[D&D 3.5] Dark Storms Gather

[Comrade Tortoise]

After searching through the bodies, Volans discovered mostly worthless crap. Not even the wizard had a spellbook, scrolls, nothing. They did find a few crystals though

"I know these are magical... I just dont remember much what they are, other than that their magic is pretty straight forward. Sadly I have used detect magic twice, and thus cannot examine them further. If someone else has the spell you are more than welcome to look... if not"

He tossed one to Saiden, the other to Dorian.

"Keep them safe, and away from your own spheres, just in case" he set his in a pouch away from his own sphere, and set off at a rapid pace in the direction of the castle ruins.

[Rogue 9]

Gror picked up the cleric's unholy symbol, took one look, and threw it on the ground in disgust. He then spat on it and hefted his warhammer before bringing it down on the wooden disk, smashing it to splinters. "I s'pose it's a good thing ye killed 'em, but jus' jumpin' 'em like tha' was reckless," he said without looking up, not caring which of his companions he was addressing. "We didna know who or wha' they were."

He shook his bearded head and set off after Volans in the direction of the castle.

[Cynical Cat]

"That's why I went and talked to them you useless bag of pig guts," said Saidin. "And struck from surprise. Try not to be useless next fight."

[Rogue 9]

"I'll nae be jumpin' inta any fight afore we even know we need t' have one," the dwarf said coldly. "I'm nae in this t' massacre people fer bein' inconvenient, an' I'll nae stick with it long if tha's wha' keeps happenin'. B'sides, tha' wasn't a fight. It was a slaughter."

[Cynical Cat]

"We were going to have one, you stupid orc's bitch," said Saidin. "I just skipped the posturing and went straight for the kill when it that became clear. It was a slaughter because I acted while we still had surprise. It's called engaging on favorable terms. We won because everyone else pulled their weight and followed my lead."

[Cynical Cat]

Ooops. Ignore this.

[Comrade Tortoise]

The wizard looked back

"They murdered someone for the crime of existing, and then tried to extort money or favors from us, if you were paying attention. They were also mind-bogglingly incompetant and willing to kill at the drop of the hat. Had you noticed the way 'Thor' was looking at me, he was offended by my existence as well, and had every intention of engaging in hostilities. He just wanted to seem 'reasonable' about it, but failed to be in any way transparent with his intent. It is not out fault they essentially bit off more than they could chew when Saiden saw him for the sack of shit he and his companions were, and struck first"

[Rogue 9]

"I know wha' they did," Gror growled. "An' I know now they prob'ly did more'n tha' afore we came across 'em," he added, jerking a thumb towards the splintered remains of the symbol of decay. "If any of 'em made a move for ye, I'd 'ave collapsed 'is ribcage for 'im," he continued as he slid his hammer back into the loop on his belt, "but I dun' buy it. Ye didn't zap the goblins, an' they were pointin' weapons at us. Ye expect me t' believe tha' ye think lookin' at ye crossways is more o' a threat than a pointed spear?"

[Cynical Cat]

"You're a fucking moron," said Saidin. "Goblins are low threats because even if they're trying to kill you, they suck at it. There's more menace in a mage's dirty look than ten goblin spears. Those other guys, on the other hand, possessed magic, training, predatory natures, and a complete absence of even a sliver of remorse for killing someone else's guide. In other words, they're much, much worse than I am, completely lacking in remorse, and looking to extract as much wealth from us as possible. The goblins were shmucks and treated as shmucks. They were dangerous and treated as dangerous."

[Comrade Tortoise]

As they walked, imposing himself between the sorcerer and paladin, Volans glanced over at the other mage and winked with the side of his face he knew the Paladin couldnt see. Then he went back to talk to the Paladin

"I can understand your apprehension, but in addition to Saiden's point, the goblins obviously did not want to fight us. If they did, they would have ambushed us instead of engaging in parley.

Those idiots back there obviously did. They showed no remorse for murder, or killing someone else's guide, and even tried to extort us for it. They were trying to start a fight without throwing the first punch, we knew it, and gave them what they wanted because it is better than having them get frustrated and do it to us. Additionally, as Saiden says, they were more dangerous than the goblins. They could have done us serious harm if they struck first. None of us would have been in very good shape if their mage had managed to cast a lightning bolt or fireball into our midst before he was disabled."

[rhoenix]

As the travelers walked, the trees began to thin as they progressed down the path, enough to let streams of daylight through. The path also changed, apparently the rest of it had been lost to time, but a very eroded stone path was now visible, leading off into the distance - the same direction they knew the abandoned castle to be.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I do love actually having a path. Though the erosion here is rather intense. Ohh! Mosses!" the wizard said excitedly. "I do derive a strange pleasure from seeing nature take back what belongs to it and turn human constructions back into soil"

[Academia Nut]

Doran smiled and said, "I have long taken the view that human construction is merely another part of nature and that there is a balance between the two. Humanity... or dwarves or halflings or elves for that matter, will make their constructs as beavers build their dams or birds their nests, disrupting what was. But in time, and nature is patient and has plenty of it, people will move on and nature will return. I prefer a nice swamp myself, but I begrudge people for building towns to live in no more than I begrudge lions for living in the savannah. Doesn't mean I won't try to curb excess, but still... although the moss is lovely I do admit.

"So shall we make camp for tonight? I should be able to scrounge up enough for us all to have a nice meal and not have to dip into our supplies," Doran volunteered.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I think we probably should." said Volans. "I cannot speak for the others, I am somewhat less finicky as to food... but if you wouldnt mind?"

[Rogue 9]

"We can," Gror said, "but it'll mean th' monk'll beat us thar."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"He wont be able to fight his way through the various creatures that have undoubtedly taken up residence in the ruins on his own. Unless he is some sort of superbeing, in which case he has already beaten us there"

[rhoenix]

As the travelers followed the path a short distance, they saw a small side path that led to an easily-defensible clearing where they would be relatively safe spending the night, as the sun began to dip lower on the horizon.

This clearing was surrounded by oak, pine, and birch trees, but this almost circular area just grew soft grass, and was large enough to handle a good-sized adventuring party larger than this one.

[Haizu]

"Ah, this looks as good a spot as any." Eddie said, surveying the clearing. "Whaddya say folks?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

Volans proceeded to set out his camping gear in what looked like a spot relatively free of rocks

"Might as well. We dont know when we will get a decent opportunity, and who knows what lies in that ruin"

[rhoenix]

Dusting off a log before sitting upon it, Sylvandor draped a blanket over the log before finally sitting. "I suppose this will do. These interims are always a bore."

"Now," he said, looking haughtily somewhere between annoyed and concerned, "where did our betentacled friend Doran get off to? It shan't be too difficult to find something suitable in this place. I've met more intelligent chickens than some of the lot we've met in this forest, so it shouldn't be difficult to grab something for supper," he said, beginning to shine and sharpen both of his blades.

[Cynical Cat]

Saidin removed his gauntlets and set up his bedroll.

[Haizu]

"Oh I'm sure he'll be back soon. Stop being such a fussypants." Eddie waved off Sylvandor's concerns as he unhitched his traveling gear from Max. Opening his pack, he pulled out a pack of dried meat. Munching on the snack and occasionally giving the dog pieces as well, Eddie got his bedroll set up and began starting a small, smokeless fire.

[Academia Nut]

Doran returned to the camp being set up carrying a small bundle of firewood in one tentacle, a full waterskin in the other, a piece of bark holding a large collection of berries, nuts, tubers, and other assorted items, and a dead rabbit in the other.

Grinning, he said, "We'll all eat well tonight!"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Indeed we will" said Volans. "Though I didnt expect any less from you. Not in a forest as productive as this one at any rate"

[rhoenix]

As the travelers spent an uneventful evening, they surprisingly had no encounters during the night.

The following morning, just after sunrise, they set off to the castle looming in the distance. At the rate they were going, they would reach it by mid-day. As they neared the castle, they all realized that it didn't look...quite so old or run-down as they expected.