rubbing an eye lazily, Aethen watches the creatures.  Realizing the opportunity, he speaks to one of the nearest.

"Addiyr's blessing to you, friend of the forest.  Tell me of what lies above."

The creatures might have looked slow or unhurried to the untrained eye, but they ate with precision and speed.  The process reminded Aethen of a ravenous caterpillar, methodically consuming any swath of greenery in its path to fuel its continued growth.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:17, Fri 24 Aug 2012.

A larger one of the creatures raises up from its meal and stares at Aethen for a moment.  Then in articulated speech unusual in insect life it says, "Above lies only the canopy, those who hunt there, and beyond that the great wind and blue."

"Tell me of those who hunt there."  Aethen asks.

The Anthros warrior smirks softly as the insects climb around them. He reaches forward and allows one to feel his arm with its antenna. He looks at Aethen and chuckles,"Well this is something new... They seem friendly, so I suppose that's a good sign."

Thinking to himself a moment he shrugs and offers a bit of his hard tack to the creature.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Fri 21 Sept 2012.

The bug's antennae twitch and a clicking, whistling song-like sound in response to Aethen's question.

[Private to Adryn Longmane; Aethen Ironroot: There are many who hunt above, most are smaller than we, but a few are larger.  A couple move through the sky.

GM:  It seems like he is just making a general reference to the fauna above, not to any particular group of interest to you.]

I wonder what the possiblity of us riding these moving branches across this canopy is? They could make life much easier for us.

"It would free the Anthros up for anything nasty we come across down below.  Is there anyone here who does not speak Brachus or Invaris?  There are no Kradok or Unbular in our group any more and I would prefer to speak in someone's native language."  She repeats her words in Invaris.

"Both Kahmual and I speak in Invaris with no difficulty." The Invar speaks sleepily. The rogue rises slowly and takes in the creatures with an idle curiosity. Moving beside the others he adds, "Though I must admit that I'm not sure I would want to ride one of these creatures... I would rather struggle to climb myself."

"Are there any hunters that are not native to the area." Adryn asks the bugs. "Perhaps ones that have recently taken up residence?"

Not to ignore Kaithlain's request, Adryn replies "I've been trying my best to learn more about other languages, so my Invaris is a little rough."

"There are none above, but the wind and the matrix speak of such below in the heart."