The river isn’t straight.  It meanders back and forth, but it’s about 4 miles to the nearest genuine oxbow.  It only makes a bend at the town of Lecterna.

(Lecterna is Real World Echternach, Luxembourg.  You can look up the map on google maps to get an idea of the land around it.  Use the “Terrain” feature.) 

Zernit and Callidus eventually make it back to the others, after leaving behind symbols that the others will find, if they go into the town.

It is late in the day, and the troops will not be far behind now.  And... there in the distance is their air support, Petra with her flying horse.  So the question is...

Press on and cross the river somewhere?  Or camp here and call it a scouting day?  Or signal Petra?   (To signal Petra, send her a PM, she might not be following this thread.)

In reply to Ben (msg # 31):

(OOC: I'd say press on and cross the river if possible. Brannoc already scouts for the optimal spot for that)

At the oxbow, four miles from Lecterna, is a suitable ford for river crossing.  They cross the river at a ford, dry and warm themselves, and make camp, all along leaving marks to give notice to the following troops of what they have seen and which way to go.  A winter river fording is a harrowing experience in itself- it is very cold and the party must immediately warm themselves on the far side, or risk death by hypothermia.

The Sauer River region is an area of rough terrain, where narrow, rocky valleys lead in to rock grottos, ravines, and gorges, and it is easy for a moving group to become trapped.  This is why they sent scouts ahead!  In the morning, fed and dry and ready, they move on, getting out of the maze-like terrain by mid day.

Demus recognizes something else here- key places in the landscape have been enchanted, with confusion and misdirection spells.  Without a local guide who can recognize the Elven signs, anyone trying to pass through this region, and walking into one of these areas, will become hopelessly lost!

 

OOC: Not only that but the stone formations in the back look like they might even come alive...

In reply to Steve (msg # 34):

Crossing the river was a dreadful event but once it was done, clothes had dried and belly was full of warm food again, Brannoc's mood improved in anticipation of the forthcoming day. However the happy feeling didn't last when the scout realized they were practically lost in a maze where even him, a woodsman for life, could not navigate. It was mildly comforting to notice the other scouts seemed to be equally lost.

Learning about the misdirection enchantments – if the elves shared this info with him – made him both angry and worried as he didn't have countermeasures for such arcane ploys.

"Zernit, I trust you know this land? Which way we must travel?" Brannoc asked, not fully able to conceal concern in his voice.

OOC: Steve, now that you mentioned I see face there and what has seen can't be unseen..

In reply to Brannoc (msg # 35):

Wait while I check this please. Then Demus begins to search around for something.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:41, Mon 19 Nov 2012.

In reply to Demus (msg # 36):

Demus appears to find what he is searching for and returns to the group and says.
Well, there is a safe path, but if you take a single misstep we will all probably die.
Demus then makes a gesture towards the right side of the ravine and says.
There could be a thousand different traps that could be triggered if you stray. The most likely one I can think of would be the two sides smashing us together, so are we going to go through?

In reply to Demus (msg # 37):

Brannoc frowned. "Right. Sounds fun. Well, at least the death will be swift then."

The scout pondered these latest news few moments before he addressed the mage again:
"Demus, you're a wizard. Yesterday you said you could summon crocodile to carry us over the river - can't you summon a giant owl now to fly us safely away? And if that isn't possible - who will lead the way and show where to step? Zernit?"

With Demus's aid, and moving cautiously, they pass between various Elven hazards.  Presumably they leave behind some notes for the troops following behind them.

They continue on a north east course, following the landscape, until they find the outer reaches of the battlefield of Beda.

It is like a scar, both physical and mental, and Erulian and Demus stay behind as the others examine the area, beneath the cold afternoon December sky.  It is pale gray above, and it seems to sap the color from the land as well.

Adesse, despite being an Elf, is not an Ardennes Elf, and decides Beda is not so emotionally close to her as to put her off- curiosity outweighs disgust. She accompanies the others for a look.

They don't have to travel far from the two Elves staying back.  It's plainly obvious.  The underbrush is burned away here, and between the massive trunks, and occasional boulders, they can see further than they normally can in the Ardennes.  They have never seen one of the great Home Trees of the Elves, toppled and broken before.  Elven tree homes are smashed on the ground.

Adesse backs away, and instantly wants to be back with the other Elves.

And then she pauses...

"I hear a chant," she says, listening intently.

Zernit Whiskersniff knows that Elven ears are better than Human ones.  But she knows whose ears are better still.

She taps Callidus on the shoulder.  "Time to get fuzzy," she whispers.




Very limited posts from me, if any, over the next few days.  Turkey Day traveling.

Callidus, having already been in his Hybrid form grins and lowers an eyebrow at Zernit. "Already ten steps ahead of you." He says, moving closer and using his knowledge of the Orcish language to figure out exactly what this chanting is all about.

He sits and listens in relative stealth, mulling over his newfound knowledge before bringing it back to his comrades. Hopefully it will be of some use to them in their upcoming melee.

"I hear nothing." Brannoc said and tilted his head. He produced his bow and put the string in place. Just to be on a safe side.
"I'll come with you, if you don't mind..." He said to Zernit and Callidus before asking from Adesse: "What language it is - can you tell?"

Callidus listens.  The voice is distant, but he can make out some of the words.
They move closer to the voice  The direction takes them southeast, skirting the edge of the damaged Beda battlefield area.  After a while, they see the distant figure,  at the far side of a broad meadow.  A few hundred feet ahead, a small party of figures, one of which is doing the chanting, and one of which looks like a large, obese Ogre.  They are speaking to a rock.  And the rock moves.  It begins to change and unfold into a humanoid shape.

That's when the party realizes, they've passed about a half dozen identical rocks already. Those rocks... all of the same shape, size, yellowish color, and now that they think of it, out of place with the other rocks.

The sort of thing a Dwarf would have noticed four or five boulders ago.

“We gotta tell the others,” Zernit says.  “I volunteer to go back.  You figure out what else we gotta do.”

The were rat turns and makes a mad dash in the direction of Elurian and Demus. When she arrives she breathes hard, and reports to them what the party saw.

In reply to Ben (msg # 42):

Hearing the report Demus says "I don't like it. I would follow for the mere purpose of flinging a fireball, but wouldn't like to risk it." Then waits for the other person to reply.

Brannoc did his best to remain hidden and nocked an arrow. Wanting to see better what the creatures were and who the enchanter was he risked sneaking closer.

"The ogre, that one I recognize but what are those rock creatures? The enchanter brings them alive. Not good, they’re all around us. Adesse, can your elven eyes tell who they are?" He whispered to Adesse and Callidus while he sneaked forward from shadow to shadow.

"We are scouts," Erulian says to Demus.  "Our first duty is to find out what is here, and make sure the army behind us knows."

"I'm all for that," Zernit says.  "I'll double back on our trail and warn them!"

"Of what?" Erulian asks.  "We do not yet know what is happening.  These rocks... what are they?  How many?"

* * * * *

"I think... some kind of troll," Adesse whispers back to Brannoc.  "Enchanted to look like rocks and maybe be rocks... I wonder... left behind when the battle was fought here last year?  And now, they would be deep within the Elven kingdom, in time for the next battle."

"It looks like they're activating them again, bringing them back alive for another attack. Maybe they know our army is coming this way or maybe they plan to strike against the elves again. Anyhow, we should try to stop them doing this now if we can. Could we take this party out, what do you think?"

(OOC: How many there are in the enchanter's party and can I see if they're orcs or something else?)

They can see six Orcs, one rather plump Ogre, one Orc or whatever it is doing the chanting, and one rock unfolding itself into something tall and unfriendly.

The six Orcs are scattered in a rough circle in guard positions.  They are alert and it looks like they are more skilled than most Orcs.

In reply to Ben (msg # 47):

(OOC: Would I know this information?)

Brannoc counted the enemies and hesitated.
“Six well armed orcs, the enchanter and the rock troll. Might be too much for just three of us* to handle. Lets get back and ask the wizard. Demus can turn the tables to our favour.”

*(OOC: counting Brannoc, Adesse and Callidus)

Adesse agrees- they are scouts, not a large attack force.  They have a duty to report back.

Quickly, they withdraw, and re-unite with Erulian and Demus, the two Elves who waited back because they did not want to risk the effects Beda would have on them.

They fill the two Elves in on everything they saw- and now the party has a similar question:  With the two extra Elves, to attack now, or get reinforcements from the main army.

"The Dwarves are two hours away, I think," Erulian says.  "But some have ponies, they could get here faster."

“We should get reinforcements. Together with the dwarfs we can wipe them out in no time - unless Demus has a powerful spell that evens out the odds?“

“Also, someone could stay here spying them. That way we'd know where they went if they leave before the reinforcements arrive. If this is ok for you, I'll volunteer for the task. I have no desire to navigate that trapped path again.”

In reply to Brannoc (msg # 51):
 Begining to think of a  way to get revenge on the orcs Demus asks. "How far away do you think you were from the spot you were watching from, and how far apart were they?" a look in his eyes could tell most people he sees an opportunity for revenge.

In reply to Demus (msg # 52):

"Hundred feet or so, certainly close enough to shoot at them." Brannoc replied. "Their warriors are in circle formation making protective circle around the sorcerer who awakens the rock trolls. They stay close to him but it is not exactly a tight pack. What do you have in mind?"

In reply to Brannoc (msg # 53):

Demus says One fireball of death coming right up then.

As the scouts assemble, the main force behind them has dispatched a "quick reaction strike force" to respond to the threat.

They catch up, and everyone is reunited in one thread.

Go to the Warning From the East thread, message 86.