CH 1: You All Meet in a Tavern

[Jenara]

"Indeed, that would be for the best." Arei agrees.

[Nuke]

"Ya. let's go." Val says.

She didn't join this group as a trade mission, but if that works, then so be it, just get it done.

[JadedDM]

With that, Koh'kra leads the way back down the mountains eagerly.

Eating while actually on a mountain trail proves no easy task, as the ground is not level and one must always watch their step. Nevertheless, they manage to eat and drink a little on the way before the storm hits (except for Val, who brought no food with her, and Dahn who brought no water with him).

The storm is fierce but brief, soaking the party thoroughly and slowing down their travels a bit, but otherwise proves no real hindrance. Koh'kra seems to enjoy it, splashing around in any puddles he finds.

By the time they reach the skulls on pikes and the nearby cliff, the rain has stopped. Using Val's rope, the party is able to easily shimmy down it. Koh'kra then tosses the rope down to them and flies down under his own power.

Not far from there, they find the dead jaguar. It is already being picked clean by scavengers.

It takes quite awhile for the party to work their way down the mountains, and so by the time they reach the farmlands and spot Chester's place, it is already late afternoon and they are exhausted from all of that walking.

=========

The party travels through 4 miles of low mountains on a trail in 9 hours, 51 minutes, using up 8 points of movement. They have 4 points remaining. It is now 3:51 PM.

Random encounter check (1d10): 9, no encounters.

Random encounter check (1d10): 6, no encounters.

[Breila]

"Do you think we could ask Chester for a place for the night?" Ouragana asks. "My feet are so sore!"

[JadedDM]

Koh'kra caws to get the party's attention. He then turns, points back to the mountain, and then turns again toward the party and waves.

[Jenara]

"Farewell." Arei says with a raised hand. "Indeed, Chester may be able to help. Grey are you in need of Refreshment?" She asks curiously

[Breila]

"Goodbye!" Ouragana waves cheerfully to Koh'kra.

[xelphyn]

"Hmm, I did forget to bring some water, and after a day like that, I think I'll go for something sweet." Dahn says as he waves to Koh'kra.
"Depending on how much we get out of this, I might even try some gaming tonight, that reminds me, let's not forget to report to the wardens... It's too bad we couldn't find any solid proof of their demise, I mean, I'm sure they'll take our word, but, you never know..."

[Jenara]

"Those Skulls did look rather dwarven." Arei comments, "I forgot to ask, did you find anything when you looked at them Val?"

[Nuke]

"Oh Yea. I forgot, I didn't want to share while the birdmen were about."

She fishes out the trinkets left in the skulls and hands them to Arei.

"I need to go for a bit, I will meet you at the inn later."

She heads down to the sea shore and wades right in before swimming out quite a ways. Sounding a shrill whistle, she treads water for a bit, waiting.

[JadedDM]

Koh'kra waves a second time, then turns back and starts the long journey back toward the mountains. After handing the elf the badges, Val starts off in the opposite direction, heading toward the shoreline.

================

Val hands the two badges to Areilon.

(OOC: Just so you know, the party hasn't returned to town, just the farms outside of town. The ocean is still about two miles away and it will take Val about 40 minutes to walk there.)

[Breila]

Ouragana sighs. "Oh well, I'll somehow manage the last miles to the inn..." she says to no one in particular and walks on.

[Jenara]

Taking the badges she nods to Val, "Thank you, these are proof enough. Their deaths were an accident, we can explain that." She says as she puts them in a pocket. "Come let us head to Chesters Farm. We can explain what happened and get him on board first."

[JadedDM]

The Present, Chester's House

Ouragana, Jocelyn, Areilon and Dahn approach the farmer's house and one of them knocks. Chester opens the door and grins. "Well, well! Ya did it, right? All of them are dead?" He stands aside, to let them enter. "Hey, and there isn't a scratch on ya! They must of been pushovers! So, where are their heads? I wanna use 'em to make scarecrows in my fields!" he cackles with glee.

===========

Forty Minutes from now, the Seashore

After a long walk back, Val approaches the shore and then wades out in the water. Continuing further, she starts to tread water as it gets deeper. Her muscles ache from spending over 10 hours traveling, and having had nothing to eat at all today only makes her weaker. It becomes more and more difficult to keep her head over the water. Just when it seems like her body is going to fail her, and she's going to drown right there and then, Mist, her pet orca appears beneath her and rises up, lifting her back up to the surface.

[Breila]

Ouragana feels a fury rising in her, how could that farmer think killing intelligent beings was the only solution to his problems, but she manages to keep her mouth shut.