The party posts guards and spends a second night at the overhang. In the morning, all are ready to hit the trail once more. The going is tougher than ever, since you are now following an older trail. Many times, you must take Faliol and Riccoco's word that there is a trail at all. Sure enough though, the guides continue to follow the little red pieces of yarn that have been your signposts. Jareek dutifully unties each one and puts it away. Cas skillfully maneuvers the Wagon through the most treacherous parts, keeping the oxen under control.

The rain varies in intensity, but it never completely dies off. Between that and your detour, you do not make Fort Lizard the first day. In fact, due to several other deadfalls (but none so perilous as the Carnobrocs') another day passes. Thus, it is on the evening of the fifth day that your guides estimate you will reach the gatehouse.

The last mile or so has been following the shore of the inlet, the wide body of water that leads from Tallon to the Fort. By forgoing the Rivermaster's ferry, you have all saved a large percentage of your cargo and profit. Of course, you are all also tired, sore, some wounded and fairly paranoid of trees and dogs.

It is about an hour out that Faliol and Riccoco find the riven. He is still humanoid, though he bears only the scraps of whatever clothing he originally wore. He has been pierced by several arrows and is apparently dead. Though once he might have been handsome, now he appears to be little more than a skeleton. Flesh is stretched over visible bones and the jaw has elongated to accommodate a row of hideous fangs. Limbs have lengthened to a spider-like proportion.
Faliol fires a yellow stringed arrow back along the path to have the party wait. Once they determine there is no threat from the carcass, the fox and raccoon give the white arrow signal for the others to approach.

Night is approaching fast, and though the rain has lessened to a mere drizzle at this point, it has never completely cleared. The fort is not yet visible.

The action begins as the party converges on the body.

"I do believe this would be a Spiderleech."

Celeste approaches the body. She spends a long time looking at the arrows protruding from it. Watching Nuyok for his response to it, she will circle it looking for clues as to how he died. (Does it appear that an execution took place, or that he perhaps was shot as he ran away from pursuers?) Does it appear that this occurred recently or has some decay set in? If it appears recent, Celeste will scan the area for signs of the responsible parties and will be on the alert, in case they show themselves and seem inclined to do the same to Rath.

While moving around the body, she seems to be speaking low and to herself, "suffer the children not". She repeats the phrase several times as if deciphering it's meaning. A look of horror settles on her face as realization dawns on her. Her voice raises to a level more easily heard and she angrily says, "Memento mori, Astercaar, memento mori."

My take on this is that Celeste is remembering the disappearance of either young friends or siblings who were 'sent away'. The execution of adult riven was an expected thing on Devil's Island. In fact, it was an accepted fact that if you were so afflicted, you would be killed. Some even welcomed death rather than live as riven (not that they would be allowed to live anyway. It is, after all, a Savage Earth). But it had been so long since any children had been sent away that she never associated their disappearance with a riven strike. Now realizing what actually happened, she holds her father (as Chief of the tribe) responsible not only for the possible death of her husband, but missing friends/siblings. She remembers the overheard phrase from those times, "Suffer the children not to live".

Her experience with Rath disproves the Red Tide beliefs about Riven.

The year and a half she spent living in Kislan and away from the Raiders of Red Tide accounts for part of why she is so eager to disassociate herself with the Red Tide, having been exposed to other ways of existance. Now she has sworn a blood oath on Astercaar, "Memento mori" --"Remember that thou must die" (The hunted becomes the hunter, though at this point, Astercaar may not yet have knowledge that Celeste still lives. It has been a little over a month since the attack of the black ship and he may well believe her dead. Most likely she also believes that he thinks her dead, depending upon the rate of travel of news, or rumor, or whatever.

It is one of Celestes long term plans to eventually make her way back to Kislan to see if the Red Tide struck there, whether or not Tjens people still live, and to retrieve the hidden charts of the waterways of the Shattered Isles and surrounding sea. They are very detailed charts and could bring a good price from the right buyer.

I look first to Nuyok. If he tenses up, I draw my sword and follow his gaze.

If he appears relaxed, I move off into the brush to do a quick circle of the caravan. I move slowly, looking for the usual enemies but also for anything unusual (tracks, other bodies, etc.)

God of Dice, be gentle!
Perception, 12-
3d6: 8 Sat November 30, 2002 @8:53 AM (CST)

You are kind and gentle, God of Dice!

... offers his wayward child another chance to gain his love.

Prepare thy SACRIFICE!

Yes, about two hundred yards up the path (which is definitely more path-like now), you see a game trail that crosses your way.
Well, game trail isn't quite the right word. "bulldozer trail" might be better. Something BIG has crossed this way. It knocked over mature trees and overturned large stones. The path comes from your right and obviously continues on to the left. (the side towards the inlet.) Tracks look similar to a deezel's, but much bigger. It might possibly also have more than four legs.

With Keith's permission, Faliol will be standing in this path of destruction when Ricco catches up to him. Deep in thought about the following questions...

(For player knowledge) Are we FAR beyond the carnobrocs and their roadblock of a tree?

(Spoken to Ricco and asked mentally) If we were parallel to the main path while on this alternate route and this deezel-sized monstrosity plowed a path perpendicular to ours, wouldn't it be likely that the deezel-path crosses the main path?

(Spoken to Ricco and asked mentally) Do I think it worth the investment in time (based upon what we know) to have the caravan follow the deezel-path towards the main path in hopes of jumping back on a clearer, easier to travel route?

Caravan guide 12? or less
3d6: 12 Tue December 3, 2002 @6:13 AM (CST)
remember the crown royal bag which my real dice reside in plush comfort, O' Dice God!

Keith, basically I personally am curious about number 1, but I think I know the answer. On number 2 and 3, I am asking Ricco's opinion and searching Faliol's memories/skills for an answer

The 'coon's brown eyes take a long look at the swath of destruction, rainwater running in rivulets along his furry pelt. "This 'coon be thinkin' you be right about this path." he holds up his arms and crosses them in an 'X'. "That main path you been talkin' bout is crossed too. Ifin' whatever made this kept on, anyway."

Riccoco looks back towards where the rest of the caravan presumably is, gathered about the dead riven. "Ifin' we only be an hour or so outta Fort Lizard. We might as well keep keepin' on."

"I agree, we need to get moving."

I turn and trot back to the caravan.

Yes, you are two days past the carnobroc territory.

Now that you are this close to the fort, it is likely that you have already rejoined the main path. The team that chops the jungle probably wouldn't set out on a new trail so close to home.

When they do split off to a new path, it's usually in response to something like the fallen tree. i.e. something so diifcult to move, its better to chop a new way.

Also, it may be important to remember that it is not a deezel path, but a path made by something like a deezel, only much bigger.

Without the forensics skill, it is difficult to come to any conclusions. Some observations:

1. The body has not yet begun to decompose. In this climate that means less than two days. This is a difficult judgement to make, since there is so little meat on him anyway.

2. He wears tattered remnants of clothing. The clothing is torn and soiled and unrecognizeable. However, the torn edges have not yet frayed to any appreciable degree.

3. He has been hit with three arrows, all of the same make. They appear to have hit him from all sides. He also has a cutting wound on his arm.

4. He has a broadsword and a loosely fitting leather cuirass.

5. Any tracks he might have made have been totally obscured by rain.

Goes to Rath
"We'd better find you something to wear. Fort Lizard isn't far, whispers...they say.
Looking at the body. "Civilization you know." she says in a disgusted tone.
I will hang out near Rath and make sure he's OK. I'd like to keep him from looking closely but I won't get in his way if he tries.

[EDITED on Sat November 30, 2002 @6:38 AM (PST)]

[EDITED on Sat November 30, 2002 @6:39 AM (PST)]

Cas moves back to the wagon and takes her driving seat. "I shame that some Spiderleech was cut down. I'm going to work on my carving unless needed."

She will pay attention to things going on but has no further interest in investigating.

Kent throws a sympathetic look to Beka.

Rath looks at the body stoicly with his head bowed as if in prayer. Beka thinks she can hear Rath say something. He only mumbles, but it sounded like an oath to find the culprits. She almost dismisses and thinks she must have heard him worng. Rath isn't the type for vengance...is he? He bends down and picks up the broadsword holding the hilt in his lower right hand palm facing ground and holds the tip in is lower left palm skyward. He runs the blade across his left palm drawing a line of blood. He closes the wounded hand into a fist and shakes it over the fallen riven dripping blood on the body. His task finished he turns to Beka, there is no emotion in his normally playful eyes, and in a cold tone says "Yes you're right, I should find some clothes." Rath continues to carry the broadsword.

OOC: Rath is enraged at seeing purists persecute (try to say that 10 times fast), I figured he didn't actually see it, and isn't in combat so I figured the role-playing blood oath would do. If you think he should go bezerk or something let me know.

I was also thinking of making Rath a little insane as time went on. As he learns about "the real world" combined with his reaving. I thought it would be neat to turn the "gentle nieve giant" into a lunatic...well maybe not quite to lunatic status, but you get the idea, whaddya think?

I would wait until the middle or end of the Fort Lizard threads before making that decision. It might give you some ideas. Going slowly crazy might be fun to role-play.

A little clarification on Purists. Most everyone hates/fears the riven, not just Purists. You are correct that Purists would be more likely to kill than to banish. Your own tribe didn't treat you any better and would slay you if you tried to return.
Out here in the wilds it is more common to slay than to banish. People are a little more desparate or concerned with survival.

The Vampriven stirs as Rath's blood soaks into its carcass, "More! Feed me more blood...."

Vampriven! Players may now congratulate Faliol on inspiring the GM with cool new monsters. Just don't leave any marks

Cas hops off her post and walks up to Rath, "I would also advice clothing that sword at Fort Lizard. Those who killed him would have seen it if they checked to make sure the body was dead. If they see it again they may take you a grave robber. Actually, to some anything a Riven owns is tainted and if they are quick to kill a Riven they may just be as quick to kill one who isn't afraid to borrow from a Riven. Just keep it nice and wrapped up inside the fort and you should be fine."

The wizened raccoon pauses in mid-step towards the carcass. (No, it isn't a corpse.) His eyes flick towards Cas as she speaks and then gives the dead Riven's leather cuirass one last look of wistful sorrow. "The partin' be the sweet sorrow." Shaking his head, he turns away, "It be a' awful lookin' thing. Not that two days dead in this rain would be makin' even the fine kit a mess..."

A quick huff later, Riccoco looks towards Beka and Nuyok, "Well, what be your thoughts? Fort Lizard be havin' berry ale, this 'coon be thinkin' an' the day be movin' on."

"I agree. Whatever made that path, we do not need to encounter."

Rath looks at you with a wicked smile that seems foreign on his normally boyish face "Cas, I plan on showing off my new sword, hoping the people who did this will recognize it and show themselves. I mean how can I get back at them if I don't know who they are?"

Cas looks a Rath a bit confused. "But why would you want to do that?"

"Yeah, why care you for this misbegotten soul. Not like it is kin. For all we know it may be a baby eater or a murderer chased to this place before being killed. Just cause you was the victim of a reaver and dins't lose your mind dosn't mean this one dins't and it being killed more a mercy than an execution. In all my short life you are the only riven I ever seen or even heard of that didn't act like a lunitic or was better off dead for the pain and misery they was living. Even puttin' aside the riven thing, it just isn't a good idea to be gettin' mixed up in a strangers affairs to begin with. Best to just keep out of it and not bring trouble to yourself or those you are now traveling with. You told me not to take things on face value and here you are siding with this thing cause it was riven without having any knowledge of how or why it was killed. Sure it is likley killed just because it was riven, but that is the same assumption most make that a thing is evil just because it is riven. We don't know now do we? Being riven maybe don't mean you're evil but being killed doens't mean you are innocent of everything, either."

Riccoco takes a small step away from Handle's direction, fairly stunned by his vehemence. As the young hooman speaks, though a bemused smile slowly grows to a knowing grin. "An there ye be havin' it from 'andle's own mouth. Let be, be, and be movin' along, now." He makes a shooing motion with his leathery paws before taking his own advise and trundling off to catch up to Faliol.

surprised at the outburst.
"That's more words than I've ever heard come out of you!"
.oO(I hink I'm rubbing off on him!)

To Rath, "Come on, we don't know enough yet to jump into the death pits. Besides, you know I'll go right in with you and it never works out quite the way we planned."

Hoping to joke him out of this...

"So, we're moving on, yes?"

I trot back to the caravan, look around at the various people briefly.

"We are losing daylight, time to move. Double time. Rath, you may want to hide those extra arms. We may stumble upon people at any time...."

Without waiting for an answer, I trot back and stay on this path till we either encounter something or hit Fort Lizard.

"How long now until we reach the Fort Faliol?" "What can you tell me of this Fort?"

I'm going to post this link in a bit, but you've been there:
MAP

Faliol, Cas, and Beka have been through the fort before, thus the visibility of this post is limited to you three.

Also, from the upcoming entry in the sourcebook:

Fort Lizard is located on the Thelon Inlet. It is the main stopping point between Tallon and Adala. Merchant Boats travel up and down the inlet, and the Lizard Road runs through it.
The fort was built 30 years ago by Kanukka the Red and it was instrumental in buying supplies from Adala during the Karkul campaign. Karkul had only the small city of Orodon that it could barter with, being bottlenecked by the superior Tallon Navy.
The fort is not nearly so important now as it was, and the jungle has reclaimed the outer fields. Now it is primarily used for trading and housing a small garrison that acts as a lookout and keeps the Lizard Road clear.
The fort houses forty soldiers, though it has tents and supplies to house several hundred in a pinch. There are large grain storehouses here. There are a few general traders, as well as various weaponers and armorers. An adept is always in residence, since his influence keeps the walls enhanced and thus protects from reavers.

Did not mean to ignore these questions. By the time I got around to giving an answer, we arrived.

I stop when Nuyok calls out and trot back to him. "I do not mean to be rude, Mr. Nuyok, but I cannot spare the time to answer your questions in detail right now. We are almost there and I am worried about encountering something that makes an animal larger than a deezil run in terror." I make to leave, then turn back. "There is normally an Adept in residence at the Fort. Does that help?"

I turn and trot back to Ricco. Continuing our hasty travelling.

.oO(Between the toenail and not answering his questions, Nuyok has every right to be unhappy with me...)

Celeste is unusually quiet during the last leg to Fort Lizard. Keeping watch to the surrounding areas for the 'something' larger than a deezel, she seems to be brooding over something.

Rath shakes his head as if clearing it. "Umm, y-y-yeah you're right. Don't know what I was thinking..." Rath drops the sword quickly as if just realizing he was holding it and falls silent with a perplexed look on his face.

I look around at everyone, not meeting anyone's eyes, noticing how I was a bit too forward, and too loud.
I glance over to Rath and wait till I catch his attention. I mouth, "I'm sorry." in his direction and then look quickly away.
Moving away from the center of attention, I find a place distant form anyone and try to fade into the background again.

Nuyok will observe the corpse as well as the area of the "game" trail. "We should move on."

PER, 13-
3d6: 5, 4, 5 (STUN: 14, BODY: 3) Mon December 2, 2002 @11:41 AM (EST)
Spirit Sense, 13-
3d6: 3, 6, 5 (STUN: 14, BODY: 4) Mon December 2, 2002 @11:41 AM (EST)
Detect Hostile Intent, 11-
3d6: 5, 4, 2 (STUN: 11, BODY: 3) Mon December 2, 2002 @11:41 AM (EST)

You detect nothing beyond what has already been described.

OOC: Bad dice! Bad, bad dice!

OOC: Bad dice = GM manipulation for an evil, behind-the-scenes event, i.e., get the hell out of here! LOL