SullyB74 wrote:

Iron Ranger wrote:

SullyB74 wrote:

Tilak spins, weaapon and shield in hand. "Hark! Who goes there?!" He looks back at his companions. "Frienda, we may have unwanted company soon. Gird thyselves!"

Immediate silence.
 

Tillak moves toward the sound,readying a spell in his head as he does.

[Aha! Been waiting to ask this one for a while----Which spell?]

SullyB74 wrote:

Shatter!!! 👿👹

Tillak creeps forward, his leather boots nearly silent on the silky needles dropped from the trees.  His shield's strap creaks but an ever tightened grip silences it. The animal trail twists between the dense wood. Tillak peers ahead then he sees it. A man, more beast than man, but a figure squating low behind a huge fallen log. His wild eyes lock with Tillak's and slowly he brings a finger up to his lips. He glances hard left, then waves his free hand, beckoning the warlock forward.

Gundrabu looks in the canoe for oars or poles with which to force/press his canoe up to Kondor’s. If there are none, he searches the water all about for a fallen stout branch or uprooted young tree that might serve the purpose. Gundrabu is loath to get out and wade through the chill water, but he will do so, if need be. After all, he still wears the Ring of Warmth.

Gundrabu experimentally removes that silver ring from his other hand.

SullyB74 wrote:

Tillak spares a glance over his shoulder to see if his companions have followed him or if there is someone creeping up behind him. Then, he moves forward.

The coast is clear. The viking must still sleep, and the barbarian must be still too wounded to speak or follow.
Tillak inches forward. The man crouching nods and waves again, pointing his path, as he turns and creeps quietly down the trail.

Eirvit wrote:

Iron Ranger wrote:

Eirvit wrote:

Gundrabu experimentally removes that silver ring from his other hand.

It's stuck.
 

Hm. I suppose the ring exudes a magic-dampening field. I wonder if it will interfere with my own prayers to Khalk-xu. I'll have to cut off my finger. Perhaps Kondor will help me.

Gundrabu uses the short oar to try to push his canoe alongside Kondor's.
 

Though short (and seemingly designed for this shallow stream) the oar easily touches the bar giving plenty of leverage to backpedal against he gentle current to where Kondor's canoe is stuck. The sudden jolt of collision should wake the brute...

SullyB74 wrote:

Tillak moves closer to the man. Does he recognize him?

Tillak follows the "man", even though he doesn't recognize him from Adam, through the thin trees. Suddenly the stranger stops and crouches low at what appears to be a steep, sudden drop off, motioning to the warlock to do the same and join him at the edge in complete silence.

Last edited by Iron Ranger (3/25/2022 7:05 pm)

SullyB74 wrote:

Tillak follows suit.

Tillak squats silently next to the man more beast than man, its gamey stench now filling his nostrils. The stranger again motions silence with a finger to lips, then the warlock follows its gaze over the edge and down upon a camp of scores of similar beastmen - these though wearing not rank loincloths but  matched uniforms and brandishing steel on their belts. There must be 3 or 4 platoons, for Tillak loses count. Several groups tend fires spitted with dozens of boar. Others in regimented groups near the tents. Yet others at large pontoons moored at a large flowing river. The breeze flowing down the steep drop keeps the delicious smokes and their din at bay.
The man more beast than man whispers in guttural common, his rank breath yet worse than his stench, "Bad beast."

[Tillak +3000 XP for unbelievable blind trust.]

Rather than colliding with Kondor’s canoe, Gundrabu brings himself up short, then raps the other canoe’s gunwale with his paddle to wake his friend.

Kondor snorts awake!

d10: 9!