Grand Duchy of Adventure
Session 73November 20 - December 2, 2015
The High Road
Moldain 21st Yarthmont
The First Step
The Grey Company stands at the beginning of what looks to be an ancient road that leads up into the rocky and unwelcoming Black Peaks. The sun shines warmly though an occasional cold breeze sneaks past, reminding everyone that they are not just going for a walk through a peaceful meadow. The horses seem well rested and are in cheerful moods, no doubt due to the fact that the food supplies they have been carrying are diminishing rapidly.
After a few minutes of climbing up the old road, the mountains on the left fall away to reveal the Foamfire River down below. The road keeps climbing up through the mountains, in most cases a sheer rock wall stretching up to the right and a steep, rocky slope down to the river on the left. Even at this height, a fall from the road could prove deadly and ahead, the track continues to rise into the peaks.
Remar, Iris and Ree all stand together, looking at the two items picked up from the debris in the bridge tower. “Well, the scroll is definitely magical, but this crystal wand doesn’t look magical at all. It’s finely crafted and feels nice and sturdy, but not magical.” Remar waves it around over his head, pretending to cast a spell, “See, no magic. It does have some etchings in it, though. Here, around this smooth part. They look like little bells or something.”
Meanwhile, Iris carefully examines the scroll tube. She unstoppers it and slides the rolled parchment out slowly. “It looks like a spell scroll, but I’m not familiar with the language, looks old though. I think I’ve seen something like it before, but I can’t read it. Think it might be Taymoran. Some of these symbols on the tube look like something from that civilization.”
“Keep that ‘wand’ safe - it might well be a key rather than a wand, or otherwise situationally useful. Before we go, let me hold it for a moment, to test the sanctity and orientation of the object, if it has any.”
Taking the wand briefly and opening his mind to it, Draven recognizes that it is in fact a holy object of some type. Seeing it in a new light, he tries to make out the symbols, to see if they jog his memory about any divinity in particular, or otherwise indicate an allegiance associated with the wand.
“I think, perhaps, I should hold onto this one, actually. There’s divine provenance to it, though it will take some research and attuning of the object to know for sure.”
Griffin looks at the mages and shrugs. “Iris, why don’t you hang on to the scroll. Draven, keep the wand until we can get back to civilization. Maybe it’ll be worth something there.”
Griffin looks up the ancient road. “Based on the guardians, I think we are the first people to have made it this far in a long time. All new territory. Hopefully those guardians will deter any followers, either gnoll or Golthar. But it’s still uncharted territory. Food’s low, so let’s forage as we go. Standard operating procedures, folks. I’ll take point.” Griffin readies his crossbow and kicks Firewild into a canter.
“I’ll take up the rear this time. We’ll want to make the best time we can, given our limited resources. It’ll be a balancing act either way.”
Iris beams at Griffin. “Oh, golly. I get to hold the scroll! Wait, I hope that didn't sound sarcastic.” She briefly looks to Griffin in concern, but then turns away in embarrassment realizing that nobody else thought to recognize her response as sarcasm. She can’t help but continue to grin, though -- this was what she left her home for.
Draven grins at Iris’s barely suppressed glee. “When we have the time for it, you’ll have to tell me about this scroll. Perhaps between us, with our disparate training and scholarship, can solve the riddle of the thing.”
The Company makes good time up along the mountain trail. Marcel and Ree seem a bit overly tired, but that is the way of the trail sometimes. Forage along the trail is quite sparse and animals and birds are quite infrequent.
The Stream
After about an hour on the trail, a wide stream cuts through the rock ahead of the Company. The water flows down the mountainside to the right and splashes across the narrow trail to become a waterfall, cascading down to the left, eventually splashing to the Foamfire River far below. The crossing looks quite treacherous. The group makes a quick study of the scene and thinks that the horses will be at a risk of falling if care is not given to their crossing. It is estimated that it will take about 5 minutes per horse to cross. Ideally each horse could be ridden across slowly, but moving slower, or leading the horse might make it easier.
 |
| A dangerous crossing. |
“Griffin, you still have your ropes? I think I, of any of us honestly, can pave the way for the horses, and give us something extra to keep everyone on the straight and narrow,” says Draven.
Griffin looks quizzically at the young priest, but quickly pulls out his climbing gear. “Here you go, brother. What do you have in mind?”
Iris looks over to Draven and Griffin, and then back to the stream. None of her spells seem to be useful here - water is the crux of the matter, not fire, and direction or distance do not seem to be a concern. She ponders the situation, surveying the area around for any ideas.
Griffin eyes the crossing. It seemed that Brother Draven had a handle on this, so he turns his thoughts to other things. He realizes that the crossing would be the perfect time for an ambush, and tried to assess their options to deal with that.
Iris studies the water hazard in front of the Company, trying to get an idea of the lay of the land beneath the rushing water. As Draven makes his way across with one end of the rope, she gets a better idea of what they are dealing with and calls out some advice to the others, pointing out some tricky spots and suggesting that the horses be led in a specific, zig-zag path across when the time comes.
Meanwhile, Griffin surveys the surrounding area, picking out quite a few potential areas that could provide ample ambush spots both above on the cliffs to the right and a few places down below on the left that could possibly be hiding places as well. The young Thyatian realizes that their biggest problem here will be time. The packed horses should be able to be ridden over in about 5 minutes each, but that still will take over a half an hour. Dismounting and leading the horses one by one will add a little bit to this time but unloading the horses and leading them over will at least double the time needed. He tries to calculate the odds of danger from rushing across verses taking their time and being careful but he just cannot decide which is worth it.
Draven makes it to the other side of the water and tries securing his end of the rope to a small, stunted tree growing out of a crack in the cliff wall to the right. He leans against his rope, hoping to give it some additional support and signals to the others that this side is as secure as he can make it.
Iris will aid the crossing of the horses by carefully using some of her magic to soothe the animals, limiting herself so she does not push herself into exhaustion. She desperately hopes that this will make things easier.
As the plans for the horse crossing gets completed, Stephan steps up and says, “I’ll lead Ruby over first. I think I’ll walk her, were not in that much of a hurry are we?” He carefully steps into the flowing water, pulling the lead of his mount close behind him. The two take their time and easily make it to the far side in about 8 minutes. He turns and waves back, signaling for the next to come.
Remar hops up and says, “Well, hell, that didn’t look to hard. I’ll go next.” He urges his mount, Alpha, forward, speaking to her quietly as he attempts to ride her across. He keeps Draven’s safety line tucked under his arm as he directs his horse across the watery stretch of road.
Remar seems to be pushing his horse a little too quickly and he tries forcing her to take steps she does not want to, but in the end, they make it safely to the other side and join Stephan and Draven.
Marcel volunteers to go next. After seeing Remar’s struggle with his mount while riding, he decides to take it on foot and lead Roxanne. He grabs the safety line and leads his horse to the water. She dips her head and takes a long gulp of water before following him across. They pick their way carefully and shortly they are across, waving to the others to follow.
Ree looks around and shrugs as she decides she will go next. “What are we going to do about Draven’s horse? Try to take two at once, let him cross on his own or send someone back for it? I can do that once I get Chai safely over.” Without waiting for a reply, she urges her mount forward, attempting to ride her horse across the dangerous passage. Within five minutes, they are on the far side. Only Griffin and Iris remain on this side with their horses and Mr. Softie, Draven’s mount.
The safety line is also tied around a rock outcropping on this side of the water hazard. It seems to have been working ok, though no one has really had to use it yet and it does require a person leaning and pulling on it from both sides to provide the right angle and tension for it to be helpful. Unless someone else comes back over for the last mount, it will have to be untied and not utilized for the final trip.
Iris is happy to see that the horses have not been upset or worried at all about making the crossing, no doubt because they do not really understand the consequences of falling. To them, it just appears to be any normal stream that they are used to crossing any given day.
Griffin clears his throat to say something to Iris when sound and movement from above catches his attention. He turns and looks, raising his loaded crossbow in time to see a large dark shape plummeting down toward him. The motion and sound of the object suggests something flying at him and he fires his crossbow at it before stepping aside. A loud squawk can be heard and feathers fly as a large, fat bird crashes down upon the trail near where he had been standing. The bird, a turkey by the looks of it, skitters across the trail then tries again to lift off before plummeting over the edge of the trail. Everyone watches as the bird bounces, feathers flying, from rock to rock until it disappears in the distance below.
Griffin continues to be anxious. As soon as the turkey business is over, he looks at Iris and nods his head to the far side. “Let’s send Mr. Softie across, then you follow. I’ll be right on your tail. I don’t like being separated from the others for so long. We’re sitting ducks, or turkeys maybe, here on this ledge of a road!”
Iris nods and decides to use her magic to help out Mr. Softie on his solo trek across the top of the waterfall. She pulls his lead close and speaks some magical words, waving her hands above the horse’s head then pats his mane and urges him forward. She watches anxiously as the horse cautiously picks its path across. After several minutes, he reaches the other side. Draven takes his lead and presses his face into the horse’s neck.
Iris lets out a sigh of relief then leans down and speaks into the ear of her mount, Duke. “Alright, boy, let’s do this. We don’t need any magic, do we? We can make it across, right? Just you and me. Let’s go!” She leans forward and Duke takes a few steps into the water.
Almost immediately, Iris starts to panic. Duke is not following her commands and getting upset. He steps onto a loose rock and it gives under his weight. The horse starts to panic and hops forward. Iris holds on for dear life and tries to calm her mount but it does not work. Duke slides a bit then rears back and tries to take a few steps back.
Not willing to risk her mount, nor herself, Iris drops the reins and quickly begins chanting the words she knows that will calm the scared horse carrying her. Almost even before she finishes the words, she feels Duke relax beneath her. He slows and then stops, bending his head down to take a loud slurp of water. Iris stifles a chuckle as she looks off to her left. Just a few feet further the water rushes over the rocky edge of the ancient Hutaakan road and crashes down a steep, rocky wall to join the Foamfire River far below.
She picks up the reins again but does not direct her mount forward. Instead, she speaks quietly to him, “Whenever you’re ready, Duke. Take your time.” The horse throws its head back and lets out a playful snort then begins to move again. Soon, Duke and Iris are safely on the far side of the wide stream. She wipes the sweat from her brow and kisses Duke on the back of the head. She turns to wave to Griffin and sees that he has already untied the safety rope and is making his way across. Draven and Stephan are slowly taking in the slack as their companion and his horse make their way across.
Griffin and Firewild are nearly to the other side when a slick rock causes a misstep. Griffin’s stomach drops as his horse lunges forward, braying loudly. Fearing for a fall, Griffin leaps off the horse’s saddle and yanks the reins away from the precipice a few yards away. The mountain water is cold, nearly freezing as it rushes past his legs, soaking him all the way to his seat. Fortunately, the horse does not fall over, it just sits there, leaning forward, on one knee in the water. It bleats and looks at Griffin with pain in its eyes. As he approaches, Griffin can see blood in the water. It looks as if Firewild has cut himself on a jagged rock. He helps the horse forward and the beast limps weakly to the far side. The company is finally past this obstacle, though not all made it unscathed.
Cast of Characters:
Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne JamtgaardDraven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer
Iris Varda, a Thyatian explorer and historian searching for answers and adventure guided by +Alex Safatli
and +Jason Woollard as The DM
Precis - The Grey Company enters the Black Peaks, following an ancient Hutaakan roadway in search of some long lost treasure. What they find is a difficult hike along a dangerous mountain river valley.
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