Leaving Cromlin for the ruins of Giustenal

[DM Bob]

Their jaws drop (underneath silt scarves, of course).

"Like, the spirit realms of Flame? You wanna go to the hearth of creation for..."

His brother interjects.

"Livestock?"

"Are yeh sure you haven't been touched by the Caller? How does one survive such-a place (if it even exists!)... wouln't-cha just fry like a thin kip sausage?"

Durex makes the sign of the evil eye with his left hand.

[DM Bob]

The benefits of having such a distracting conversation, is that the Son of Kri'kcht and Chat'cho are able to scamper off and light the elemental compass without the dwarven brothers or caravan crew privy to their actions.

It does glow yellow through the silty haze, meaning that there is indeed a portal within 300 miles of the arcane device.

It is yet to be seen if it will get brighter by continuing to travel closer to the ruins.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye looks at their expression as they listen to Quila - 'What's worst than a smart pretty face dancing you around with words? One that subtle throws you what it looks like a crazy non-sense idea with all the calm in the wastelands..' - thinks to herself as she mildly smiles under her covered scarf

[Niachi]

Niachi strides on, not drawing attention, listening. He only looks around to check his familiar is in sight range, and behaving normally.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Jan 31, 2024 15:35:19 GMT DM Bob said:

Their jaws drop (underneath silt scarves, of course).

"Like, the spirit realms of Flame? You wanna go to the hearth of creation for..."

His brother interjects.

"Livestock?"

"Are yeh sure you haven't been touched by the Caller? How does one survive such-a place (if it even exists!)... wouln't-cha just fry like a thin kip sausage?"

Durex makes the sign of the evil eye with his left hand.

"Hah. That look on your faces both. Worth telling this for. Thanks. But who said anything about going there? Did I say that? Did anyone hear me tell it?" Quila looks around exaggeratedly to her compatriots whom she trusts enough to keep their mouth shut, except maybe Attilius although Quila certainly noticed he did have the good sense to let her speak up in the first place.

"We are simply not sure if we need to enter or whether we merely get to shepherd our flock from the ruins back. We will have to see. As to our survival chances, we have some among us who know their way around the Way if you catch my drift, and some who are in control of the elements. As you said so yourselves, (Quila imitates the voice of the brother who said this) 'Ya don't seem to be the usual types to try their fate here' did you not?" She winks at the brothers.

[DM Bob]

That meets with some guffaws.

"No yeh ain't, that's for sure. Let us make a bet. If you come back af'er this trek into the ruins in one piece? I'll pledge my focus to follow you teh the ends of the wastes. I'll leave me brother the business an' be done with the tar... gots enough saved up to spend a bit before I pass." States Durex.

His brother adds, "Make that the two of us. Sure the Nibs would buy us out, and I couldn't leave this worm lover for too long."

"Leeches, damn it."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"You, my friends, are most welcome to join me on my travels once I get back. But let us first make sure we get there in one piece too. How far is it still you reckon?"

(OOC: Bob, once the terrain definitely starts showing tar pits, or when the brothers indicate the Caller would become a danger, let me know.)

[DM Bob]

This conversation occurs after perhaps five miles of winding travel, as the ground is littered with sharp scree, silt patches and what looks to be stone tree trunks (some upright, others broken upon the ground).

As the ground begins to gently raise in elevation, the first tar spots are seen.

This is when the brothers warn you to keep your mind still and keep the pits somewhat distant.

"You don't want to get too close, lest one o' the tar folk gets antsy. Our camp pit is in a few miles, we should reach there by early evening."

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Coden sighs and puts his helm on as well. While this will block him from using his psionic abilities, maybe it will also keep the Caller from spotting him.

[AthasianLaborer]

'Muiko will cease maintaining Mind Blank.

[Attilius]

Attilius stows his weapon and uses the long pole in his right hand to tap the ground as far in front of him as possible — making sure it's solid ground and not a silt covered tar pit.

[Deleted]

Chat'cho takes a few deep breaths, waggling the compass around.

"We're well on our way, now."

[Attilius]

Feb 2, 2024 4:41:42 GMT @arkinneas said:

Chat'cho takes a few deep breaths, waggling the compass around.

"We're well on our way, now."

The giant turns his head to the kreen Druid and smiles under his silt mask "Your common tongue is getting really good Chat. I could understand everything you just said!"

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Skrye follows the group, looking to the area the guide says is tar for a brief moment, to be aware of their location to avoid them, without stopping and continues walking

[DM Bob]

The light from the odd divining jar does glow stronger as you travel, at the very least you are on the right path. Tar bubbles lazily from patches of rock, much like slowly popped pimply cysts or even the blood botflies that infest the poor masses just under the skin, emerging in a birth of pain and disfigurement. In fact, it seems that that is the better comparison, as the earth looks freshly tortured... as if the event that caused their birth never began or cared to heal.

Skre begins to hear whispers.

"Grum, gottily, glub. Blorg, smort, plop."

This repeats over and over as the tar bubbles and pops. At first it seems like nonsense, but after a bit she feels as if there's some *intelligence* behind the garbled noise.