The Convergence of Sky: An Exalted campaign.

[Malozing]

Decks' ears flick as Adorei speaks, but that is the only indication that the leopard is paying any attention to the Dragonblooded. The Lunar lifts a back paw and begins grooming between his toes.

Spoiler: OOC

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Decks is just going full cat. One WP spent so he can not do what Adorei is suggesting.

[Sticks]

Decks appears unmoved to Adorei. When the small leopard prowls into a tent to sleep, the dynast is left alone with the fire. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, for what Adorei knows about the far northern wastes, but even so, the events of the evening weigh on him.

Spoiler: OOC

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Adorei may make a roll for his watch, and depending on how it goes, we may transition to the morning and resume the journey.

[pfm1995]

Adorei simply shrugged his shoulders softly, wrapping another layer of furs about his shoulders before he took his place outside the circle of tents. Sitting, hands folded in his lap as his eyes scanned the horizon, he let another small trickle of power bleed into him and chase away the last of the fog of sleep. It had already been a long night, and he dearly hoped the rest of it would be somewhat quiet.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Perception + Awareness + Stunt. (8d10)[3][1][8][9][8][2][3][6](40)

[Sticks]

As the fire gutters, Adorei is alone with his thoughts. Nothing disturbs the stillness of the night, though he occasionally hears the noises of Walda trying to remain vigilant in his tent. Nothing else disturbs the quiet of recently-fallen snow.

Morning does not so-much break as weakly make its presence known. The unsetting sun's warmth grows somewhat more noticable, and those who managed most of a night's sleep find themselves blinking away grit and stirring themselves. Preserved rations and snow melted over the fire make for a nutritious, if bland and chewy breakfast, before the circle breaks camp.

Spoiler: OOC

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Walda should make his roll to resist fatigue at this point.

The nightime snow has covered any tracks that may have existed the day before, but the waystones still point due west. Walda cannot help but notice this is exactly the direction in which he saw Pellervo the previous night, and it is also the opposite direction from which the senior Lunar would have traveled, as Walda left Pellervo far to the east.

Only a few hours of traveling brings the circle in sight of a distant stone rise. There is a distinct deep green-blue tinge to the landmark, as though it were covered in vegetation, but there is also an indistinct shimmer present, as though a silver veil covered the land. Such things are not unknown in the north, plumes of ice-crystals carried on the wind, but it's hard to be sure from this distance. The waystone points directly at the rise.

[Ascension]

Patience. Vigilance. Perseverance. As Pellervo the Fierce repeatedly drilled into Waldaharjaz's head, these are the qualities of an effective hunter. The hunter should have no problem pursuing his prey across sleepless nights, or through fiercest cold, or whatever other privations the pursuit might call for.

Thus, every yawn that forces itself out of Walda's throat on this loathsome morning is another reminder of how far he falls short of the mighty Pellervo, another reminder of just how royally screwed he and his new friends will probably be if the man decides to acknowledge them as a threat. And if they should happen to share a destination... then Mask could be in danger from the veteran Lunar as well.

Spoiler: Roll

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Stamina + Resistance + Stunt is... not looking good for Walda: (5d10)[1][3][2][7][8](21)

[pfm1995]

Adorei himself marches gamely through the deepening snow, fresh-shaven and hair back in place. If everything went according to plan, they should reach their goal today and he wanted to be prepared to talk with whomever might have claimed it - at the very least, he might be able to convince them to rid him of some unfortunate problems. Walda's exhaustion doesn't escape his attention, but neither is it especially notable - if the Anathema wanted to lie awake in panic, it was no business of his. In fact, it made his business easier.

"Does everyone else see that?" Adorei asked, eyes flickering to the rise as he checked his waystone again. "I'm not familiar with any sorceries that would cause that kind of occlusion, but I'm not willing to declare it natural quite yet. Perhaps one of you shapeshifters could be so kind as to scout ahead, before we walk into another ambush? Two in one week would be a little much."

[Ascension]

Walda glares toward the shimmer with his tired eyes, belatedly realizing that it's the sort of weirdness other people can see and not the sort of weirdness brought on by sleep deprivation.

Stifling another yawn, he looks to his fellow Lunar and asks, "Decks, could you check into that?"

[Malozing]

When Adorei speaks, the leopard sits in the snow and stares up at the sky. Decks' tail lazily sways side to side. The cat seems content to not take any suggestions from the Dynast. However, when Walda asks, Decks arches his back and stands. With a chuff, he pads out toward the stone rise, the snowy landscape slowly swallows the feline's form.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rolling for a stealthy approach.
Dex 5 + Stealth 3 + stunt 2
(10d10)[7][2][10][5][7][5][7][3][3][10](59)

[Sticks]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Unseen forces attempt to observe anyone approaching, including the cat-tread of Decks.
(9d10)[5][7][7][3][3][9][5][4][8](51)

Decks' passage goes unnoticed, or at least unremarked. The cat-lunar reaches the edge of the outcropping and realizes that he is seeing a wide cleft in a cliff-side. The top and interior of the cliff are filled with huge pine-trees, though a large passage opens, facing eastward towards the group. The pines have thick blue-green needles and the boughs bend under the weight of last night's snow and pinecones the size of winter-melons. The ground is clear of snow and packed with years of pine-shed, lumps here and there marking the place where the cones fell.

Where the trees are not covered by snow, Decks makes out what is causing the silver shimmer. Every bough, branch, trunk, cone and needle is draped with silken thread, the passage inward is layered with the stuff, forming a wide, gloomy tunnel going deeper into the crag. Even Decks powerful eyes cannot see far into the dim cavern, so thick are the trees and their silver coating.

[Malozing]

Sniffing the air, Decks hunkers down into the snow once he sees the silvery silk strands. The stillness in the air had the Lunar's fur standing on end, and the leopard begins backing away from the tunnel's entrance. Decks doesn't turn away from the cavern until he is almost halfway back to the rest of the circle.

Mid-stride, he shifts to his human form and skids to a stop in front of Outlander. "Big... spider... den!"

[pfm1995]

"Is that a big den of spiders, or a den of big spiders?" Adorei asks, trying to keep any amusement at the scaredy-cat or concern about whatever scared the cat off his face. Well, either way it could be worse - assuming for the moment that the spiders aren't some wild spirit or wyld abomination, at least they would be unintelligent. If they were very, very lucky, they might just be able to torch the nests and call it a good days work.

[Ascension]

"But no sign of Pellervo? He's the threat. Some spiders..." Walda pauses for a yawn. "Some spiders we can handle. Even if they're enormous, they shouldn't be any more danger than those monster bears were, and we dealt with them easily enough."

[Inspector Valin]

The Outlander nods at Walda's words, a faint confident smile growing into a firm grin and a nod. "Let's see what we can really do together." Some simple monsters will easily be within this group's ability to handle. And if that old beast-chosen is still lurking around... well, at least they'll have had a warm up before the important fight, right?

[Sticks]

Moving up to the outcropping, it becomes clear that this is the opening to a deep valley, though how wide it becomes is hard to ascertain from outside. The webs really do cover everything, layered thick and shining with frost. Last night's snow forms a solid canopy that does not bend the silk, casting everything below in shadow. The thread-covered pines, massive though they are, seem to stand off to the side, as though long ago someone cut a path between them, going ever-deeper into the gloom. At its narrowest, the path is wide enough to permit two to walk abreast, broken cobwebs hang down from the lowest boughs five man's heights above. A cold breeze blowing in from the east, to the circle's backs, cause the loose threads to dance invitingly, pointing inward to the vale's center.

[Ascension]

This close, Walda feels stirrings of awe battling with the frustration and weariness inside him. The spiders' vale is impressive. It has an aura of wonder about it, and such magic should be respected. Is this a fragment of the power meant to hold - and to sustain - Mask, or is this the domain of some other force which has crouched on its doorstep? Walda hopes to learn, if fate allows.

He looks to Adorei and to the Outlander. The too-proud Dynast will likely need protection against whatever they will face ahead of them, and the naive Solar holds less ill-will towards him than either Lunar.

"City-boy, Sunshine, you should keep to the rear," he suggests. "And keep your eyes open. Decks and I can range ahead."

[pfm1995]

"Bit of both, I see..." Adorei murmurs to himself once the cleft comes into view. "That sounds fine, if you don't think the great Pellervo is still following us and will hunt you if you leave the pack. Personally, I'd consider returning with a few dozen men and burning our way into this place, but seeing as we're in a rush..."

From his sleeves, he pulls two flat-bladed daggers and gestures magnanimously forwards. "After you."

[Ascension]

Walda can feel the beginnings of a headache stirring in his temples. Dealing with Adorei is trying enough under normal circumstances; the man is even more annoying after a sleepless night.

"If either of those knives gets too close to my back, I will make certain that the spiders eat you," he swears.

He turns and harrumphs his way into the webbed vale.

[Inspector Valin]

"They won't, Walda. We're all together here, don't worry."

The Outlander forces a smile for the pair, but can't help a very faint sigh under her breath, falling in as suggested as the group start to make their way into the clearing. She still can't truly understand the root of the tension between Aldorei and the Lunars, but this group have something important to do. It's starting to dawn on her that long standing complex issues of politics and history can not be simply punched into submission. The Outlander can't help but find this fact depressing.

[Sticks]

Walking through the gloom, the motley crew hear little besides the wind at their backs and their own muffled footfalls. The silk along the trail is strong, the fibers give easily without breaking, and curious hands find that it is hardly sticky at all. The finest fabric merchants of Diamond Hearth or Whitewall would sell their nearer relatives to get a supply of this material, though the stuff on the ground and walling in the path is matted with the detritus of the forest.

Here and there, the path turns, accommodating large trees or boulders, or simply following the curve of the ravine. After a few of these turns, the light from the entrance is gone, the tree-web shadow darkening the understory as though great storm-clouds covered the sun. The breeze persists, giving a clear indicator of the way back, but the effect is disconcerting. The trail has a general downward trend, very gradual, but inexorable, leading deeper into the gulch. The place smells of pine, healthy and growing, but stifled by all the spider-web.

This is the case until the group reaches a clearing, a place where the trees are spread farther apart, the webbing above is less thick, and some sunlight filters through, telling the Exalts that it is afternoon, they've been in here for hours. Moreover, there is a black circle in the center, a spot where the silk has been burnt back. A small pile of charred logs and ash fills this spot, the remains of a long-dead fire. On the opposite side of the clearing are three openings, continuations of the path several strides apart, as dark and forbidding as the rest of the vale outside this clearing.

[Ascension]

"Looks like someone else made camp here," Walda observes, frowning. "I've a wolf form; do you want me to try to sniff out which path they took?"

He secretly hopes someone else will volunteer their tracking ability. He knows it's not his strongest suit, to his shame as a hunter, but he isn't eager to offer up that information. The wolf's nose, at least, will help, if he must do it himself.

[pfm1995]

"Hm, interesting." Adorei murmurs, stepping forward to take a closer look at the fire and the area around it. Look at this place, he thinks to himself, good wood, good soil, and shelter from the elements. A veritable paradise, this far up north, and clearly not undiscovered. Visited often enough to leave a trail through the brush. But... webs across the trail. No sign of permanent habitation. No-one's been here in... a while. How long exactly? Distraction, doesn't matter. Whoever made this, something happened to them.

"Feel free." He says, not turning around. "Be watchful, though. Places like this don't remain unclaimed for long."

[Ascension]

Hearing no immediate offers to take his place or suggestions of alternative courses, Waldaharjaz lets his human form slip away, calling on the power of the wolf's blood long ago mingled with his own. His weak human sense of smell is replaced with canine sensitivity, and, trotting over to where the fire once was, he begins snuffling around for signs of the last travelers to come this way, and indications of which path they may have taken. A realm of scents unnoticed by humanity unfolds itself before his enhanced senses. If there is any trace to find, he is certain he will find it.

Spoiler: Roll

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Dog/Wolf Tracking + Stunt:
(9d10)[6][8][6][9][3][7][10][10][9](68), Double 9s from Keen Nose

[Malozing]

Decks quietly pads along with the rest of the group. Amber eyes glance about the webbed path, and ears swivel constantly. The leopard Lunar ignores the Walda and Adorei's banter as he studies their surroundings.

The remains of a campsite did not help the cat's paranoia. Instinctively the fur along his back puffs out as Decks hunkers down on the outskirts, scanning the area for any signs of a larger predator.

Spoiler: OOC

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Decks is visually checking for danger.

Spoiler: Dice

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(9d10)[6][9][5][5][5][5][3][6][9](53)

[Sticks]

Walda's keen sense pick up a trail, old and faded though it may be. From this clearing's shrouded view of the sky, it is evident to everyone they've continued heading westward from the entrance to the valley. The paths through the trees are all vaguely westward-facing, but the northernmost path has a scent of old woodsmoke which would indicate it was the direction anyone from the camp would have followed.

Interestingly, the woodsmoke smell also emerges at a point halfway to the edge of the clearing in the south-east. Sniffing about, Walda is able to find a cleverly concealed patch where the silk flooring has been cut and molded around a large piece of treebark, a child's armspan across. There are faint sooty fingerprints here that someone attempted to wipe away, but weren't thorough enough for an inquisitive Lunar.

Decks' cautious scanning takes in much of the surroundings. The still trees, the breeze muffled by silk, the figure down the south-west path...wait. There's no figure there...or was there a woman? No, looking again, Decks can see the path is clear. Still, it looked like there was a woman's shape turning the corner in the distance, just too far to be sure.

[Malozing]

Curious, the leopard crawls closer to the path. Decks peers down the southwestern trail; he is sure that he saw a woman further down it. Lifting his body in a proper stalking crouch, Decks chatters to draw the circle's attention to the path. His tail lashes violently.

[Ascension]

Walda hears Decks chittering, but his fatigue has narrowed his focus, and the unusual patch of cleared ground he's scented claims his full attention. As easy as letting a held breath go, he resumes his human shape, and he pries at the piece of tree bark on the ground. Is it some kind of trap door? Does it hide another passage?

[pfm1995]

Adorei's head jerks up at Decks' chitter, and he pads over to join the gargantuan cat by the trail. "You know," he muses, softly, "if you had a mouth right now you could tell us what you saw! Or hands, and you could write it!"

While his mouth motors, though, his eyes scan the woods around them for movement and, from the corner, catches Walda bending over. "What's he up to?" He mouths at the Outlander, gesturing with his hands.

[Malozing]

Decks flicks his ear in Adorei's direction but continues to focus his attention on the bend in the path. He would have preferred the Outlander to watch his back as he investigates further, but the Dragon-blooded will have to do. The leopard begins to creep along the trail, his tail rigid and still. Decks pauses between every stride, making sure his approach is unheard. Amber eyes, unblinking, never leave the spot where Decks swears he saw a woman moving about.

Once he reached the bend, Decks huffs out a small breath before peaking around the corner.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Decks is curious. Perception 4 + Investigation 2 + Stunt 2 + Nosy Cat 1 (9d10)[7][9][6][2][2][8][10][4][10](58)

[Inspector Valin]

The Outlander glances back and forth between the two Lunars with a frown. Both seem quite intent on their separate leads. And trying to debate which was the more suspicious path seems likely to draw unwanted attention. Adorei going with Decks helps a little however - mirroring his movements, she falls into step behind Walda. At the mouthed question from the Dragon Blood, she shrugs - it looks like the Bandit Prince is studying the ground, but whatever mysteries it holds elude her. She'd have to kneel down to study the area more closely, and there's no sense in getting in Walda's way

"Would more light help?" The traveller offers with a frown, gesturing up towards the shrouded sky. There's not too much sun making its way through the canopy - if she can keep it controlled, her anima may help Walda's observations.

[Sticks]

Walda and Outlander: It is indeed a trap-door. Down below the ground is a narrow tunnel, perhaps one arm's span across. It descends about five feet before bending, and it is almost entirely lined with webbing. On one side, however, the webs are shriveled and burnt, a hole has been seared into the side of the tunnel, and the dirt on the floor of the tunnel indicates someone has been digging into the side. It is dark in there, but a lowered torch or other light source (such as a flared solar) would certainly show more.

Decks: The small leopard's circumspect investigation shows that the figure is indeed further down the south-west path. As he passes through a thin curtain of webbing, he sees what's ahead clearly. There's a woman there, far down at the next curve of the path. She glances towards Decks, and then nonchalantly walks out of sight, as though she had not seen him. This is truly strange. Certainly since his Exaltation, Rukhsara-Who-Remembers has never ignored her pupil.

Adorei: The dragon-blood follows several paces behind the leopard, far enough back that when decks turns the corner, Adorei loses sight of him. There's a veil of webbing over this path, the thin fibers layered thickly so that little can be seen beyond it. Decks seems to have passed through easily enough, but Adorei cannot find an opening.