May 1st is a bit more mild. The sun peeks through the sullen clouds occasionally. The wet snow begins to melt.
Rage prepares her spells, and by midmorning is ready to depart.
Slow to rise in the morning as he hates the cold, Logan mills around the camp, studying his spells and just waiting to move on.
Dor exercises to keep in shape and practices with his weapons.
Niko stretches and yawns as he grabs some food and ale.
"Time to leave?" he asks.
Malvis watches Rage and Carburator prepare to depart, and says, "Take care of yourselves."
Rage smiles at Malvis. "I'm always careful, except when I am not. "
"A point well-taken, my mistress," says Malvis, with only a trace of a smile.
Carburator smiles at the love-struck Malvis. He says, "Unlikely, but if I can, I will watch her back."
"And you have no objection to us continuing while you are gone. We will stay on the road as long unless something forces us to move off."
"Everyone up and let us go."
Turning to Niko, Malvis adds, "Let's go. A good Illusionist is always looking for a way to practice his art."
"Practice his art on what?" Niko asks dubiously.
"Yes. Callie, how would you like to take point with Sian?"
"Windul, Vastelle, please act as a rear guard. I will take turns with Kaliar going up into the air to scout around?"
They take up their positions.
Carburator changes into a different outfit stuffing the other into a sack and saying, "Can someone take this for now? And my staff?" He puts on a cloak with hood. Then he shaves and cuts his hair. "I didn't really participate so I doubt they even noticed me. Even so, no sense taking any chances."
"I can if you wish," Logan says, offering to watch his stuff, and perhaps check it out while Carb is away...
Carburator says, "Thank you Logan."
Carburator says to Rage when he is done, "Ready whenever you are!"
Rage borrows Kailar's crystal ball again for a few minutes, then polymorphs herself into an average height bearded man as a disguise.
"Let's go." the mage says and casts her teleport spell.
The rest of you set out immediately after Rage and Carburator teleport out, passing through the woods to the road, and then turning south.
Soon afterwards, glancing back over your respective shoulders, you see Rage and Carburator hurrying after you to catch up.
They have been gone perhaps ten minutes.
You stop and they join you.
Niko looks for signs of pursuit.
"That was quick...what happened?"
"Nothing," Rage says, "They didn't want to let us in, so it was a moot point."
"They recognized the both of you or were they just distrustful of strangers?"
"Distrustful of strangers and didn't like our answers," Rage replies.
"I am sorry to hear that. I know that both you and Carburator wished to make amends for the damage we did."
Niko chuckles. "You mean you didn't just fly over the gate and force them to accept your help?"
Rage flips around and walks slowly over to Niko. When she is face to face with him, she jabs him in the chest with her finger, poking him as she speaks.
"Your sarcasm is not appreciated," she says, a slow boil in her voice. "Not appreciated at all. The fact that some wished to do something that you scorn suggests that you and I are going to have problems."
Niko shakes his head as he pushes Rage's poking hand aside with an open palm.
"Scorn? I consider what you both went to do noble, if a bit misguided."
He then grins. "My sarcasm was directed at the fact that you are one pushy broad, Rage! Nothing more, nothing less."
Niko shrugs. "Did you leave food and/or gold...that they probably would have appreciated that...or perhaps a wall of stone or iron...or even a moat in front of their gate, so that they could build a draw bridge...lots of useful things you could have done or left from this side of their walls..."
With that, she turns away and walks a bit away from the group before casting fly on herself and taking off in the general direction the group is traveling.
"Let us keep moving, folks. We still have a long trip ahead of us."
Kadlian urges Fleetwing up into the air, going after Rage.
You set out, riding more or less south through the wet snow that covers the road, following the meandering path of the Mississippi River.
The day passes quietly. That night, you camp in the woods down by the river. After dinner, Kadlian takes Windul aside for a private conversation.
Eventually you settle down to sleep, posting guards as usual.
About an hour after the party has settled down to sleep, Carburator and Windul are on watch. The temperature has already dropped below freezing, when they hear the sounds of something approaching the camp through the woods. Its footfalls are heavy and it makes quite a noise, obviously not trying to disguise its approach.
Kadlian rolls out of his bedroll and makes sure everyone is awake.
He stares out into the night.
"Far enough, whomever you are. Please state your name and intentions."
Logan nocks a bolt in his crossbow and with cloak drawn tight against his cold body, he strains the limits of his infravision to see what it is that is approaching the camp.
Niko makes sure Edelle awakens and then he turns invisible. He then pulls out his Wand of Fire.
Malvis will insure that Rage has awakened, then move off to the side and ready his Wand of Steam.
Rage rolls out of her slumber and turns invisible with her ring before moving away from her current location, then waits.
Dor readies to tackle whatever problem may appear, head on.
Sian motions to Callie to move off to the side and into the woods to flank him. He does the same with swords drawn.
As people are moving into position an enormous pile of garbage comes trundling into the camp!
It does not move to attack you; instead, it makes straight for where the horses are tethered. They nicker nervously as the creature approaches.
Kadlian moves to get in its path. "Get the horses out of here. Windul, Vastelle, Edelle, please assist."
Kadlian addresses the pile of garbage. "Far enough. Whatever you want, state your intentions or my friends will bathe you in fire."
Kadlian draws his sword and ignites his flametongue.
Logan aims his crossbow at the hulking mound of garbage, but does not fire yet, until everyone else attacks.
Niko joins Kadlian with flaming cutlass in one hand and wand of fire in the other.
"Here we go again!" he mutters to no one in particular.
"Anyone recognize what this thing is? It would be nice to attach a name to it."
"Not sure what it's called now, but if it gets any closer, it's gonna be toast!"
"Maybe it is after their manure," Dor suggests.
"It may be, but I do not want to find out you're wrong after it's eaten a few of our mounts."
The creature veers away from the threatening elves and heads for your latrine area.
Kadlian sighs in relief. "Dor, it is apparent that you are correct. Okay, let us billet the horses in a different area. Maybe after consuming our latrine and the horses', it will move on."
Niko snorts as he sheathes cutlass (after the flames go out!) and puts away his wand, "I've got a better idea. We should make it our mascot!"
He then heads back to the warmth of his bedroll with Edelle.
Malvis, looking a little pale, says weakly, "I think I may be getting sick...."
Dor starts laughing.
"I hope you wiped really well after your last trip to the woods. And puking will just attract him to your gullet," Dor says to Malvis.
Malvis manages a weak smile, and replies, "Then I guess I had better hold it in. I truly hope it's only a scavenger, and doesn't like fresh meat. Otherwise, we might be forced to fight trash."
"Good point," Dor concedes. "Hey, does anyone speak its language? That's right. I am asking if you speak trash."
He begins to laugh even harder.
The monster arrives at your latrine area. You hear it happily slurping and eating away.
When it is finished, it moves over to where the horses had been tied up and cleans things up around there.
It makes one circuit of the camp, and finally goes over to inspect Logan's dirty socks and underwear...but these are too foul and disgusting for even a neo-otyugh to consider eating, so it moves on.
The rest of the night passes quietly.