Fost mused.
"You mean like leaving your backpack to make ready for fighting? Why place it so carefully?"

Fost nodded at the offered idea of looking for tracks.

---

rolled 16 using 3d6+2 (6 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {6}, 4, 4.  PER

Stunt Points.
Since this was a PER (Search) roll, I choose Object of your Attention to gain +1 ony any further Tests.
I also choose That Makes Me Wonder to make a simultaneous PER (Tracking) to actually follow any tracks that I may have found, assuming that the +1 applies to this very roll.
rolled 10 using 3d6+3 (5 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 1, 1.  PER (Tracking) @+1
This message was last edited by the player at 16:02, Mon 08 Aug 2022.

"It is definitely hers." Erin casually glanced around as if expecting her to be just standing nearby. "Maybe she left it here, so that it wouldn't weight her down while going into the wild, expecting to retrieve it later." Given how it was all rotten, it certainly didn't look like a good sign for Andra. Still, despite her worries, she had to hope that the Templar was reasonably well somewhere in the wild, just waiting to be found.

Tyrus nods as he pockets the prayer cloth, When they find Ser Andra she might be glad to see it again. "Likely, now we just have to try and follow her."

Thankfully, the skies have been free of rain for the past couple of weeks, so little off-trail was disturbed; Fost easily discovers evidence of mailed footfalls; clusters of broken grass blades moving in the general direction of the low slope. In the distance, he notices that the a couple of the taller thickets look strangely asymmetrical - pushed or cut through, maybe?

OOC: Yes, I’ll allow the bonus to apply to the test. Sadly, though, the rules of the stunt don’t allow for the stunt points generated in your latest success to be used.

Fost pointed at the taller thickets.
"Over there. Let's have a look, shall we?"
Foat walked down the slope. There was no need to make ready for combat, all this had happened days ago. He still was musing on why Andra had left her bag up here, though.

Tyrus nods, though he's less relaxed than Fost seems to be and instead keeps his eyes and ears open as he walks behind Fost.

Tyrus Morven rolled 11 using 3d6+1 with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 3, 2.  Perception.

As the group nears the thickets, they notice a path has been cut (pushed?) through them into the grove beyond. A quick examination of the broken branches reveals that whoever passed through here did some time ago; days, likely.

It's at that point the group starts to feel like something is...off. Tyrus identifies it first, but the others soon realize what's missing.

"It's quiet," Wendoll says, and he's right. The air has gone still when there was a breeze before, and birds that were singing moments ago have gone silent. Even the sunlight seems "grayer" where they stand. And ahead, light should be penetrating the relatively lightly populated grove of trees, even if it's only a flash here or there through the leaves; instead, its singularly dark and foreboding.

The elf adds, "If she went in there a week ago..."

Tyrus sniffs the air, something seems off. He frowns as he looks around "I don't like it."
He stays close to his companions "Do you see anything?"

Awesome: I'm checking the area for magic with a 15
Tyrus Morven rolled 15 using 3d6+6 with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 5, 1.  Magic Spirit.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:12, Thu 11 Aug 2022.

OOC: Yes, you can. Make a Magic (Spirit) test vs. a hidden TN.

Tyrus attunes his mind to the ebb and flow of arcane energy around him.

If it were night this would well qualify for 'spooky'.", the burly warrior muttered.
Then he took his spear in hand and unfastened his shield.
"If something... nasty... happened here days ago and this... atmosphere... is still so... oppressive...", he muttered mire to himself, clearly struggling for words to apply to his concerned feelings.

Arnie briefly emits a low whine, and Wendoll adds, "What he said," although the others aren't sure if he's agreeing with Fost, the dog, or both. Either way, he slips his hefty fighting stick into a secure spot along his backpack and draws out his bow. Arnie, for his part, takes a more readied stance.

Tyrus closes his eyes for a moment. As if listening to music he sawys a little before opening his eyes. "The Veil is thin, I can hear its call." He stops for a moment and continues with a lower voice "Have any of you ever faced against a demon?"

Let's say we continue until we find something.

I'll try and keep my eyes open.. 9

Tyrus Morven rolled 9 using 3d6+1 with the AGE System with rolls of {3}, 1, 4.  perception (seeing).

Fost shook his head at Tyrus' question.
"Not that I know. And I guess I could tell."

"If you say the veil is thin... could it be that Andra was... transported away somehow through the veil? You know, some kind of gate?"

"I should hope not!" The place was eerie enough as it was to start imagining monsters from the fade laying in wait to punish their bravery and curiosity. Moreover, how could one be sure? Weren't these demons able to take over people? They could be anyone if one really stopped to think about it, but Erin liked to think that she would be able to tell the difference. Tightly gripping her glaive and turning another paler shade, she advanced. "Let's get this over with."

Tyrus shrugs his shoulders as his knuckles turn white, tightening the grasp around his staff. "It would be the first time for me to hear something like that. Demons need a shape... a body in our world to exist. Only our minds can enter the Fate, our bodies are left behind when we dream. Though its possible that a demon could have crossed into this world and found a corpse as a host. This kind of posessions do not end well." Just as he finishes his gaze is turned towards the ground, half expecting to see a skeletal or demonic hand grasping for them.

I guess we move on cautiously.

The group enters one-by-one; the first thing they notice as they get past the thickets is that the ground has become damp and almost spongy, like a moorland. The next is that the trees themselves seem to be…wilting, is the best word for it…with some sort of moss or mold forming at the base of the trunks. The air is also quite oppressive within, as the explorers feel greater pressure on their chests as they breathe and an oily wetness seems to cling in their nostrils.

Worst, though, is the feeling that the branches and leaves of the trees are reaching down toward them, as if actively trying to block out all outside light. The result is a dim, graying of both leaf and bark to the eye. Even the colors of each other’s clothing and skin appear dulled.

After what seems like an eternity passes, the pathway opens up to a ring of trees about 10 yards in diameter, their limbs interlocking menacingly. In the center is a large hollowed out tree trunk, its bark darkened by an oily film that seems to cover much of it, with tendrils of sickly gray-green moss reaching up from the ground. The group can tell the right side of the trunk appears to be fully open.


OOC: I rolled secret Perception tests for everyone.

Tyrus extends his arm, indicating to the others that they should stop. He silently points towards something metallic sticking ever so slightly out of the left side of the trunk, about a foot or so off the ground. Tyrus readies himself for a possible attack.

"Could this belong to the templar?", whispered Fost, admittedly a bit anxious given the atmosphere.
"Don't tell me she went in there?!", he said incredously.

Tyrus nods silently before indicating with his free hand and head that Fost or Erin might want to take a look at it.

I shall remain behind you and support you from the distance.

Fost nodded to Erin, then went forward to nudge the metallic item with his spear tip, trying to pry it loose.

---

rolled 13 using 3d6+4 with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 3, 2.  DEX.

Wendoll notches an arrow in his bow as Fost moves forward.

As he nudges the object with his spear tip, he realizes it’s the tip of a sword’s blade - a longsword, he’d wager - that has pierced the rotting bark from the other side. He could probably push it out from this end with some effort, but it would be easier to pull out from the other side.

At that moment, he hears a brief gurgling sound rise up from the other side of the trunk wall…

"What the...", Fost muttered in surprise then jumped back at the gurgling sound.
"Something is in there!", he hissed in startled anger.

Hearing the gurgling sound Tyrus throws all caution in the wind and approaches the source of the sound. "Is this... Ser Andra?" he says to himself as he approaches.

If it is Ser Andra then I'll heal her at once.

I got 4 Dragon die points. I'll use Skillfull casting twice to reduce the MP cost by 2

05:12, Today: Tyrus Morven rolled 8 using 3d6 with the AGE System with rolls of {5}, 2, 1.  Healing.

05:09, Today: Tyrus Morven rolled 13 using 3d6+4 (4 stunt points) with the AGE System with rolls of {4}, 4, 1.  Healing.

Humming to herself a hushed tune, Erin nodded and moved along to the hollow tree with newfound courage. Gurgles were nothing to be scared about, specially next to the rest of the twisted assault to the senses and normalcy of the place. Without even thinking, she walked around to check the possible source of it.