Hard mode Pathfinder

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya's peals of laughter bounce off the trees. "Good one Air!" She slows her laughter into giggles once more and hears the entrance to the next joke. Her grin widens to a smirk. "Oh I dunno... Lean beef?" She cackles. "Oh, oh! Air! What do you call a cow with a hat?"

[Nathan-the-Anon]

"I thought that too! But I've been educated by the children on the streets! The answer is apparently always, 'Your Mom!' How quaint, right?"
Airmid chuckles and interrupts, "Wait, wait. What do you call a one legged cow?"

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya's laughter dies, her smile wanes. She catches herself and puts it back in place, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. She forces out a chuckle "Yes, how quaint..." she clears her throat "what do you call a one legged cow?"

[Nathan-the-Anon]

"A steak!"
A smile spreads across Airmid's face, "Ok ok, last one...."
She stares deep into Zetaya's eyes, "What...... do you call.... a four.... legged cow?"

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya chuckles and then looks at Airmid confused. "Um...a cow? "

[Aramtyth]

Clarity returns to camp, making sure every now and then that she isn't being followed on the way back.

When she returns she keeps her voice low.

"Friends; this situation has potential to be more dire than we thought. I came upon a small band of their scouts and, like Hyensum said, they are a bit strange looking. They have the height of regular orcs, but are very thin and weak looking compared to others of their kind. The most disheartening news comes from their ally. It was a troll that had brands on it's skin that were in very familiar patterns. The troll was not bound by anything to keep it from attacking and, in fact, the orcs around it didn't seem to be even wary of it as they walked together." Clarity frowns a bit and looks down slightly in contemplation before continuing, "The vegetation and earth around them seemed to dread their proximity as plants wilted at their very passing."
She pauses for a moment, as if to collect her thoughts and then continues, "Speculation on this quandary from me personally:1. (she holds up a finger) These are not just orcs but, potentially, a type of hybrid through magical experimentation as the troll with the same markings would suggest magical involvement. 2. (she holds up another finger) All creatures involved here are under some form of domination, magical or social, and are adapted to working together. 3. (you guessed it, another finger) This tribe and it's associates are made up from the remnants of other warring tribes where all the strong, less intelligent, have been killed and are getting an ability to form bonds with other intelligent individuals to make up a society more focused on peace and learning than war and famine and the troll is just another member of a more societal based branch of trolls."
Clarity stops and looks at the third finger she raised. She then sighs and says, "Yes, I am aware of the extreme unlikelihood of the last speculation, but a girl can dream, I suppose."
She looks to her allies, "Thoughts on the matter?"
Clarity then sits down in meditative position with eyes closed and ears open...waiting.

[Heroofnowhere]

"Well then our Job is done let us head back to report on the nature of the orc camp." Hyensum says packing up his knitting and his gear.

[Nathan-the-Anon]

"A-ah, yes.... you got that one right. I wonder if that only works on children? The other three were usually used to distract you from thinking the obvious."
Her head hangs low and her face turns to one of solemn boredom.

This quickly changes as Clarity approaches, she listens to the explanation and nods in agreement with Hyensum.
"I agree, we did our job, lets not get wrapped up in something we can't handle just yet. Besides they likely wanted the information so they can form up their own defenses against it."

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya smiles slightly to Airmid's explanation but is about to console her when Clarity returns. She listens to her comrades, conflict causing her eyebrows to furrow and her lips to become a thin line.
"I agree and disagree. Yes, we did our job and Air makes a good point. They'll be wanting the information probably to create their own forces against them. But what if we leave and we come back and this force destroys and pillages" She aggressively sighs and hangs her head. "We can't protect if we're dead so I'll have to go with the majority. We go and tell what was found and then help when we can."

[Aramtyth]

"I am of sound mind that this job is only half done." Clarity says in response to Airmid and Hyensum, "We have only seen the very surface of their society and so I feel we have very little to report."
Clarity cracks an eye open "Though with trolls sniffing about I agree it would be quite difficult to slip past their defenses without a distraction at least. If they have something as powerful and dangerous as trolls on the front gate who knows what they have under the surface. We see only the eyes of the crocodile without knowing of the waiting jaws. Perhaps that is enough." She finishes her musings and closes her eyes once more.

[Nathan-the-Anon]

"Unless one of you knows how to fly, or burrow, and hasn't communicated that. I feel it is my duty to keep YOU safe, keeping others safe comes when that happens.
How about we return, tell of the outer perimeter and see if they'll requisition potions of invisibility, flight etc to have a better gathering of the interior?"

[Ria_Whitefire]

"I would agree Air" Zetaya nods in agreement. "Safety is priority, usually I run in and punch them all questions later but that seems foolish given the circumstances."

[Aramtyth]

"I have nothing initially prepared for such endeavors at this time" Clarity states in slight monotone, "We should get going then, the road calls."
She stands up and readies for the road.

[Shongesabbe]

It takes you all a little over 6 hours to get back to town. The travel back is peaceful but cold as is the normal when traveling at night just like it was every time you did it.

Spoiler: cold rolls

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DC 15 Damage (1d6)[6]
DC 16 Damage (1d6)[6]
DC 17 Damage (1d6)[3]
DC 18 Damage (1d6)[4]

Time 3:00am
Date Lamashan 20

[Heroofnowhere]

(1d20+7)[27] Fort 1

(1d20+7)[10] Fort 2

(1d20+7)[9] Fort 3

(1d20+7)[14] Fort 4

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya will keep look out for anything out it's the ordinary. She'll also keep an eye on get comrades and see if any of them need a blanket or something to keep warm.

[Aramtyth]

"Ok everyone now that we are back in town Hyensum and I should report directly to the guild seeing as how we were the ones who actually had eyes on target. You two should get some leads on the escort missions and don't worry; I will only tell what I need to in regards to the bandits since we still have that in motion, and really we don't need to say anything at all about it unless asked really."

Clarity states this in a very matter of fact manner and starts towards the guild hall. If Hyensum lags too far behind she will turn and wait patiently for him unless he directs otherwise.

[Shongesabbe]

As you enter the guild hall you notice the same woman that relieved Tawariell the last time that you where in. Since there isn’t anyone in the hall right now, she is sitting behind the counter reading a book with a drawing of a muscular man on the cover.
You walk up to the counter and she spots you out of the corner of her eye drops the book on the ground behind the counter and turns to you with a smile. “What can I help you with today?”


Time 3:30am
Date Lamashan 20

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya nods at Clarity with a smile "sounds like a plan Sister." She turns to Airmid "I'll check on the escort quest to Haydun. Are you okay to check on the quest to Arakil?" She tilts her head inquisitively waiting for Airmid's response before starting toward the quest.

[Aramtyth]

Clarity notices the abrupt dropping of the book and and checks the guild girls face for any signs of discomfort or embarrassment. She then quickly states: "Yes, we are here with a scouting report of the nearby orc encampment. Where shall we make our report?"

[Heroofnowhere]

Fallowing Clarity into the guild House Hyensum walks over to the fire and sits down next to it. Starting to summon his sister.

[Shongesabbe]

Spoiler: Clarity

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You spot a slight moment of embarisment before its gone replaced by a hell of a poker face.

"If you would like you can give me and I'll pass it along to the guild leader when he wakes up in the morning."

Hyensum the fire is nice and warm. Quickly warming you up so your no longer in danger of catching hypothermia.

[Aramtyth]

"There are orcs and trolls working together. Not as master and pet, but as equals. The orcs seem lankier than your average one, muscles are more tone than bulk and I would venture to say they seem more human in stature. The trolls walk side by side with them and neither fears the other. The trolls have markings on them that are very similar to one we encountered earlier though I could be mistaken. As they patrol, the vegetation around them withers and shies away as if a foul aura of decay sapped the life from the very plants. I suspect this could also be some form of intense heat radiating from them, and not, in fact, dark energy, but I wasn't close enough to be party to that plot. They carried themselves with an intellect not often seen by those of their respective races. This means that, should this become some form of eradication mission, it would be wiser of the guild to send more experienced adventurers to meet with them. I would implore some form of diplomatic approach first, but I suspect that more will come with swords as their tongues and arrows as their words. I would think this information fascinating... but I am sure not more-so than your book." Clarity finishes the torrent of information with a poker face of her own save a single arched eyebrow and the slightest tugging of a smirk on the left corner of her light green lips.

[Shongesabbe]

Looking slightly flustered she says "That does sound serious. I'll let the guild leader know first thing in the morning. Thank you for stopping by." She then hands you the payment and looks like she wants to tell you to leave but doesn't.

other half of the party.
When you arrive at the location for the escort to Haydun isn't available anymore as some other group took them during the time that you all where doing other things but the one going to Arakil is still waiting for an escort.

[Nathan-the-Anon]

Airmid snaps to attention, as if just realizing she was awake, coming out of her dazed lull from all the traveling.
"Y-yes.... Wait, what? I'm sorry Taya, what would you need me to do?"
She states almost blankly at her companion, possibly still daydreaming.

[Ria_Whitefire]

Zetaya smiles sweetly at her small companion and pats her softly on the head. "It's over Air, we already checked up on the escort quests. The one to Haydun is taken but we can do the one to Arakil. Are you alright? Do you need to rest?" She takes the back of her hand and feels Airmid's forehead seeing if she has a fever.

[Aramtyth]

"Thank you very much for the payment. Please do not look so angry, I didn't mean any offense. I think it would actually be quite nice if we could live the stories in books as they are written and read at our leisure. It puts us in control of our destinies no matter how violent or saucy those may be. Real life is so much harder to handle when similar situations arise wouldn't you say?" Clarity smiles with a little extra effort in an attempt to ease the tension, "The report I gave is true but, it is so odd from the norm that it sounds like a fairy tale; you know, the kinds of things that stirred our imaginations in our youth and made us hide under the covers. It's so much worse in real life. Those story books don't really cover how terrifying it is to stare down a hungry creature that is known for tearing things limb from limb. Here's to hoping that the books really do cover the emotions of held lovers."

Spoiler: If she doesn't respond and continues looking angry

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Clarity will bow in apology slightly and return to where Hyensum is, gather him up and depart quickly.

[Shongesabbe]

“Well umm yes. If that’s all that you have to report I should get back to work...” she says seeming more embarrassed then angry.

[Aramtyth]

"Of course! Sorry for being such a distraction. We shall away."
Clarity moves away from the counter and towards the door, turning to Hyensum when she gets there.
"Come on, Hyensum, we have our payment and should find the others before they wander too far. Maybe we should also grab a room at the inn and set out in the morning. All of these early morning and twilight being our constant 'mid-day' situations are starting to make me question what kind of creature I am." Clarity says with a slight chuckle before walking out the door.

[Ria_Whitefire]

After Zetaya feels that Airmid doesn't have a fever she sweetly speaks "Come on. Maybe you need sleep, a breeze cannot bluster forever you know. Let's find the others and perhaps persuade them into getting a night's sleep." With that she grabs Airmid's hand and pulls her along, like a mother does with a child, towards the guild building.