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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 370
(3/6/03 4:31 pm)
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Re: A path A path
"Perhaps we can carry him brother Kezib? Then he would be the first weilder of the heavy cavalry flail. Although with you on one side and me on the other, I'm afraid his horse will do nothing but run in circles!" he laughs.
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1158
(3/6/03 4:39 pm)
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Cliffs
Marching on from their mid-day respite, the travellers make their way briskly through the Braithvale. It is often observed, even by the sure-footed Merek Lek, that it would be very easy to become lost in the tangled, old growth forest without a competent guide. The rolling hills, scattered boulders and thick underbrush of the Braithvale make maintaining one's orientation very difficult.
Several hours before dusk the forested hills give way to the more precipitous rise of the first tier of rocky cliffs that form the eastern wall of the Turgut mountain range. Massive boulders rise up from the forest forming a rampart several hundred feet high, cut in dozens of places by deep, rugged breaches. It is an impressive natural formation, and the countless ledges and trails along the cliffs, each covered in scrub vegetation and wild grass, make the whole panorama look like an immense suspended garden.
Without pausing, Kildeer plunges into a gap in the cliffs, dark with afternoon shadow. The passage is narrow, and elicits feelings of claustrophobia as the trail disappears into darkness and the cliff walls rise high above. The nimble and forest-wise Kildeer takes a hard right at some point ahead and the other dwarves follow closely behind. There the rock is cut into dozens of natural, craggy steps that rise between two mountainous slabs of granite.
Harek calls back, "lean to the right. There's a bit of a drop on the left."
Good advice. The irregular steps are close to the right hand wall of stone, but on the left there are six feet of open air to the next giant slab. The humans in the group quickly lose a sense for how deep the crevasse is as the steps rise slowly from the forest floor, but the elves assure them that they don't want to know.
Finally the group emerges into daylight again, or at least the shadow of the mountain as the sun begins its descent below the western horizon. A wide ledge, thick with shrubbery clinging to the pocket of fertile soil, extends out to the north. To the west another impossibly large slab of grey stone rises above, and partially overhangs, the ledge. East: two hundred feet straight down.
"We'll camp here," Kildeer declares, and claims a spot at the back of the ledge.
Edited by: Jubilex at: 3/6/03 1:46:40 pm
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mikedobbs
Yimris
Posts: 137
(3/6/03 5:04 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
Yimris really doesn't trust such an obvious shelter and immediately start searching the surrounding area for tracks and signs that it's frequented by the more dangerous predators.
[ Wilderness Lore 7: Search 9 ]
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 252
(3/6/03 5:12 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
Kezib will quickly claim a spot near Kildeer.
Kezib will say a quick prayer to Yelm and grab some rations from his pack and eat.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 322
(3/6/03 5:13 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
Sangraal moves to a spot under the overhang and sets down his weapon. Shrugging off his pack, he removes his helm and places it at the foot of his pack.
"Yelm help me, that weapon is as much a trial to carry as it is to listen to your constant babbling Kezib. Throwing you or the flail over that edge " he points to the eastern ledge " could prove to be very statifying."
Producing a pear, saved from the fruit purchased when leaving Tunlura, he tosses it to Kezib.
" Maybe this will keep you quite for a bit." Trading banter as old friends do, Sangraal unties the leather cord securing his bedroll and winter blanket to his pack. Neatly unrolling both he sets up camp as close to cover as posssible to serve as a windbreak.
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 3/6/03 2:18:31 pm
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Meneloss
Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 400
(3/6/03 5:30 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
Meneloss adresses Killdeer, as well as Atan: "Up here a fire could be seen from afar. Maybe it is wise we trust to our warm clothes this eve." Meneloss then sets his bedroll under the ledge as well. He digs into his pack for some more smoked Ham and hard cheese. He props himself on his pack as a makeshift pillow. Munching his trail food, Meneloss announces to whomever will listen :"I'll take the second watch tonight. Ruglan are you up for the task as well?" Meneloss chuckles at his unintentional pun.
Edited by: Meneloss at: 3/6/03 2:30:54 pm
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Kenner
Draxim
Posts: 371
(3/6/03 5:48 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
Draxim sets himself a spot and begins a determined assault on a boiled egg, and some cheese.
"How did we do?" he asks Kildeer.
"I'll take the first watch. I am a little difficult to awaken once I get into my slumber."
He renews his appreciation of Ruglan's sheild. He pulls out the mini-anvil and starts banging on Mortimer the Greedy's hated visage staring back from the Moagaran silver head he has plucked from his pouch.
Edited by: Kenner at: 3/6/03 2:54:50 pm
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doggius
Kezib Ahitub
Posts: 253
(3/6/03 5:55 pm)
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Re: Cliffs
With lightning quick reflexes Kezib catches the pear. With a sly smile, Kezib says "You were the one who chose to bear this monstrosity. You shall not get any sympathy from me"
Kezib ends the sentence with a hearty laugh, but aware of his surroundings he attempts to keep it quiet as to not reveal their position to the chaotic beasts that may be roaming in that relm.
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Meneloss
Meneloss Erednim
Posts: 402
(3/6/03 6:07 pm)
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Re: Cliffs noise and fire
Meneloss, at the first whacks of Draxim's hammer upon the small jewler's anvil, sits upright and asks "My good friend, why don't you work on a quieter aspect of your noble craft? Could you not carve a form for a mold instead of sending that staccato signal to every beast within earshot?"
The elf shakes his head at his crafty friends lack of tact.
Edited by: Meneloss at: 3/6/03 3:11:05 pm
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1159
(3/6/03 6:19 pm)
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Re: Cliffs noise and fire
Yimris can find no trace of any large animal tracks on the ledge, though mountain lions are not uncommon along the Turgut range.
Kildeer nods. "No fire tonight. Stay close to each other and away from the edge."
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 305
(3/6/03 6:26 pm)
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Re: Cliffs noise and fire
"No fire means you're worried about us being seen," says Madragar, "and that means it's not the four-footed sort of trouble you expect," he says. "Just how close to Old Kurlew are we?"
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1160
(3/6/03 6:30 pm)
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Re: Cliffs noise and fire
"A few miles, but no one from the top," Kildeer points up, "can see us down here. A fire, well, anyone out in the Braithvale could see that. Just man tracks I found on the journey, but it doesn't mean there aren't broo about."
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Halle Dunn
Atan Finith Ring
Posts: 322
(3/6/03 8:44 pm)
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I saw this in K2
Atan looks around their camping spot and is apparently satisfied with Kildeer's choice for he drops his pack and arranges his bedroll. Taking the winter blanket he folds it and, while kneeling, carefully inserts it into his bedroll for additional padding and insulation.
At the first strike of the anvil his head jerks alarmingly towards the perpetrator, but upon hearing Meneloss' suggestion to Draxim, he holds his own rebuke.
Sitting upon his bedroll, legs crossed, waterskin in his lap, he fishs out of his pack some dried meat and bread for dinner. "I'll take the third watch.", he says outloud to no one in particular. He then turns his head to looks at Yimris and gives him a sarcastic thumbs up. The implication being that Atan wants to know if Yimris will join him on the watch.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 323
(3/6/03 9:06 pm)
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I saw this in Cliff Hanger...
Calling out softly so as not to echo across the valley,
"Aye, the dawn watch.." Sangraals voice trails off at the first clanging of Draxims hammer followed quickly by Meneloss's polite rebuke.
As the hammer falls silent Sangraal watches as Atan stuffs his bedroll with his wool blanket and immediately proceeds to copy the rangers actions. Once that is finished he digs through his pack to produce wool mittens, a rough brown wool cloak and a supple leather hat lined with what looks like rabbits fur.
Settling the hat over his rapidly cooling head Sangraal drops down onto his bedroll and produces a fine loaf of porkbread.
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 3/6/03 6:10:02 pm
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 306
(3/7/03 12:27 am)
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Bedding Down
[I don't think the words 'fine' and 'porkbread' can be used in the same sentence.]
Madragar dons boots, cloak and gloves lined with soft rabbit fur. He knows little about the hardships of the wilderness, but he learns quickly and follows the example of others to keep himself warm. He knows the night will be bitter on the exposed moutainside without a fire.
He marvels at the stars for awhile, recalling the images of the constellations and the legends told by fishermen of the gods and monsters who fished the celestial sea. Wondering if Vala was looking at the same stars.
With a start, he realizes that he has made no preparations for Kyethe, his raven. He cannot keep the poor thing warm the way Meneloss can his serpent companion. Putting his mind to the problem, he thinks of the leaf-lined hollows of trees near the Tower, and comes up with a plan. His feet will be warm enough in his bedroll. He sets a fur-lined boot on its side near his head.
"You must roost in there for the night, my friend," he tells the intelligent bird in simple Moagaran. "And you must tell me if it is unbearable. I will bear you away, or reach another solution if I must."
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 324
(3/7/03 9:08 am)
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Re: Bedding Down
Hearing Madragars worry for his pets ability to weather the night on the barren mountainside; Sangraal suggests that Madragar send the bird over to him. Sangraal raises an arm to serve as a perch on which to land.
"Yelm embued light upon the world,
with that brought the warmth of the summer sun,
and his children were content..." Sangraal speaks the words with practiced ease.
" Come winged one." He motions offering a piece of his wonderful porkbread to the crow.
[OOC: Endure Elements - cold duration 24 hours on Madragars familiar if it flies over to him and lands on his arm]
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 3/7/03 6:11:46 am
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1161
(3/7/03 9:10 am)
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Re: Bedding Down
Kyethe stares at Sangraal for a moment, looks at Madragar, then dives into the wizard's boot.
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yucatanyeti
Sangraal
Posts: 325
(3/7/03 9:17 am)
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Re: Bedding Down
Somewhat dismayed at the crows willingness to suffer the stench of Madragars foot odor Sangraal lowers his arm and pops the offered porkbread into his mouth.
Swallowing the delicious morsel Sangraal unrolls his prayer mat and prepares for the evening ritual of DaysEnd. He begins the preperations with a solomn entreaty to Yelm to safeguard him against the chill of night.
[OOC: Endure Elements: cold - on himself 24 hours]
*GM note*
Edited by: yucatanyeti at: 3/7/03 6:30:53 am
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Jubilex
The Faceless Lord of Chaos
Posts: 1163
(3/7/03 9:48 am)
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Re: Bedding Down
Huddled against the back of the ledge, the traveller's take their evening meal as they watch the long shadow of the mountains race east across the landscape. The Rhevas river can be seen winding its way north and south, and the tip of Lanternkeep just peeks above the treeline in the distance.
Conversation is sparse, and as the evening chill comes upon them the travellers begin to feel the fatigue of the long day's march through the Braithvale. One by one they drift into the half-death of sleep with only the gleam of stars and the tiny orange glow of Lanternkeep visible in the deep darkness.
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Tarondor
Madragar
Posts: 307
(3/7/03 9:54 am)
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Re: Bedding Down
With a laugh, Madragar says "Many thanks, Sangraal. Perhaps after a night in the boot, Kyethe will be more sanguine about your touch tomorrow eve."
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