A day or so later, the party is once more back in the cart, heading north-northeast from New Canthus toward the dense foliage and jungles surrounding the Upside Down river outside the bowl.  The river drains at a lazy pace in a meandering line from the Great Bowl toward the southeast.  Although the party has a general direction and distance to the ruin in question, there are to trails or markers, and the brush and trees will be far too dense to make it all the way in the cart.

OOC: Any last minute planning or provisions to retcon into the scene?  Play on!

Loaded down with supplies to support the expedition, Derrick has taken his traditional place towards the front where he can keep an eye out for danger. He isn't quite confident enough to decide when they should abandon the cart to forge into the jungle so he continually checks back with the others.

OOC: i touch the subject here since it mentioned here as well, if its still time i guess i could edit and retcon buying some  arrows.. i think we found a couple of shins on the previous IC right? if we did i think i forgot to put in the sheet. in case i can still add two to my initial 3 to get more arrows, in not, i think have like 5 arrows left

Like Derrick, Artor has taken his familiar role, ranged ahead and behind of the party and the cart to scout for worries and dangers; this time, however, he has a mechanical companion to assist him in his task

The ride toward the ruin is largely uneventful.  The party is able to scatter a pair of predators stalking one of the aldea's herds (and admonish the shepherd for ranging so close to the jungle without protection).  As the treeline nears, there is obvious evidence of more human and Lattimor activity with tree stumps present in some areas and clumps of grasses clearly harvested for thatching and weaving in others.

Soon, though, the brush and shrubs become too dense for the cart to navigate and the party decides to park it a bit farther back, so it's easier to spot on their way out.  Following the directions provided by the settlers and finding an easier path between the massive trunks supporting the high canopy, they make their way deeper into the green, the smells of rich soil in the air, the crunch of dead twigs and leaves under foot.

OOC: Anyone doing anything along the way?

Derrick leads the group through the underbrush. To the extent that it is necessary, he quite literally clears a path. Between his armor and his crystal skin, he is largely heedless of branches, thorns, vines, and other such obstacles. While he is focused on forging the path, he lets the others focus on keeping the group on course towards their objective.

As before, Artor trailed behind and ranged to the flanks, paranoia in full swing; whilst he walked, he sampled what his fragmentary knowledge told him was safe, collecting seeds and examples of fruits to share with the aldea

OOC: Flex skill is Botany for today

Hoa Sen ranges at varied spots in the middle of the group, trusting Artor to be the group's foremost set of eyes and Derrick its shield. She's dressed as lightly as usual for travel, the only obvious concession to potential danger the dart thrower hanging from her sash. The arkus falls into an undirected alertness, trying to get an intuitive sense of the jungle around them and reconcile it with the idea of being the outskirts of "home."

Breogh followed the group as he tried to remember what to look for as they were getting deeper between the bushes , he had been previously distracted with the Verred he had purchased in cantus with the last 2 shins he had after buying some arrows,  "i needed to have something for short range protection" he thought for himself and he looked at the weapon in his hand while also experimenting with his ability of iluminating his touch, he also used the verred to clear part of the shrubs along the way.

The jungles surrounding the Upside Down River are, indeed, a jarring change from the dry landscape that dominated the northern reaches of the Beyond and most of the lands within the Shimmering Veil.  Derrick's efforts to clear dense vegetation are needed frequently to keep even close to a straighter path.  Sounds of jungle creatures (?) resound from every direction and insects hover in swarms, march in undulating lines, and zip by at fantastic speeds.  Sometimes branches rustle high above or the leaf litter crunches as though something is fleeing, though no sizable creatures are spotted.

Artor's hunting yields little, although he's able to scavenge a few of what appear to be nuts.  It's unclear what plant they came from, though, and nothing immediately suggests that they are edible.  Overall, the party's wariness feels warranted, though no imminent dangers are noted so far.

In the distance, about a quarter mile away, the land seems to rise more sharply.  Higher up the slope, there is the glint of metal, shimmers dancing in the dappled light that filters through the canopy.  It appears to be a massive structure of some sort, being slowly consumed by the life of the jungle.

In reply to Immortal Eye (msg # 10):

"Is that the structure we're looking for?" Alyssa asks while she's massaging her aching feet. She secretly hopes that it is, because all this walking is tiring.

Derrick stops to look at what Alyssa is pointing out. As he does, a branch snaps back and hits him in the face. He winces, but more out of reflex than actual pain. He peers through the dense foliage at the shape in the distance.

"I think it must be. If it isn't, it's probably worth investigating anyway." He looks around at the others, assessing the impact that marching through the jungle has had on them. "Should we try to reach it and rest when we get there? Or should we collect ourselves now before the last push?"