The Only Way to Fly

[JadedDM]

"The Ogrelands," Ulster replies. "This place is always in a state of war. Different ogre clans battle for supremacy, each one trying to become the most powerful."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, let's hope that we aren't pulled into one of their wars while we are out here," Imani says.

[Breila]

Babushka stops dead in her tracks.
"Once again, we just rush into something. We have no way of transporting something heavy out of here, and we have no plan. I was all giddy with exitement about being with my own kind again. Let's stop and think NOW. Perhaps it'd be better to go back and fetch Dekker, even if we lose time. What do you think?

[JadedDM]

"We should be able to move it," Locky says confidentially. "Ulster is big and strong, he can carry it!"

"Didn't the gnomes say it weighs 100 kilograms? Unless Ulster is secretly part-giant..." Malika points out. "Perhaps when you buy the thing back from the ogres, you can hire someone to carry it for you."

"Buy?" asks Ulster incredulously. "These are ogres. We can't just waltz up to that fort and ask them for it back. We'll probably need to storm the place."

"It's a fort," Malika states. "You can't just storm a fort; not without an army."

"Perhaps stealth is a better option?" suggests Jerrard. "We can sneak in and steal it. I have a spell that can make things smaller for a short time. I could cast it on the wheel."

[HorizonsDream]

Imani looks to Locky as if the kender has lost her mind before she shakes her head. "We can't go back, not now," she says to Babushka. "So we are going to have to get a little creative. Jerrard, how long will that spell last if you cast it on the wheel?" she asks. "As for how we get into the fort, we are going to have to sneak in. If this area is in constant war, then that fort most likely has some weaknesses that we can use to get in."

[Breila]

"Well then, let's move on." Babushka says resignedly. "And hope that we will get the right ideas at the right time."

She continues to carefully follow the tracks. Is the landscape completely barren, so theat they can be seen moving from far away, or is there cover?
Still unsure about how to do it, Babushka tries to pray to Habbakuk for insight, even though she feels that she has no right to ask it. after all, they have no chance of setting the ogre lands back to a thriving landscape that would please the God...

[JadedDM]

Jerrard, how long will that spell last if you cast it on the wheel?"

"Hmm, just under half an hour," Jerrard replies.

There's plenty of cover between the party's current location and the keep; dying trees, boulders, and shallow, jagged pits in the ground.

Babushka receives no response from Habbakuk, but the reason for his silence can only be speculated on.

[Breila]

As they trudge on, Babushka's face suddenly lits up when they pass a copse of small trees. "I have an idea how we can transport the flywheel. It's a wheel, after all. So we can take one of these saplings and use it as an axle. Then two of us could roll it, instead of having to carry it."

She doesn't know if that idea was an answer from Habbakuk to her prayers or not, but does it matter?

[JadedDM]

"That might actually work," Ulster comments.

Locky shrugs. "We don't need a plan. Let's just go there and see what happens, okay? That's more fun anyway."

[HorizonsDream]

Imani nods in agreement with Babushka. "That could work," she says.

[JadedDM]

The party continues forward, approaching the keep. The keep is situated on the top of a high, steep hill. A dusty, poorly made road leads up to the front gate. The route is lined with victims impaled on pikes. Guards keep watch from atop the stone walls. The guards appear to all be ogres. The outer wall of the keep is at least 40 feet high.

[HorizonsDream]

"We need a way to sneak into that fort without behind seen by the guards," Imani says. "Which means we are going to need someone small to scout the outside wall to find any weaknesses."

[Breila]

"I will try" Babushka volunteers. "Whish me luck. Where do we meet again? And no Locky, you can't come with me. You're too important as healer."

[JadedDM]

"I want to do it, I want to do it!" Locky exclaims. "Jerrard can make me invisible again and I can do the scouting. It will be interesting!"

[Breila]

"As I said, Locky, you're too important to the group. We need your healing skills, not your scouting skills." Babushka's voice is unusually firm towards her friend.