002-A The Scouting Party - Finding the Path

[The Perilous Dreamer]

OOC: The Scouting Party made up of:
Hearne Scout/Hunter
Holter Scout/Hunter
Sor - FM
Biswil - Elf M-U/FM
Thomas - Cleric
will proceed forward in this thread.

arjen, hengest, The Semi-Retired Gamer, JMiskimen - just letting each of you know of the changes in the threads.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Hearne calls the little group together and lets you know they are ready to start out. In a few minutes you are following the trail away from camp. Holter says that we are going to try to stay with the trail as long as it follows the stream, but then we will have to see what happens. He thinks it will not be far to a river, a river that is rumored to run roughly southwest and according to the rumor the dungeons we seek are on the far side of the river.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

For the next hour you walk at a good pace and the trail follows along within sight if the stream, but after an hour the trail turns away to the south. Trees become more sparse the direction the trail takes, but the brush is becoming denser along each side of the stream.

The stream is about 20 feet wide with a graveled bottom, most of the time it is about ankle deep, but here and there a sizable pools as deep as 10 feet and up to 100 feet in length, although usually shallow along one side, though not always.

Holter says we should try to follow the stream bed and see how that works out.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

You travel along for several hours with a few detours here and there to go around an area that cannot be waded and when the sun is overhead Hearne calls a halt. You take a break and as you chew on some meat and hard biscuits you all take stock of where you are. Holter suggests that you walk away from the stream in both directions to see what the terrain is like and look for trails. You spend a couple of hours and on the north side of the stream you find a trail that is fairly well-traveled. It runs along the stream and so you decide to follow it, you take note that it is not wide enough for the wagon to pass.

You follow it for three more hours and the land and stream start to slope down, as you travel you begin to hear a loud noise, a little further and Hearne says that is a waterfall.

When you come out at the river, the stream falls away over 100 feet into the river, the river at this point is a couple of hundred or so feet wide and the water looks like it might be pretty deep. A little was upstream you see the real source of the noise as a very high waterfall divides the river into upper and lower sections. An amazing volume of water is spilling over the falls.

Hearne shakes his head and says, "I don't think we will find a crossing downstream, somewhere above those falls perhaps we can find a crossing, what do you think?"

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Thomas takes in the beauty of the waterfall and the surround area for a brief moment.

Thomas replies, "Agreed. It looks like bringing the wagon much further is either going to be challenging or demand much time.".

Pausing a brief moment to turn towards the others, Thomas asks, "While we're stopped does anyone require some sort of relief from their pains? I don't have a high level of training yet but I do have a small supply of balms and salves that may offer some relief.".

[hengest]

OOC: We did not bring and then abandon the wagon, right? This is just a note that if we did have the wagon here, it wouldn't be able to go down this trail. Correct?

OOC: If the stream falls over a hundred feet into the river, and there's another waterfall, how much higher does that other waterfall look to be?

Sor gazes at the waterfalls, shakes his head, and admits he has no idea. "Maybe we could cross under the falls somehow? All that water is spilling over something, maybe we could creep by behind it?"

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 8:24:12 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Thomas takes in the beauty of the waterfall and the surround area for a brief moment.

Thomas replies, "Agreed. It looks like bringing the wagon much further is either going to be challenging or demand much time.".

Pausing a brief moment to turn towards the others, Thomas asks, "While we're stopped does anyone require some sort of relief from their pains? I don't have a high level of training yet but I do have a small supply of balms and salves that may offer some relief.".

Both Hearne and Holter agree that getting the wagon and the party across the river is going to be a challenge. Hearne muses, "If only we had a boat." They both indicate they are fine, their feet are we hardened for the walking, but all of you need to take care of your feet. Don't allow a blister to go uncared for.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 8:43:25 GMT -5 hengest said:

OOC: We did not bring and then abandon the wagon, right? This is just a note that if we did have the wagon here, it wouldn't be able to go down this trail. Correct?

OOC: If the stream falls over a hundred feet into the river, and there's another waterfall, how much higher does that other waterfall look to be?

Sor gazes at the waterfalls, shakes his head, and admits he has no idea. "Maybe we could cross under the falls somehow? All that water is spilling over something, maybe we could creep by behind it?"

OOC: The wagon is at the camp. The waterfall on the river itself is upstream of where this stream enters the river with a much higher elevation. It falls nearly 300 feet, think Niagara Falls

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Mar 24, 2024 13:23:35 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Mar 24, 2024 8:24:12 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Thomas takes in the beauty of the waterfall and the surround area for a brief moment.

Thomas replies, "Agreed. It looks like bringing the wagon much further is either going to be challenging or demand much time.".

Pausing a brief moment to turn towards the others, Thomas asks, "While we're stopped does anyone require some sort of relief from their pains? I don't have a high level of training yet but I do have a small supply of balms and salves that may offer some relief.".

Both Hearne and Holter agree that getting the wagon and the party across the river is going to be a challenge. Hearne muses, "If only we had a boat." They both indicate they are fine, their feet are we hardened for the walking, but all of you need to take care of your feet. Don't allow a blister to go uncared for.

"Friends, those are wise words.  I emphasize again.  If anyone needs extra assistance I am here.  I can help with your feet if you need it.  I know wrapping techniques and I have salve.".  Thomas waits for someone to ask before continuing.

"Hearne, Holter.  You guys would know better than me but will a raft work?  Or is the water too deep to roll some timber in there on its' side and lay some planks across them?  I'm just throwing out ideas.  Either one may require way more time and resources than we have available.".  Thomas waits with an unknowing glance in this case.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 13:33:03 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Mar 24, 2024 13:23:35 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Both Hearne and Holter agree that getting the wagon and the party across the river is going to be a challenge. Hearne muses, "If only we had a boat." They both indicate they are fine, their feet are we hardened for the walking, but all of you need to take care of your feet. Don't allow a blister to go uncared for.

"Friends, those are wise words.  I emphasize again.  If anyone needs extra assistance I am here.  I can help with your feet if you need it.  I know wrapping techniques and I have salve.".  Thomas waits for someone to ask before continuing.

"Hearne, Holter.  You guys would know better than me but will a raft work?  Or is the water too deep to roll some timber in there on its' side and lay some planks across them?  I'm just throwing out ideas.  Either one may require way more time and resources than we have available.".  Thomas waits with an unknowing glance in this case.

Hearne looks at Thomas and the others, then says, "I hadn't thought of a raft, but that would work, we will need to descend to the river see what kind of trees are available, there may even be a lot of wood washed up along the shore. As long as we can find wood that floats well in the water... We need to know how deep the river is too, to use a raft, we need to be able to cut poles that are long enough to push against the river bottom. Holter and I can both swim, can the rest of you swim? 

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Mar 24, 2024 13:39:40 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Mar 24, 2024 13:33:03 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

"Friends, those are wise words.  I emphasize again.  If anyone needs extra assistance I am here.  I can help with your feet if you need it.  I know wrapping techniques and I have salve.".  Thomas waits for someone to ask before continuing.

"Hearne, Holter.  You guys would know better than me but will a raft work?  Or is the water too deep to roll some timber in there on its' side and lay some planks across them?  I'm just throwing out ideas.  Either one may require way more time and resources than we have available.".  Thomas waits with an unknowing glance in this case.

Hearne looks at Thomas and the others, then says, "I hadn't thought of a raft, but that would work, we will need to descend to the river see what kind of trees are available, there may even be a lot of wood washed up along the shore. As long as we can find wood that floats well in the water... We need to know how deep the river is too, to use a raft, we need to be able to cut poles that are long enough to push against the river bottom. Holter and I can both swim, can the rest of you swim? 

Thomas shakes his head slightly up and down saying, "Oh yes!  My brother and I spent many days with our friends fishing and swimming.  I pretty much know nothing of raft making but I'm sure I can help with getting wood.".

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

OOC: I may be silent for a bit if the responses continue.  I woke up at 2 am and I need a nap. 

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 13:48:45 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Mar 24, 2024 13:39:40 GMT -5 The Perilous Dreamer said:

Hearne looks at Thomas and the others, then says, "I hadn't thought of a raft, but that would work, we will need to descend to the river see what kind of trees are available, there may even be a lot of wood washed up along the shore. As long as we can find wood that floats well in the water... We need to know how deep the river is too, to use a raft, we need to be able to cut poles that are long enough to push against the river bottom. Holter and I can both swim, can the rest of you swim? 

Thomas shakes his head slightly up and down saying, "Oh yes!  My brother and I spent many days with our friends fishing and swimming.  I pretty much know nothing of raft making but I'm sure I can help with getting wood.".

Hearne says, "Well let's find a way down see what we find. We need to be careful though, there could be a people, human or otherwise living along the river."

[hengest]

Sor replies, "Oh, I can swim. I don't much wish to, but I can, and will if I have to."

He pauses, then goes on: "One of us could leave his gear here, swim across, and do a little scouting on the far side, no?"

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 14:43:35 GMT -5 hengest said:

Sor replies, "Oh, I can swim. I don't much wish to, but I can, and will if I have to."

He pauses, then goes on: "One of us could leave his gear here, swim across, and do a little scouting on the far side, no?"

OOC: I don't want to get too far ahead of letting Biswil join in.

Holder says, "Let's see about this side and then we can decide the best way to proceed. Who knows what we mind find once we get to where we can see this bank of the river. Is we do swim the river, at least two of us should go."

[hengest]

OOC: Aha, okay, I wasn't thinking.

Sor sits down and looks across the river. "That's right, yes. It would be unwise to go alone." He seems to have thought of something that he doesn't mention. "So no one here has been on the other side?" He takes off his footwear to check his feet, although they were in perfect shape just recently.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 24, 2024 18:37:43 GMT -5 hengest said:

OOC: Aha, okay, I wasn't thinking.

Sor sits down and looks across the river. "That's right, yes. It would be unwise to go alone." He seems to have thought of something that he doesn't mention. "So no one here has been on the other side?" He takes off his footwear to check his feet, although they were in perfect shape just recently.

Hearne says, "Holter and I had only been a little beyond the current camp site. We have been out about that distance as a radius around the town, so this is all new territory for us, that is why we needed to scout to figure out where to go with the wagon. Once we find a crossing, we will need to work on finding a path for the wagon and party. It will likely double or triple the distance we have covered today."

[hengest]

Sor continues examining his feet, checking for blisters, cracks, or other incipient problems, as he listens to Hearne.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

You travel along the top of the cliff towards the southwest and come to a place with a trail leading down. It winds and twists back and forth through the brush as you make your way down. At one point you can see the full width of the river and on the opposite shore you see boats drawn up as a dock and beyond that above a high water mark you see a palisaded village. At the moment you do not see any of the occupants of said village.

What do you want to do?

[hengest]

OOC: What time of day is it?

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 26, 2024 15:24:27 GMT -5 hengest said:

OOC: What time of day is it?

OOC: A couple of hours past noontime.

[hengest]

Sor says we should get out of sight and stay out of sight, fast!

[arjen]

Sorry for being AWOL, again: life work and family and all that

Biswil tries to find a tree to climb that would give a better view of the village while still keeping out of sight.

BISWIL: whoever lives in that village; they are bound to venture to this side of the stream, judging by the boats; keep an eye out for tracks or paths on this side of the river.

[hengest]

Sor briefly thinks about stealing a boat, then thinks they would do better to meet someone and ask or trade to use one for a few trips...

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 27, 2024 16:23:22 GMT -5 arjen said:

Sorry for being AWOL, again: life work and family and all that

Biswil tries to find a tree to climb that would give a better view of the village while still keeping out of sight.

BISWIL: whoever lives in that village; they are bound to venture to this side of the stream, judging by the boats; keep an eye out for tracks or paths on this side of the river.

OOC: we all have lives, this is for fun, but our lives are the real deal.

Biswil is able to climb up into a tree for a better vantage point and after a while he sees a few creatures walking around, he has heard of them, but never seen one before. He thinks to himself, "So that is an orc village!"

You can't see the riverbank on this side of the river.

What do you tell the rest of your party? Do you do anything else before climbing down?

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Thomas is intrigued by Biswil climbing up the tree.

Thomas wonders if Biswil can see anything that may be of help in our journey.

Thomas walks over to the tree to ask about his findings.

[The Perilous Dreamer]

Mar 29, 2024 17:20:19 GMT -5 The Semi-Retired Gamer said:

Thomas is intrigued by Biswil climbing up the tree.

Thomas wonders if Biswil can see anything that may be of help in our journey.

Thomas walks over to the tree to ask about his findings.

Biswil (arjen) hears Thomas asking what he sees.

[arjen]

Sorry, somehow internet ate my Saturday response

Biswil: Bad news, it's orcs and they are usually not friendly. Keep hidden, even on this side of the river, as there might be sentries or hunting parties about.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Thomas: Bad news already?! Hopefully, we can avoid any unnecessary conflict. Is there a large group?

[hengest]

"Orcs? True orcs?" Sor sounds desparing and intrigued at the same time. "Is it truly so?"