Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=185#1850 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 1/17/2021 at 3:17 PM Crimson squirms in your grasp, "Okay! I'm ready to go and hunt stuff, let's go!" She runs over to the tent flaps only to come to an abrupt halt, shaking her head with a confused expression as the entryway doesn't give.

(They got snowed in?)

Asteria goes over to the tent flaps and gently tries to push out whatever was blocking them.

( xD )

The orc nods, missing the humour, and the two of you set off.

Half the day is spent when the snow quite abruptly... ends. In its place is dark, gravelly ground. It radiates an uncomfortable heat. In the distance, mountains have risen up as you walked accompanied by great clouds of ash.

"We must be over border by now," the orc mumbles quietly. He looks troubled as he, with great hesitation, places one foot onto the lifeless earth. Then the next. After a minute he looks over his shoulder at you. "We now in southern territories. Watch behind your back at all times, never take anything for granted," he adds forebodingly. "Are you still sure you want to carry on to find your friends?"

"Well, he had the gold to plant on the person in front of him," he shrugs as you both follow the tracks into the woods. "Probably thinks there's plenty more money to be made from cursed rings. I'm just curious..."

He trails off. Not far from the point where it gets too dark to discern the tracks in the frost, a figure has collapsed among the rotting leaves on the forest floor.

"...how far he made it," Brazentalons finishes. He doesn't move any closer to the shady shape among the leaves.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=186#1852 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 1/17/2021 at 3:25 PM ( xD ) The orc nods, missing the humour, and the two of you set off. Half the day is spent when the snow quite abruptly... ends. In its place is dark, gravelly ground. It radiates an uncomfortable heat. In the distance, mountains have risen up as you walked accompanied by great clouds of ash. "We must be over border by now," the orc mumbles quietly. He looks troubled as he, with great hesitation, places one foot onto the lifeless earth. Then the next. After a minute he looks over his shoulder at you. "We now in southern territories. Watch behind your back at all times, never take anything for granted," he adds forebodingly. "Are you still sure you want to carry on to find your friends?"

"Not like i have anythign to lose. Ive got everything i own in here and i cna garentee no onws looking for me, ezcept the lot back in town that probably want mw in jail." Nicote shrugged. And stepped forward. Like a dumb idiot but who cares, he might as well right?

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=186#1853 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 1/17/2021 at 3:30 PM "Well, he had the gold to plant on the person in front of him," he shrugs as you both follow the tracks into the woods. "Probably thinks there's plenty more money to be made from cursed rings. I'm just curious..." He trails off. Not far from the point where it gets too dark to discern the tracks in the frost, a figure has collapsed among the rotting leaves on the forest floor. "...how far he made it," Brazentalons finishes. He doesn't move any closer to the shady shape among the leaves.

"Umm..." I look at Brazentalons and guessed that he wasn't going to find out what it was. I try to produce a ball a fire as I inch towards the dark figure nervously.

(Pff, this is definitely how getting snowed in works :P)

The tent material is cold to the touch - as you apply pressure, you feel the barrier give. Some snow falls into the tent, making Crimson bark in surprise. The rest you manage to push out of the way.

Overnight, the snow surrounded your tent thickly. It lies on the ground, roughly a quarter of a metre of the freezing stuff. Upon opening the tent flaps, all of the warm air inside the tent escapes and the chill of the morning replaces it.

"I take it back," Crimson growls. "I've decided I hate snow."

The southern territories are a dangerous area. You will have to face hostile groups frequently. You have been warned.

"Your bravery is commendable," the orc says, looking into the distance. "I will follow you. I trust you'll keep us on the right Path."

Convinced travelling companion - charisma successful

The orc looks around himself, getting his bearings. "I think they head for Phoenix Pass. A cliff-sided passage through the lavaplains, where phoenix nest. The shortest road to Boulder in the direction they go in."

Do you wish to fast travel to the Phoenix Pass?

Sure why not.

"Sounds good to me. " nicote nods. Yup hes such an idiot for wanting to do this but whatever. "Lets move then, donr want to be sitting ducks."

A fireball dimly sparks into life in your palm. With a little more concentration, it slowly bulges into an orb that illuminates your way.

Summon element - magic strength successful

Realising you're moving, Brazentalons moves to keep pace with you at your side with an embarrassed expression. Charisma just successful

On closer inspection, you can tell its a centaur. He doesn't move a muscle as the leaf litter rustles under Brazentalons' and your footsteps.

A squawk sounds by your side. Your familiar claws in the decaying leaves and extracts your Small Pick. His embarassment deepens as he realises he'd just stepped on your stolen tool. He quickly passes it back to you - the ring nowhere to be seen on its shaft.

Small Pick added back to inventory

Where it's gotten to becomes clear. The centaur's arm is outstretched from where he's collapsed, the dark ring glinting purple and red as it reflects your fireball.

( kalm ( 'u') )

The orc jumps, seemingly coming to his senses. "Yes. Standing around on border is bad idea, I apologise. I am letting my unease get the better of me."

The two of you get moving. The ash plains on the border are agonisingly open, but the orc mumbles a good number of times to himself that the two of you blend in, so that's some consolation.

At one point during your journey, campfires and figures mark the distant horizon. Then again, it could just have been a lava flow... it's hard to tell.

You know for sure there are people ahead of you, however, when the orc holds out a hand for you to halt.

"That," he points to the cliff face that rises abruptly out of the earth. It is split halfway by a crevasse, which has what look like dwarves and orcs milling about its entrance. "Is the Phoenix Pass. To reach the kidnapper caravan, we going to have to get past the guards."

There is a whole clan at its entrance.