Charoum nods looking to victor. "I am capable of scouting and hunting, but also skilled with my blade and crossbow. He looks to his horse and smiles. "I have a few tricks to use while hunting evil as well."

The beautiful redhead pats the mace at her belt. "And though I may know how to heal, I also can smite discordant evil where it may stand", she says. "I can defend myself or stand in the front when needed."

At that moment, a tall humanoid figure with scales and two curved horns and a row of spines along his jaw makes his way to the party from the distance. He has a dark blue tint to his scaly skin and is clothed in a rather large leather armor set, with a backpack having a few supplies, alongwith a quarterstaff slung crossways across his huge frame and a handaxe in its holster in a loop of the belt of his simple worn cloth pants. His eyes are piercing & reptilian, with one having a blood red color, and the other of a strong yellow shade.

He approaches the group tentatively and speaks in a low soft baritone,
"Hello, I heard about your adventuring party, and I was hoping to join you guys and help you the best I can. I know a few neat spells, but I know my way around staffs and axes. I can defend myself and others as much as possible"

"Well aren't we popular, these days," says Victor after the scaled stranger speaks. "I'm Captain Victor Harkness, Neverwinter Infantry 42nd Division, retired. Who might you be?"

The scaled stranger subtly flares his nostrils before replying "I am Krivcrath Sparkfyre, belonging to the natural showmasters' clan of Clethtinthiallor. You can call me Kriv or Sparky. I come from a small offshoot settlement of our clan about a ways south from Neverwinter beyond the seas. I have come here to strike a fresh start and make my clan proud. For that, I would like to help by doing good to others, one adventure at a time. I suppose you could use an extra hand?" and slowly extends a large clawed & scaly hand, but in a relaxed posture.

"Damn confluence!" Mithra mutters under her breath.

"We really hope we don't need another hand," she replies to Kriv, "but the Fates seem determined to make it mandatory."

"Hello, Kriv. I'm Mithra Stormraven. Our adventuring group, as you called it, have been... um, requested by Sildar Hallwinter, the sheriff for this area, to see if there are any more Orcs around. We ran across a large force of them a few days ago, but, if there were that many then, there could be more by now."

She didn't have any reason to trust this newcomer, other than the fact that he wasn't an Orc, but, by her count, there had now been 42 'adventurers' that have entered this area since the core group--her, Victor, Cunaar, Lureene, Ero, and Thressa--had left Neverwinter as guards on those wagons... what was it? A week ago? Make that 44 with Charoum and now Kriv.

The spirit of adventure didn't seem to affect... or should that be infect? ...evil sorts. Not that they weren't around, but they weren't adventuring, they were looting or raiding.

She then introduced the others: "That's Lureene Raventree, Thressa Wildflame, Ero Sulaanin, Cunaar Clothar, Prizzard, and Charoum, who just joined us. Surprised you two didn't run into each other on your way here. Actually, I'm more surprised that you even found us, since we didn't know where we were going until last night."

"Anyway, welcome aboard. How about you take up a position in the middle of the group and guard the spellcasters? I'm not saying they need it, but it spreads out our fighters a little better."

"In that case, Prizzard, you can take point with me and help me scout."

"Can do, Mistress Stormraven." He mounted, as it seemed they were ready to move,

Kriv retracts his extended hand, but not before making a two-fingered salute of respect to the party. He advances towards the center position of the party and speaks, "Thank you, Mistress Stormraven. You're right by the way. The townsfolk only pointed in the general direction and it took me the better part of two days before I got lucky and found you guys. And you're also right in me taking the center position, and like I said, I'll do my best"

While Kriv was talking, he loosened the quarterstaff across his back, and twirled it around and made a few simple moves, taking care not to hit anyone. A faint yet unmistakeable cracking of bones could be heard from his wrists during this routine. Finally, he stopped his routine and kept the quarterstaff as a walking stick, which he did while he uttered his assurance of doing his best. With that, he methodically plodded to the center, making brief eye contact and smiles to all the party members before uttering,

"Shall we proceed?"

Victor gave Kriv a smile and a nod as he took his place. As the party began to move, he took up the rearguard, his trusty shield ready, and Lightbringer hanging at his hip.

Charoum mounted his horse looking around as they began to move. "You did little to hide your trail. I just made a few guesses as to the paths you would take." The nomad shrugs looking to Mithra. "Where would you have me Madam?"

As the party started moving, Kriv wondered, Mithra seems averse to having more help, so clearly neither I nor Charoum were the first to approach this party. Also, the way she talked about being 'requested' by the sheriff makes me think that there is more than just Orcs looting and pillaging here. Best case, its just a wild Orc clan leader. But, could it be something more?..............Well, we have to wait and see. One thing is strange though, Theresa looks odd. She seems to be magically touched, and not in a good way. Could she......could she be? She might know what I seek, but I need to wait and gain their confidence. Bahamut guide me
This message was last edited by the player at 03:19, Fri 27 Mar 2020.

11:56, Today: Krivcrath Sparkfyre rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8.  Investigation check.

Kriv decides to look around & on the path for any tracks other than the ones made by his newfound party.

13:20, Today: Krivcrath Sparkfyre rolled 14 using 1d20 with rolls of 14.  Insight check.

13:20, Today: Krivcrath Sparkfyre rolled 13 using 1d20 with rolls of 13.  Perception check.

13:19, Today: Krivcrath Sparkfyre rolled 3 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 1.  Nature check.

He mulls upon the strange way Mithra spoke about their mission, while also darting his vision about and trying to recall anything about the new landscape while also noticing if anything is amiss as the party continues to tread on.

"Right. Another addition to our group," she replies to Charoum. "I'm not much of a scout, either; I just take the front to provide a good target for any ambushers."

"Suppose, then, I hang back and let you and Prizzard scout ahead of us?"

Kriv could have heard some of the tales back in Neverwinter and Phandalin.

This area south and east of Neverwinter was a reasonably thriving area until the Orc invasions about 300 years ago laid waste to most of the region. It's only recently that the village of Phandalin was resettled. While the original group escorted wagons from Neverwinter to Phandalin, they were ambushed by goblins. They defeated the goblins and made it to Phandalin.

They were then asked to search for the missing Dwarven Rockseeker brothers whose own wagon to Phandalin never made it there.

In the course of searching for the Dwarves, they ran into a large contingent of Orcs. Over 100 encamped in between some hills. There were around 20 adventurers in the group at that time. After that epic battle, some took their loot and went back to Phandalin, some went off in search of more Orcs and adventure, and some continued looking for the Dwarves.


There isn't any path that the adventurers are following. There was only the trail that they left as they circled around one of the mountains. There is still no path in the direction they are heading. They are just aiming between the next pair of hills, heading for a place called Old Owl Well, which is at the head of a shallow valley about 40 miles away. It's just someplace to start, and it might be a place where Orcs go to get water.

The hills that you are passing through are the foothills of the mountain range to the south.  They are rolling hills, some a bit steeper or higher than others, mostly grass and scrub covered, but there are small stands of trees here and there.

Kriv finds no trace of animals, no tracks of Orcs, nothing out of the ordinary... except...

It's the lack of animals that concerns him. Small animals are still there, but nothing larger than a chipmunk or a vole seems to be around. Even most of the birds are absent from the area. That usually means there is some large predator around. He just hasn't seen any trace of it yet.

"I am not a trained scout but an extra pair of eyes would not harm our chances. Let us move, for the march is long."

Kriv took in his observations and spoke to Prizzard, "The best techniques are passed on by the survivors, Prizzard. We are all training now, out in the open."

He straightens up a bit, and pulses his scales before adding, "Speaking of an extra pair of eyes, I sense that there might be something larger and more dangerous than a bunch of Orcs nearby. Please be on the lookout for the same, Charoum and Prizzard. I'll stay in centre and keep looking for anything else."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:15, Sat 28 Mar 2020.

Anyone with Nature skill knows that 'larger' is relative to the area. Something like a panther can roam a larger area than its size would indicate, whereas a large monster would threaten a smaller area but do so more intently.

Kriv's evaluation indicates that it probably is a large monster. If it's nocturnal, though, it would be resting or sleeping in the daytime.

The group heads out, warily keeping an eye on the surroundings and terrain. The biggest problem with a large monster isn't an ambush but accidentally stumbling across them.

Passing through the dip between two hills forces the group to go almost due north, but the map indicates that Old Owl Well is a bit farther to the north anyway.

It's just as you round the hill that Charoum spots the two ogres. They appear to be camped in the dip between two hills off to your east. Since it was a possible route, Charoum was looking in that direction to begin with. Since he's in the lead, he is able to keep the others from coming into sight, but the ogres are busy eating 'breakfast' and don't spot him.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 24):

Thressa nods and smiles as she is introduced then goes back to an alert status as she continues with the group.

Charoum does indeed return to the group and gather them close. "There is a pair of ogres a head on the trail currently they are eating. Would you like to go around or through them?" He whispers.

Prizzard remained ahead to keep a still and silent eye on the ogres.

Kriv hated the fact that he was right about his analysis, especially the fact that it was ogres. Right now, he had only one idea.
"I think it's best if we split up, but we take the same path. The first group will go forward, while the second will tail the first some distance behind. I suggest that Victor, Charoum, Wildflamme & Clothar will go first and Mithra, Prizzard, Lureene, Sulaanin & myself will go afterwards. This is just a suggestion, mind y'all."

"Am I to understand that we shall go through the ugly brutes, then?" says Lureene. "Before they find less well-armed goodly folk to prey upon? 'Tis a wise idea, and I am fine with your plan of two groups, though perhaps we should put most of our well-armored folk in the first and those with spells and projectiles in the second, along perhaps with someone to guard them."

Kriv startles a bit, then recovers and replies, "Actually, I was planning not to tackle them at all. I forgot to specify that we would go around them. However, you're right Lureene. It's better to kill these right now, than let them kill others. And you're right about the pattern we should follow. As for someone to guard, it'll be me."

Krivcrath then thinks for a few seconds before replying to Lureene, "I suggest that Mithra, Victor, yourself and Thressa go front. I will come alongwith Clothar, Sulaanin, Charoum & Prizzard. As far as orientation, Stormraven and Harkness will shield you and Wildflamme. For the second group, Charoum and Prizzard will lead, Clothar and Sulaanin will follow behind the scouts but slightly beside them, and I'll follow at last, sort of like a pentagon."

He then pauses and says, "These are just ideas, I think Harkness should decide on what would be best. We'll all follow his word."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:25, Wed 01 Apr 2020.