The vet, a middle aged woman shrugs and says "It's a lizard of some sort, probably mutated, it may be unique.  I can see it can change color, it's eyes can move separately, by the feet I'd say it's more adapted to climbing trees than walking on the ground. I don't see anything that would indicate it's sick.  Do you know what it eats?"

"It snatched up a lizard chicken quite easily with its long tongue," Atak replied. "This saddle seems customized to allow the wearer to remain seated while the lizard climbs vertically, wouldn't you agree?" he asks.

The Vet nods "Seems to be, I've never seen anything like it." 

Bob follows along with Atak to the vet.  He looks for lodging for Mule, and sheepfood and goatfood.  "I has a hat." he adds, pointing to his head.

"And it fits just nicely there, too," Atak replies to Bob. "Speaking of which, what goes on with these hats? Will we be arrested for not wearing one?" he inquires of the vet.

"No, no, you just might be torn to shreds by the Demon of The Cones!" she says in an overacting spooky voice. "If you get caught outside after dark without a hat. I don't know if there's really anything to it, I've seen evidence, but it could've been any animal, like those chicken-wolves which we know are real.  Supposedly whole buildings were destroyed with the occupants missing when they weren't built cone-shaped, but that was before I moved here.  I do have one pet theory if it is true, it'd have to be a really large creature that could hide easily - that really only points to the lake. It'd have to be some sort of giant amphibious creature, maybe a crab that lays red cone-shaped eggs."

She shrugs "The hats are tradition, can't hurt."

"Then I am off to buy a hat!" Atak advises. He pays for the lodging of his lizard and the mule, then heads out. After a quick purchase of a hat he looks to rejoin the party at the inn. "Any place you want to visit before we head back, Bob?" he asks.

He brushes some dust off his cylindrical hat and puts it back on proudly.

"Theory and conjecture! Superstition at the worst!"

(OOC: So back to morning the next day?  Heading off to the grapple forest or something else?)

((ooc: resume our contract, and if that is grapple land then so be it))

(OOC: Sounds like there might be some dissent, do we need a vote or RP to a unanimous decision or is the party splitting?)

OOC: If some of us are badly hurt, I think we should rest a few days. I'm only down 1hp thanks to Pat's healing, so I'm good enough to go, but if others are down a lot, it's better to get them healed up more. Have we noticed a doctor or healer other than Pat in this town?

(OOC The Veterinarian is the closest thing.)

((ooc: not interested in splitting the party. If we need another day let's take it.))

(OOC: I'm in favor of at least one day of rest.)

Atak informs the innkeeper that their group will be staying at least one additional night. He likewise informs the veterinarian of the same, keeping his ridiculous hat on while moving from building to building. He visits Randy the lizard in teh morning and in the eve, when the sun is not so bright.

Staying another day and under the care of the vet (5 gp if you want to spend it) you get double your daily rest hp back (normal 1d3 hp, so 2d3.) If anyone still needs any healing after that Pat is still there the next morning and can cast 2 more cure light wounds.

Randy is very calm, hardly moving and blending in as he was when you found him.

Bob spends time under the vets care and resting and eating grapples.

08:09, Today: Bob rolled 2 using 2d3.  healing with vet

Bob is still down 3 HP

Pat casts cure light wounds upon Bob the next day.

19:08, Today: DM.Justisaur rolled 2 using 1d6+1 ((1)).  Only 2 HP

He says "Anyone else?"

"I think we are ready to go," Atak advises. "What is the most direct pat to take to get to our destination?" he asks, hoping someone has the answer.

(Remembering back to what you were told, part of your task was just finding one of the vaults shown on the map you were given, and that they're suspected to be north of The Cones - approximately in the area of the grapple forest but it's a guess.)

Bob seems excited about the grapple forest.

(Assuming nothing else you want to do in town first)

There's no real edge to the Grapple Forest but about a mile out of town to the north the farms start to peter out and trees appear, only a few of them Grapple trees, being spring their leaves just sprouting and in full bloom, clusters flowers made of small purple and green petals cover them, some grapples seen still unpicked from last year in the upper limbs, their trunk splits into two smooth limbs that spread out resembling great arms with long fingers.

As you continue on there's more grapples and less of the other trees. The road turns to a trail, with many side trails.  You can see chunks of cement occasionally tossed aside and worn by age on or near the trail, and a wide stream flowing toward The Cones.  You come to a fork each path near half the width of the one you've been following.  The stream shadowing the left path.

After urging Randy the lizard forward to take a drink from the stream, Atak pauses. "I'd suggest taking the path that leads away from the water."

The Doctor furrows his brow.

"How did that saying go? You can lead your lizard to water, but you can't drain...hmmph...nevermind..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Wed 17 June 2020.