As Gorrid examines the injury, and notices a distressing discoloration around it. Looking at the orc's weapon, you spot the telltale signs of poison. Normally, the soldier's treatment for that is to bleed the cut further, hoping to flush the poison. On the other hand, maybe some of the medicines the orcs carried had a counter agent? If someone could identify it, of course...

"Is it bad?" Buck asks, not making eye contact with the knight examining his ribs. He has been breathing shallowly since the end of the fight and for now just wants to lay on the ground of their makeshift campsite. He reaches for his waterskin but gives up upon finding it uncomfortably out of reach.

"The blade appears to have been poisoned.
They quite likely have an antidote of some sort on one of them.  Or we could try using one of our anti-toxins."

The knight started digging through the belongings of the dead orcs, looking for a sign of an antidote

quote:

20:57, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 13 using 2d6+2 ((5,6)).

What here is useful or valuable to me? (specifically looking for antidote)
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is not what it appears to be?

Russel takes a close look at the blade and Buckthorn's wound. He thinks that he knows what the poison used was, and tells the others what its antidote looks like.

20:27, Today: Russel Albion rolled 6,4 using 1D6,1D6 with rolls of 6,4.  Spout Lore of Antidote.

Spriggy helped to search for any antidote the defeated orcs might be carrying. "If there is anything you need me to do to help cure Buckthorn, just let me know." He could sing soothing songs, fetch ingredients, or even hold his hand supportively. Whatever was needed.

"NO SONGS." Buck suddenly reaches out an unsteady hand toward the bard, imploring him to reconsider. He can't help but think back to the beginning of the encounter. Buck resumes doing his best to breathe steadily, having difficulty discerning how much of what he is feeling is from the sharp wound versus any poison.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Sat 13 Apr.

It seems like the type of poison that will leave a person weak for a long time. Perfect to slow down a group, or weaken it by attrition. Thankfully, Russel knows enough about it to figure out an antidote from the medicinal herbs the orcs carried.

Dealing with your wounds and the dead bodies takes most of the morning, but you're confident you can get a good distance away before the lost of that patrol is noticed.

OOC: You can remove one use of the poultice and herbs to remove Buckthorn's poison.

"Haha, no songs then," Spriggy replied to Buckthorn with a wide smile. He was more amused than offended that Buckthorn didn't want to hear his music. "It's probably a good idea to let my vocal cords rest a while longer anyway."

After everything was taken care of and their party was ready to head out again, Spriggy offered to help steady Buckthorn as they walked. "How long before we think the orcs' buddies come looking?" he asked the group.

You assume the group that attacked you should have returned to their main camp by the time you leave, so you should have a couple of hours before the orcs reach your camp.

"I feel exposed here on this trail. If there are more orcs coming to check on the ones we just killed, is there a better place to meet them?" asked Russel.

"There may be, but I think our better path is to keep moving.  Though it may make sense for us to approach our destination from a slightly less direct route.  It's probably not hard to predict where we're going, as there's not a lot else out here.  If we can make our route less predictable, that reduces the risk of an ambush.  We should prepare for one anyhow though.  And we should pick our camp sites with care."

Any new rolls needed for the next leg of the journey?

Almost hesitantly, Spriggy made a suggestion. "We could always try making the journey as animals and take the paths that animals can travel. I doubt they would expect that." Himself and Buckthorn could shapeshift, and Spriggy knew a polymorph spell that could affect Russel and/or Gorrid. "If we travel as animals, we would only really be limited by where our goats can go."

He doubted his friends would be too keen on his idea, but figured he would offer it as an option regardless.

The paladin's eyebrows rose, but he didn't immediately reject the notion.  "What sort of animals?  Could we fly?  Become something big enough to carry the goats?"

"Theoretically, you could become any creature you can imagine. Or at least any creature I can imagine. Doubt the goats would enjoy being carried, but that is also a possibility, I think."

The knight's eyes got a bit bigger, then he grinned.  "How good are you at imagining dragons?"

Spriggy returned Gorrid's smile. "Have you ever met anyone who can't imagine a dragon?"

---

I am going to wait before actually casting the spell so that Russel and Buckthorn have a chance to chime in too.

Buck incurs a slight blush at Spriggy's mention of his abilities. He's reluctant to chime in, but quietly adds "I could scout ahead of the path we choose. I'm afraid I suffer from a ... small imagination." The last words hesitantly finding their way out with a fair amount of disdain.

Russel considered Spriggy's offer, "Certainly sounds like something they wouldn't expect. Is flying a good idea? We could get there faster but if the spell ends while we are in the air, that would be bad. I'd do it if the rest are willing. Walking into an ambush sounds worse."

Spriggy, Gorrid, make an Int roll, just to see how good you know your dragons...

11:37, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,1.  How well Spriggy knows dragons. 

quote:

11:25, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 7 using 2d6 ((6,1)).

Dragons are big nasty flying things best avoided by sensible soldiers...

Dragons are, academically, divided between the 'lesser drakes' (wyverns, drakes, linnorms, and so on) and the 'true drakes'. While lesser drakes can be found in all parts of the world (if you search for them), the true drakes are the stuff of legends, leading many to question whether they really exist or not.

In fact, the best source of information on true drakes comes from the orcs, who claimed they used to live in the Sunblight Wasteland. According to the more civilized orcs, the wilder tribes deeper into the desert keep dragon bones as symbols of their status, with the strongest tribe owning the largest skull.

Spriggy shared what he knew of dragons with the group, then said, "I think we should try flying in as a dragon. The orcs will probably soil themselves if they spot a dragon flying through the sky and give us a lot of space." Spriggy wasn't positive that that would be the orcs' reaction, but thought it would be a likely one.

"I think the spell should last as long as we need it to, Russel, so long as I don't try to cast any other magic spells in the meantime. So, should I cast the spell on one of you two?" He was hoping either Gorrid or Russel would volunteer themselves to be the dragon.

"Are you not able to transform all of us?  Or is the notion to transform one of us, the others ride, and then carry the goats in the claws?

In any event, I suggested it, so I'm willing."  He sort of hoped he didn't have to carry both goats and team mates.  If he dropped a goat, he could live with himself.  If he dropped a teammate, that was another question entirely...

"Having climbed into second and third story windows before, I should not have any problem with heights as a flyer," stated Russel.
"Just how big of a dragon can you make one of us? Would carrying everything be a strain?"