For whatever Thar may be, he is effective.  In almost no time, he has you set up with horses, a map to the site, and provisions for the trip (food, drink, tents).   The travel to the site is fairly pleasant, getting out of the city and following a road and then making for the rugged coastline.  It has the feeling of a holiday outing.  By the end of the first day, you arrive at the coastline and find there an abandoned campsite just in from the coast cliffs.  From there, you can hear the water crashing on the forty to fifty foot cliffs just beyond the camp.   In the dying rays of the sunlight, you investigate the cliffs and find where a rope ladder has been attached and lays coiled at the top of a sheer wall.  The smell of sea water is strong and the wind blows strongly off the coast.  It is here, some mid way down that wall, they the temple/cave entrance is supposed to be.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:35, Sun 27 Dec 2020.

The basket saddle works wonders for Delta, who can't ride a horse, and she thanks Thar for his thoughtfulness. She strums lightly on her lute during the trip, and enjoys the vistas of the day.

The ocean is a particular treat, as she had never seen it before, and she is enraptured by the endless blue-grey beauty of its majesty. She studies it extra carefully, as she hopes to reproduce the image for her parent when next she visits. She hides the potential that they might not survive the adventure in a small pocket in the back of her mind.

When they arrive at their destination she asks Vala for help getting out of the box-saddle. Aware of the fact that straddling a horse was probably more strenuous that the way she had ridden, she defer to the others as to if they are ready to explore further now or if they needed to rest. If they do plan to rest, she starts preparing to cook dinner for them all.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Fri 01 Jan 2021.

Vala seemed particularly cheerful to be out and about in the outdoors. The tall warrioress is at ease on a horse and enjoys the the sea breeze through her hair and her ears. She's also more than happy to help her gnome friend out of her saddle.

"I'm happy to go in right away, though I admit the idea of Delta's cooking is very tempting."

Delta perks up at Vala's compliment, she does enjoy cooking and when her cooking is enjoyed, the pleasure more than double.

"Can someone tend to the horses? I don't know much about the beast, I doubt I can even get the saddle off without killing myself."

She is pleased to see that the rope is coiled up at the top, feeling that this might offer some security.

Once the fire is going, she starts dinner cooking, then takes some time sitting near the edge of the cliff, while practicing her arcane arts.

She will start by painting an image of the sea on the top of the cliff, about five feet wide, by four deep, of the ocean, with the sunset behind it. She will glance at the sea, then back to her image, trying to fill in the details. No birds, and no crashing of waves, but the blue grey of the sea with the reddish gold of the sky.

Once she is satisfied she will pull out her lute, and strum a tune reminiscent of the sounds of the sea. A minor key, slightly sad, to match the tone of the evening, with the occasional tweak of a string to mimic a sea birds call.

She will struggle to maintain it as long as she can, but eventually it wavers, and when it does it fades away.

Pleased with her efforts, she finishes the stew, gets out the plates, and serves it up to her companions. She will have a small cup of the Branch Farm cider with hers, though she assumes the others wish for something stronger.

Janek will try to take care of the horses, but brushing them down will be more of a task for him.

Adventurers who live long enough to have such reflections, reflect on such a night as this. A strong campsite, comfortable tents, blazing fire, the ocean breeze and oceans sounds and smells, and fine food cooked up by Delta.  Fine cider, wine, and other spirits available around a warm fire with a tapestry of stars above.  With the wind and ocean noise, there is no need for stealth, so stories, songs, and music are all swept away safely into the natural world.  Sleep, when it comes, wraps itself snugly around each of the adventurers, and hugs them gently till the rays of morning wake them.

"Thank you, Delta, for this fine repast."

Odd dreams haunt the young gnome thru the night, not quite nightmares, but memorable in their oddity.

The party was riding thru the woods on a trip to the beach, but they were riding a single hippopotamus. A huge beast, with a bright colorful saddle for six, red and gold fabrics, tassels and bells. It's huge cavernous mouth held all their trucks and suitcases.

They came to a cliff that rose above them, leading up into a sky which looked like the ocean. Birds flew all upside down and caddy-wumpus, crying out in what sounded like barks and meows.

The party climbed to the top of the cliff, only to be frightened by a fearsome beast, a flying elephant! It's massive trunks bore a wide array of fruits, and it turned out friendly enough that they could snack on his juicy pears, grapes and oranges. He spoke delicate elvish, in a surprisingly high pitched voice, and told them all about the proper way to mulch spread mulch.

After they had bid the friendly pachyderm adieu, they were accosted by a massive creature, wings and head like a giant eagle, but with the body of a gorilla. It swooped down, and tried to pick up Delta in his massive finger like toes, but she stumbled, and upon hitting the ground, woke up.

"What a dream," she muttered to herself, grabbing a towel and heading for some private spot for her morning ablutions. Once she had finished, she started a porridge with apples bits in it, and cinnamon on top for breakfast, and a nice spot of hot tea for everyone who wants some.

I think there was something rotten about those berries you used last night.  I had the weirdest dream about a half-orc... never mind, but I ain't having leftovers!

"No left-overs, fresh porridge!" Delta said. "Funny, I had strange dreams as well. I don't think it was my cooking's fault thought!" She laughs as she says this.

I like a little honey on my porridge, but whatever we have will do.

He will wolf down a bigger portion than one would think his body capable of handling.

Vala had spent the evening before watching Delta practice her illusions. The warrioress's eyes had been wide with amazement as she took in the sheer artistry her friend wove with her magic and at the end she applauded.

The following morning she was eager to tuck into the porridge. "Strange, I didn't have any dreams last night. Maybe I didn't eat enough," she says, taking an especially large helping of breakfast.

Tanyl looks at the others.  "I didn't dream either.  Or at least, I don't remember any dreams.  I often don't."

Seeing that Tanyl is awake, she brings him a hot bowl of porridge and a small stone mug of periwinkle tea decorated with hand a hand painted sunrise on each side. It isn't very pretty, but she was proud of her work.

"When you are fully awake, please check the rope to make sure it is safe. Just to be sure?"