"Something big and upset - that's all I can tell from here.  Look at the vegetation damage.  Yes, agreed Mae.  Definitely looks like the survivors scattered quickly."  He paused in thought, renewing the movement magic, keeping the scene in their rear view.  "It looks not new, but certainly not well-aged.  Not worth a closer look, nor the time, I should think, but more an alert for us, some confirmation of what we've heard."

The priest/wizard? set a pair of watery fish darting ahead, then returned his focus to the movement.

"Hold a moment," Atraxus says. "There might be more for us to find, especially if there are survivors left over. They could tell us whatever caused this." The Half-Orc gestures at the carnage caused by whoever or whatever swung those weapons.

After speaking, Atraxus surveys the field looking for tracks to follow...

OOC:

21:29, Today: Atraxus Wildheart rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Survival-Tracking.

Atraxus can track.

The tracks are not fresh, but they were made in panic, so they are not impossible to find.  Still, some time has passed, and it takes some effort.  He can track, but he cannot learn much.  The tracks from the battle site go in several directions- apparently they scattered in an effort to save themselves.

Goblins are generally aware that on the threat scale, they rank very low.  This is standard Goblin tactics for what to do when being clobbered, as it relies on the theory that the enemy sees a group of Goblins as something to be worth fighting, but a single Goblin isn't going to be worth the effort.  By splitting up, the increase the chance that the enemy will just say "Why bother, it's just one Goblin?"

But a couple of tracks reconverge.  The presence of the river, apparently, restricted the available directions for escape. Two tracks converge at the bank and join, going upriver.


It also seems apparent that the Goblins had a harder time traveling than you do.  At times it is like they had to struggle through undergrowth, which simply doesn't seem to slow you down the same way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Mon 08 Mar 2021.

Alison is impressed with Atraxus' skill at navigating and tracking. "Lets hope you are as good at putting an end to things you find if we run into whatever they got massacred by."

"This is...odd," Atraxus mutters as he considers the pair of tracks leading upriver. He points out the different features to the party, as well as some of his other observations.

"Some of these tracks shouldn't be so easy to find," Atraxus explains. "This fight happened a few days ago, and the dirt was not wet. It's almost as if the land wants us to find whoever made them."

Atraxus gives a soft snort of a chuckle at Alison's remark.

"Let's try and show the land and its masters a bit more courtesy than the goblins did," he replies. "And if we are lucky, perhaps we can ask the Goblins what they did to trigger such a dramatic response."

"That _is_ interesting, Atraxus," Abadon opined thoughtfully from his boat location.  "And I agree that you seem quite the skilled one at tracking.

"The land aiding... that makes me think of the travel out here, with the road seemingly aided, the farming land being perfect, almost aiding the endeavours.  If the land's spirit has been awakened through magic of relic or relics of power, then it would not be dissimilar from the entry here, as the very land tries to aid in defending its heart.

"Ah, interesting points to journal." Accordingly, he updated his notebook, and moved the boats ahead when Atraxus was reseated.

"I've been thinking about that," Atraxus says as he climbs back onto the boat. "Dragons are creatures with overwhelming auras, and gold dragons would have an aura of goodness. I wonder if the dragons are responsible for the way the land responds, or if the properties of this region drew them here.

"Either way," he finishes, "we should follow the tracks upstream. If the goblins are around, perhaps they can provide more clues as to what is going on here..."

Abaddon considered the suggestion, weighing options, but shook his head slowly.  "I am aware it was one of the looser options we considered back in town... but I would suggest not doing that plan.  If the goblins knew where to go, then they would be there, not over here.  That they are wandering about looking without finding suggests that their 'call' to the area is being occluded, or misdirected - they may only be able to sense the general area, and we're already in the general area.

"Secondly, we have a directed path - the path that our errant paladin was travelling.  At the end of the day, we're seeking the paladin, not the goblin goal... we just presume one to be the other, correct?  If we have a red-flowered river route to follow, as our paladin headed down, it would seem more logical to follow the same path, effectively retracing his route... versus wandering hither and yon. We could spend months wasting time."

"No," Atraxus explains, "I don't believe the Goblins and Derne are connected, as this does not look to be the work of a novice paladin. I also don't think that we will be wandering quite that long. I'm a decent tracker, and this trail is but a few days old. My interest here is finding out what the Goblins encountered, and perhaps be able to use that as a warning for our errant paladin just in case he does not see the reason in leaving well enough alone.

"Besides," he adds. "I have a hunch that we will find our way and back rather quickly, so long as we respect the spirit of this place."

"We are in agreement than Derne was not the massive creature that scattered the goblin camp, and certainly agreement in your tracking skills." the gnomish priest clarified, in slow agreement as he rephrased his argument. "If we are agreed that we do not connect the goblins to Derne, and not their travel to his, and we have a path to him that we should be following, I'm not quite clear the 'why'.

"We are here to find Derne, and we have a path to him that we should be following.  But you wish to ignore our task and safer, direct path to go venturing hither and yon after goblins?  They are no friends to our people, but also not enough to be more than pests from overbreeding.

"Is there some holy quest or oath you have that mandates?  How are we benefitting by the delay in recovering Derne?  Cui bono?" Abadon looked curiously, interested in the interest and motivation of Atraxus' suggestion.

Atraxus grins coldly at Abadon's mention of Goblins as mere "pests." That comment strikes a nerve in the Half-Orc that immediately shifts his demeanor.

"The same has been said of people like me," he answers pointedly. "That we are not 'friends' to 'your people' because of a circumstance of birth. But I have seen just as many Humans, Gnomes, Elves, and Dwarves choose evil over good despite their reputation.

"I have no holy quest or oath to uphold," he continues, "but I find that the saying 'forewarned is forearmed' is true more often than not. Those Goblins did something to provoke that response, and it would behoove us to know whether it was an act or mere intent that wrought it." Atraxus emphasizes his point by gesturing toward the destruction.

"To me, that knowledge is worth the slight delay in finding Derne," he finishes. "Especially since it seems the land is intentionally slowing them down as they fled upstream, whereas it seems to actively be aiding our journey. It should not take much time."

"Except for gnomefolk, I quite agree," Abadon replied, unaffected by the chilling of Atraxus' tone. "And I did not malign you, though you seem to have taken offence.  I expressed only that goblins we encountered at home were pests, not threats like the drow or due-sorry, the dark elves or dark dwarves, I believe the surface folk call them. Those were far more dangerous than the goblins of tunnel or cave.  Humans, of course, very varied and unreliable.  Few travelled below the surface, and very, very few of those were anything but equally as evil as the dark elves and dark dwarves.

"It was part of the reason that few of my kin were of mindset to travel so far aboveground, despite our missing kin."

The gnome considered Atraxus' position, shrugging.

"I'm still not particularly swayed.  If we knew these had done something, or were on to something, and that we needed to stop whatever that was - it would make sense to me.  I also quite agree on study and learning to prepare to deal with problems.

"That being said, if the group feels following the goblins is worth the delay on finding Derne, then by all means.  Either way, the tracks appear to be following our river path for now, so both objectives seem to be working together... for now, at the least.

"Were you thinking of travelling by land or river in your following of goblin tracks?"  Either way, of course, the gnome loved his water, and would be following by boat - leaving those behind seemed another foolish plan, but hauling them overland for long distances seemed as unpleasant or unwise as leaving them behind... in most places.  Perhaps here, the land would look out for the vessels?

As they discuss whether to follow tracks or river... it quickly becomes apparent that the Goblins had a similar thought.  At least, the two tracks that converged follow the river.  There is no telling where the third Goblin went, as that track diverged wildly and did not rejoin.

"A pest to us, but more than a pest to many innocent people," Mae says, after considering both sides.  "No, we cannot distract ourselves from Derne, but I have a feeling that he and these Goblins had similar plans.  I wonder if it is random luck, or did they choose this particular river... or are their Goblins throughout these lands and we are only finding the ones whose path coincides with our own?

"One thing we should not overlook.  The boats are convenient, Abaddon, but they cannot hide well.  Out on the water, if they are on shore, they will see us before we see them.  I'm wondering.. if they do, will they want to fight?  Or hide and let us pass by?"

Her questions become more of an issue as the day wears on.  The party has made much headway, following the flower strewn riverbank upstream, and finding continued evidence that Goblins came this way.  The movements of the Goblins seem slower and more erratic- surely, if they went this way, the party must be catching up to them.  At some point soon, camp must be made.

In the later afternoon, the party sees a Dragon for the first time- but it is far, just a dark shape flying above the horizon to the west.

Mae seems entranced by it.

And then, you hear a shout.  That too, is in the distance- but closer than the Dragon.  It is in the language of the Goblins, and it repeats, as if one is calling to others.

Alison, taking on the Captain Obvious role, says, "It sounds like they are working together, yes?" She nodded, "Let us continue in the boat. The boat seems safe."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Wed 17 Mar 2021.

Being able to take to the water easily, the party has a mobility advantage over Goblins, and it is soon clear that although you are getting closer to them, you will not meet them if you are deliberately trying to avoid them.

It's a simple matter:  the Goblins do not breaking cover and moving in the open.  The river is open.  Sure, they could wade across it, but they've been attacked already and they could easily be seen wading.

So all the party has to do is move to the other side of the water, or float past them when they are camped.

This becomes clear as they travel to the end of the day, make camp, and then travel the next day.

*** *** *** *** ***

You have now been traveling upriver a day and a half, and you are reaching the limit to where trappers from Veritas have gone.  Between tracks, and occasional shouts in the forest, you are aware of two things:  First, the Goblins have managed to regroup, and at least three of them are now traveling together.  On the other hand, that might not be all of them, and there could be others out there but staying silent.

Second, the boats, the water, and the Gnome's magic lets you outmaneuver them.  Unless the party wishes to encounter the Goblins, you can probably stay away from them.  At some point, though, you will have to pass them, and then the Goblins will likely spot you- they are adept at scouting in the forest, and if you pass by on the water they are more likely to see you than you are to see them.  Of course its possible that the Goblins have no interest in encountering you, either.

"We cannot keep avoiding them," Atraxus says regarding the Goblins. "They found one of their missing number, and are traveling along the same path as we are. It would be best to face them, find out what they know, and dispatch them. Who knows. Perhaps the nature of this place is slowly getting to them as well."

Azu nodded, "Agreed. We should cut them off. I have a spell which will make fighting them easier and can cover from a distance with my crossbow."

"Well, as to that, we actually can, if we so continue to wish to do so," the gnomish cleric-wizard offered helpfully as he examined the water and shoreline.  "I had us floating along the surface as my understanding was the such was preferred by surface folk.

"I can instead shape the water to create an underwater bubble around one boat, and leave an air chimney.  The same process of having the current carry us the opposite direction, and we are both out of sight and keeping fresh air; it also carries the extra pleasure of being able to watch the fish as we go bye them.  From the woods, even the sharpest eyes would see nothing.

"If we are truly concerned about the confirmed goblin numbers and scouting habits, this might be a prudent time for one of us to return to the town, alert them about the goblins gathering and scouting along the river, even after being routed away, and despite the dragons in the area.  Qui-Lin - you have been thoughtfully observing - what is your thought?"

Azu seemed like she might vomit at Abadon's suggestion. She turned very green. "Could we please save that for an emergency?"

Qui-Lin Xiang, the small monk had been very quiet- such was her nature in unknown places.

She looks at the water.. this far upstream, it is shallow enough to wade across, even for the Goblins.  She looks at the Gnome... perhaps he judges depth differently, but...

"I think it is too shallow here to do as you suggest," she says.  To test, she reaches an oar down.  "It is shallow."

She points to the non-Goblin side of the river (which gets smaller and smaller as you go upstream naturally).

"There is an easy way to pass them by if we want to.  We can carry the boats past them when we think we are getting near, on the north bank.  We can travel on land for a while, and Alison will not vomit.  But I wonder... if we are destined to meet with them sooner or later, perhaps Atraxus is right and we should do it on our terms."

At this point Mae speaks up.

"A Paladin does not start battles."

"And I do not start them when I do not have to. It is probably easiest to evade the Goblins," Qui-lin says.  "But the easy way, on foot.  Five of us can easily carry two boats for a few miles."

"Oh, my, I see," the gnome replied thoughtfully, nodding as Qui-lin demonstrated the shallowness.  "I forgot the height of you tallfolk - no offence meant.

"Agreed that overland to avoid makes sense.  I am afraid that my shorter height would mean you four would need to pair up in such transporting.  Although... if any of you become tired, I can animate a pair of wagonwheels on an axle, and have it roll along behind to follow a lead person.

"Alternatively, I could animate water to move in a flowing pattern on one side alongside us, providing a more realistic cover, as the water flowing would merge in appearance with the rest of the river, but it would apply only against the goblin side of the river."

As they go on, Atraxus can still track the Goblins easily.   There are plenty of marks- footprints planted into deep earth, places where Goblins seem to have struggled or tripped over roots and entangling vegetation.

And they realize... he's been walking across similar terrain, and yet, neither Atraxus nor the other party members who might choose to walk are having such a tough go of it.  They are not getting snagged on brush, they are not getting boots stuck in soft ground.  For them, the going is very easy, a pleasant stroll in a riverside park.

They've noted earlier the uncanny "helpfulness" of the land here.  It is impossible to deny, and it is also clear now that the Goblins are not having the same experience.  They are struggling through a tough and resistant wilderness.  Even when it is the exact same trail.

As they get close the Goblins become easier to track and to hear- and when they are too close the party switches to the other side of the river and travels inland, trying to keep the river to their left.

Again, the trail is surprisingly easy.  Even as it becomes increasingly hilly, the land is accommodating- there always seems to be an easy path ahead of them.

"I am very curious as to why there are no settlements in this land," Qui-Lin Xiang says.  "It goes out of its way to be kind to us.. who would not want to live here?

"The trappers say the animals are hard to catch here," Mae reminds.

"Even so... one does not need to catch animals to live.  This place obviously favors people, and yet no one lives here."

"It favors life and goodness," Atraxus adds while following the tracks in the land.

"I wonder if its nature is having some effect on the Goblins. After all, we have seen a lamia redeemed by it. Perhaps the land wishes to foil the Goblins' intentions to destroy it, and give them the chance to turn away from Evil."

Alison helped move the boat. She is much much happier on land. Her spirits improve to a point that she seems to even smile! "We should worry less about the land and more about our goal."

"It may be surmised that if the land exudes a control over the life energy and shaping of matters, that it may likewise present a subtle aura or encouragement to travel and enjoy, but not linger and reside where either nature is sought to be maintained, or perhaps a defensive distancing to discourage presence or long-term activity that might interfere with protection of whatever is needing the protection - dragons, relics, or otherwise," Abadon philosophized as they journeyed.