"Ahhh another youth interested in adventuring, are you? Well come here lad, pay my drinks and I'll tell you about a journey of discovery, friendship and adversity like you never heard before. Come on now, don't let me hanging and let me tell you about about the group of young adventurers that took on the dangers of the Sunless Citadel..."

---

The sun was high in the sky as the tired group finally saw their destination in the distance, a man made bump of buildings on the otherwise flat horizon. One could see the mountains looming to the west, with an hint of it to the north, behind the town, but the eastern horizon was practically flat. The dusty, well traveled road was carved by the ruts of the chariots. The noon sun was strong in this spring day, with no clouds to attenuate the building heat, busy melting the remains of the winter's snow, showing up in dirty white patches in the otherwise muddy plains with new growth pushing the dirt to reach the life giving rays of Pelor.

The unlikely companions reminded themselves why they were so far from Neverwinter, where they had sign up for a dual mission. The head of the Church of Pelor hired them to find his most promising young paladin, Sir Braford, a noble that had decided to dedicate his life fighting evil. He had been gone for months, with his last correspondence placing him where the party was heading, the sleepy village of Oakhurst.

The other thing on the group's agenda was related to the village itself, as they had been tasked by the Church of Chauntea to investigate the rumors of magical fruits with strong healing properties. Both missions were to be well rewarded, so the band had formed and walked the long road toward the village.

As they slowly covered the distance remaining toward the village, more details came to their sight, farmlands separated by edges, clumps of natural tree growth, rows of man-planted trees, houses with rough stones walls surrounding them. The wind started wiping the cloaks around them, like a warning of more heat coming on.

---

OOC : You are still about 5 kilometers from the town, about a hour's walk at a good pace. Everyone give me a perception check please.

Vyn'al took in the scenery and the varied landscape, thankful for the loose fitting clothing he had chosen to wear in this building heat. He was grateful he did not wear the layers of armor that some of his companions had, protective or not. If it was already this warm in the spring, with a wind that promised more to come, then Vyn was grateful he had not been asked to come in the middle of summer instead.

"I see orchard trees over there," Vyn pointed toward the rows of planted trees. "I doubt this mystery fruit they've asked us to look for would grow on trees left so exposed, but it might be a decent place to start after we've had ourselves a bit of a rest. The owner probably knows more about fruit than the other locals, at the very least." He doubted that the fruit would be found in the orchard at all, but they had been given little information before being sent here on this task, so even the smallest clue might be useful at this stage.

Perception: 17
10:47, Today: Vyn'al Ethinos rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Perception.

Alystair breathes in the environment and scenery. As he keeps walking in silence not really knowing anyone there, he awkwardly fiddles with a coin in his pocket. After a few more minutes of this he starts to get bored since they were walking for a good while without mostly saying a word besides vague introductions and direction to what the mission would hold. He finally stops playing with the coin in his pocket and takes out his hand. With an audible sigh he looks too his companions and says "So why did everyone take this job? Besides money of course. I took it because I had nothing else better to do and I needed to get some heat off my back" as he waits for a respond, he kicks a rock forward.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

Vyn'al answered the dragonborn's question, "Pelor's priests have offered their help in finding answers to questions I have of my late father's past. The gold will help with my personal research, and magical studies, of course, but it is answers that I seek."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:07, Mon 25 Apr 2022.

"I see, well rest does sound really good right now" Alystair stretches his arms while looking at the trees in the distance "it would be really funny if the fruits did grow on a tree" Alystair laughed at his own remark.

10:49, Today: JMash rolled 14 using 1d20.  perception.

Lerissa had kept her gaze fixed on the ground and had been flicking at her wrist for the majority of the journey; she was much too nervous (despite her neutral expression) to process her surroundings. However, Lerissa finally spoke up to answer the dragonborn's question, "I've taken this job simply because people thought I was right for it, and they told me to take it."

As she wrapped her tail around her waist so the other group members wouldn't trip over it, she allowed herself to look up for a short moment to focus on some birds.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Mon 25 Apr 2022.