Plans and venturing to the Old City

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"Let me consult with my cousin a moment," says Calidane with an amiable nod, and he gestures for Valmera to join him a short distance away.

Once he has Valmera off a short distance he looks up at her as he says something in low tones and gestures. He takes a small forked stick from his bundle of things. He puts the stick under his arm, spits on his hands, rubs them together, then takes the stick back in hand with a nod.

(I don't know how to spoiler something on here for only Valmera to read.)

After a few more moments of discussion he comes back holding his forked stick and says, "Let me just turn in a circle and find out what I feel."

(Cast find water, Priest Spell Compendium 1 p. 270. This will detect water in a 10' wide line 90' long emanating from me as I hold out the stick. The spell lasts 30 minutes, so we can walk and Calidane can turn back and forth with his water detector until we find something or discover nothing after half an hour. There's a 10% chance for me to know if the detected water is fresh, salty, or unfit for consumption; otherwise, the only way to tell is to find it and see, though for that I have purify spells.)

(Calidane is specifically casting his spell while chatting with Valmera off to the side, because he doesn't want to give away to a bunch of strangers that he just met that he has elemental powers.)

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Valmera walks whilst Calidane shows her the forked stick, looking at it for many angles and moving around, blocking the line of sight with the rest of the group for a few moments before nodding and moving back - Shout for help if you need it.

Once Calidane departs, Valmera faces the rest of the group - I do apologise for not telling you before about his upbringing or our relationship as relatives but elves are not the best welcomed everywhere.

[OOC: I'm trying to give him cover to cast the spell]

[DM Bob]

The search for water. Currently directly beneath you has traces of water. Probably in cracks and crannies or bits of condensed dew from early in the morning. This is the weakest of the find water results possible outside of none being present.

Current map:

darksuncelikgoldrush.obsidianportal.com/maps/129809

From here tell me which direction you wish to travel in your search.

There is some evidence of life outside of the random members of House Maraneth. Small lizards can be seen darting up ruined walls at your approach. Some bones that don't seem as ancient turn up in the empty streets. The howls from below, which the kirre still prickle at, come from behind and below you. Sounds of scampering and skittering come from the same direction, as if the pack of animals is trying to climb the walls of the dried river bed and then that of the old city - something that is probably impossible unless they have means of vertical climbing. Birds can be also be seen perched on roof and tower in the distance.

There's also a thrum or gentle buzz that you seem to detect. It feels like if you focus on it, it disappears and then reappears once you disregard it consciously. Perhaps a mental effect?

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"Just scant traces for now," says Calidane. "Let's get moving and see if we find something substantial."

[Attilius]

Oct 18, 2021 6:10:50 GMT -12 Coden Rokos (Jesse H.) said:

"Just scant traces for now," says Calidane. "Let's get moving and see if we find something substantial."

"Agreed! Let's head up this western avenue" says the little pink haired man.

"Anyone good at tracking? I've heard that often enough, animal tracks will lead to a source of water."

[ascieszl]

(Animal Lore to see what all that was about with the "wall climbers": 8 vs. 14 - success)

(Can i make a Tracking check untrained? If so: roll 14 vs. 18, depending on modifiers)

"Sounds fine. One direction is as good as another, for now."

[DM Bob]

As anyone in the Southwest US or Central California area could attest, tiny lizards are common in urban areas. Often skittering out of the way quickly, dogs like to eat 'em. Cats try to chase, etc...

You figure there's probably scorpions somewhere abouts, as they love places with cracks in foundations.

As far as tracking? The biggest issue is the fact that most of the road itself is rough, ancient cobbles. Stone is notoriously hard to track on. There is scattered dirt and sand between buildings and ruin, but little with much topsoil potential or growth... at least in this section of the city.

[Attilius]

We continue up the western heading avenue, heads on a swivel.

[DM Bob]

More observations as you advance forward (west being the road continuing the direction the bridge took). The sun is slightly to your back - as it's before noon.

Many of the stones from the homes this close to the bridge seem to have been removed, or were in the process of removal. While you don't see any workers currently, there is evidence of recent excavation and scavenging. Some piles are seen, here-and-there.

The city seems to be built on a slight incline. Probably makes the towers a tad larger looking.

After you get a block or so in, there's more rubble in the street. Stone rubble. A trio of statues in a semi broken state stand looking forward to the towers. Three humans posed as if preparing for battle on the left hand curb. The ones that aren't broken too severely carry sword or maul and are portrayed in light armor and sandals, much like the foot-troops of Balic.

The water detection remains the same here. We can place you towards the upper third of the map I sketched.

[ascieszl]

(What kind of neighborhood are we in?)

[DM Bob]

Not of this day and age, that's for certain. The buildings are relatively small. Doors are non existent here, but there is evidence of past hingework. There are openings where windows may have rested, larger and to the front of the buildings than the current style. Were these people not afraid of theft? So odd. Many roofs are missing, or are completely fashioned of stone or ancient plaster.

If you had to guess, some of these were homes, others perhaps small businesses. As Hawkings saw from above, there seems to be a dock area, reminiscent of Balic's silt docks minus the grey death, to the north (right) of your current position.

If you have been to Balic? Perhaps there is a similar design memory affixed between the bricks and avenues.

[Attilius]

As the group continues moving westward, Hawkings takes a long hard look down the North heading "T" Avenue as they walk by it. Looking for any movement or anything out of the ordinary. If nothing, continue west.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- As we move nearby these buildings, I try to remember the built and decorations in the buildings - How many interesting secrets these walls could tell written in their petrified skins.. - getting briefly fascinanted by these structures

[DM Bob]

Looking to the north as you pass, about another block down, you can see where the wall does not cover. Past that? The ground gives way to what may have been a dock (again if that is to be believed). Larger buildings, to the right and left sides of the street (west and east) may have been storage for goods or perhaps even warehouses. Those are made of cheaper clay bricks. The amount of water needed to make those is mind boggling. Perhaps the ancients made all the water into bricks, leaving nothing for the rest of you. Greedy fecks.

A trio of kes'trekel take flight from the left most larger structure deeper into the ruined city.

Towards the edge of Calidane's range, and also to the left, he gets a reading for a small amount of water. None is seen, so you'd assume it's under the street or in the building the vulture-like flyers lit off from.

It's also pretty quiet. The odd thrum is still heard here and now and then...

And the heat of the crimson sun is starting to bake the stone once more.

28 minutes/rounds left on Find Water.

Close up map. Kept the first map just got a closer shot. New link does not have the compass point, but can be determined from the earlier map if needed.

darksuncelikgoldrush.obsidianportal.com/maps/129822

[Attilius]

Oct 19, 2021 2:54:38 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

A trio of kes'trekel take flight from the left most larger structure deeper into the ruined city.

"I say we keep heading west, further into the city. I want to get to those tall towers..." says Hawkings