The wild, wild North... a glow is seen

[DM Bob]

Perhaps Kri-kcht's sight and blessed vision was the reason he saw it first.

A glow, as if a campfire behind a rise or hill, could be seen north and to the east of your own camp in the newly drawn darkness...

...about halfway through your first watch.

The distance? You would guess in the mile range, unless the size flame is greater or smaller than the standard camp-light.

[Attilius]

HurK whispers to Laakh as he points to the glow "Can you use your Clairvoyance there?"

[Niachi]

Laakh nods and unwraps the Skull of Kripnar. Whispers-
"Hello old one. I try to push my powers to see and hear. He his sights on the  distant fire:

Clairvoyance and Power Manipulation-

CV need 14 with -2 penalty for distance, rolled 19. -7 PSPs.

Sigh. A long windy minute passes.

CV: rolled 20. nuthin. -7 PSPs.

"We can do this for another 14 minutes..."

If no invisible assassins strike from the skies in the next minute:

Clairvoyance: rolled 3, Power Manip +2: need 12, rolled 3. -12 PSPs.

Audio and Visual looking down from 5 feet above the fire, turning for a full 360 degree scan. 89 PSPs left for the invisible assassins and legion of Nibenese special forces just out there.

[DM Bob]

Once your mental eyes adjust to the fire light, you see what looks to be a dozen scattered, ramshackle wind carts parked about a moderate-sized campfire. Some twenty ragged adults, and a half dozen dirty children look grim as they murmur amongst themselves. They're human for the most part.

A brace of now roasting kes’trekel are spit over the open flame. They drip yellow fat into the fire, putting a thin brand of smoke that gets lost to the east into the night.

Waterskins are sipped out of. They look about half full in general.

Mismatched bows are propped everywhere, easy to reach. One woman, a mul, is fletching the kes'trekel feathers for additional arrows.

You also see spears, bone javelins and a few flint blades and axes.

From here, you can also see that the rise concealed what looks to be thicker plant growth to the east... perhaps evidence of ground water in that direction.

[Attilius]

As Laakh describes the scene, HurK turns to Kri "Does that Mul sound familiar? Are these the people that transported you before?"

[DM Bob]

The kreen wouldn't know given the generalizations. No mul arrow maker that he'd recall. Definitely no children the last time.

[Attilius]

"Alright, I'm going over there to talk and offer some food and water. Kri and anyone else, want to join me? Everyone keep your silk's on too no matter where you are. Laakh if you're staying put, keep open communications with me and tell me if you see anything weird."

Hurk leaves his pack & weapons with the main group and changes into a large female Tarek form before heading over to the other camp with food & water offerings.

[Metamorphosis 17, rolled 11
-21 PsP's]

Once close enough to the camp HurK will raise one open hand up to show he's unarmed and carrying food and water "Hello there... we have extra food and water if you need any?"

[DM Bob]

Anyone else going with Hurk?

Other positioning?

Other precautions?

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Pallia remains at the team camp, in case the group needs a fallback position.

[Attilius]

Tarekess Hurk, Kri and Kem head to the campsite. Mak can fly with his pterrax if he so chooses later while Laakh keeps psionic watch.

[DM Bob]

The camps are indeed a mile apart.

As Hurk walks with the intent to greet his new neighbors, he happens into an issue. You're presently within the last 40 yards or so to the hill, when the tarek/goliath feels shooting pains in his leg, ankle and thigh.

Seems like some plant life here has a mind of it's own, as you look down and see what might be small balls of cacti, shooting spines and taking names. It's dark and hard to see what it is you've exactly stumbled into.

Oh. And one seems to have attached itself to Hurk's leg. Kinda like a briar... or a tick.

[16 damage in total to Hurk-ette. Please roll a save vs. wisdom to avoid making an involuntary noise at the sudden pain.]

[Deleted]

Since Mak didn't say so before the combat started, he'll stay at the camp. He would have let the others know to examine the needs of the people and if they require water, that he will offer them aid.

[Niachi]

Laakh stays at their camp, shutting off Clairvoyance. spider sense open. He would have made a plan to Mindlink one of the 3 walkers every 10 minutes.

As he waits he dines on a half wheel of mind cheese.

[Attilius]

May 27, 2021 14:39:25 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

The camps are indeed a mile apart.

As Hurk walks with the intent to greet his new neighbors, he happens into an issue. You're presently within the last 40 yards or so to the hill, when the tarek/goliath feels shooting pains in his leg, ankle and thigh.

Seems like some plant life here has a mind of it's own, as you look down and see what might be small balls of cacti, shooting spines and taking names. It's dark and hard to see what it is you've exactly stumbled into.

Oh. And one seems to have attached itself to Hurk's leg. Kinda like a briar... or a tick.

[16 damage in total to Hurk-ette. Please roll a save vs. wisdom to avoid making an involuntary noise at the sudden pain.]

[Wis 18, Rolled 12] The Tarek grinds her teeth in pain but manages to keep from crying aloud. 
She quickly holds her hand up for the other to immediately stop and whisper-yells "WATCH IT! A cactus just shot a barb into my leg and it hurts like a BITCH!"

She reaches down and follows the barb back to it's main source with her open hand while opening her nexus to draw forth power "I can play that game too..." she whispers to herself

[Life Draining 18, rolled 4
Power Manipulation 17, rolled 12
Life force drain from Cacti: 5 hp this round
PsP's -37
HP -11]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

-Kem moves away and ready to fight these cacti, getting into a defensive position to protect HurK and Kri in case these reach them even further. She also looks to the entangled foot of the half-giant, in case she has to help in the extraction