Shadow War campaign In-Game: Chapter 51- Along the Eastern Road

[Web.Metz]

"You are saying, because we encountered Planeswalkers on a primary roadway...you think they knew we were camping on a hill some ways off of that roadway? I think it is a high possibility that they were not expecting us in particular to come down this road, that they were employing bandit strategy, like hobgoblins, to acquire supplies and victims."

"There are few arcane spells that allow one to change their shape. Alter Self allows one to take a form similar to their own, like transforming from a human to a gnome for an hour or so. Polymorph would allow one to transform them-self or someone else into another creature altogether, for mere minutes. I heard of a spell that can turn a person permanently into a weak creature like a toad...but that it carries a dangerous risk of wiping the subject's mind. I have also heard of that there are folk connected deeply with nature that could transform into animals for extended periods of time, and I am not talking about lycanthropes."

[Web.Metz]

If'n it be true an' one o' our animals be a spy in disguise could ye be tellin' it if'n it be magic, mate?"

"Regardless, if it is a active spell, I could likely detect it. If it is something else, then I would not."

[chrysalis]

"Gosh, Faerun. I don't know what some of those words mean, but it sounds like you know what you are talking about. What's a lycanthrope?"

[Web.Metz]

"A lycanthrope is a Werewolf."

[Gaumer]

"You are saying, because we encountered Planeswalkers on a primary roadway...you think they knew we were camping on a hill some ways off of that roadway? I think it is a high possibility that they were not expecting us in particular to come down this road, that they were employing bandit strategy, like hobgoblins, to acquire supplies and victims."

"No, mate, I be agreein' that the red beasts be surprised by us bein' there.

But the wagon team be knowin' where we be. 'Ow, we not be knowin'. But if'n it be Hyde who be tellin' 'em, an' Hyde be sendin' the red beasts, then why not be attackin' us too? Less, Hyde ain't be bein' the one at the top o' one or both o' these things."

[Web.Metz]

{Ooops did not read it until now...

How visible would a minotaur be at the top of a hill?}

[Web.Metz]

"I would not have put it past Blackthere to use Serena's appearance for his own ends. I also would not put it past him to transform into a bird and fly overhead, just to spot our position."

"Also, given his adeptness at the arcane, he could quite easily summon a Phantom Steed. Such a steed makes no sound as it travels, is shunned by most animals, and can travel at speeds over 3 times that of a horse over most difficult terrain."

[Gaumer]

Bedlor shakes his head and facepalms

"Oi, this magic be givin' me a 'eadache.

Let's be movin' on, mates."

[Navarre]

Passage through the forest is slow. It taxes the mind more than the body; testing your patience. Your enemy has Jackson in their grasp, stolen your mounts, and have seemed to be one step ahead of you far too often.

You follow the compass needle as it faithfully points to...something, due southeast. Hours pass as you make your way among densely packed trees and through heavy brush. The three Rangers in the lead, nothing more than an occasional animal track is to be seen.

It has been almost three hours when Moira stirs on the plank carrying her.

"Drade...I can wiggle my fingers, see?!?" Moira says excitedly.

Within a few minutes, the pretty young cleric has full mobility about her. She stands and stretches, testing her limbs as if she has just discovered them.

She runs a little to Faerun and throws her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Faerun. I knew none of you would leave me but...seeing how adamant you were to protect me...well...", her voice trails away in emotion as Moira places her soft lips on your cheek. She doesn't rush to remove them either; allowing her lips to touch your skin for as long as she dares while she holds you.

It has been a long time since you have been so close to a woman. You had almost forgotten how intoxicating the experience could be. ... You had certainly tried; pushing your mind to more cerebral pursuits. But Moira seems to make it easy to forget past pain and instead think of future possibilities.

Erika seems to be the only one not moved by the display of affection. Or, more accurately perhaps, she seems quite a bit moved to emotion but none of it could be described as "happy".

She continues forward on her own, the rest of the party being forced to break from their reflections to avoid losing her as she moves deeper into the forest. It is somewhere after five hours past noon, The Eye still high in the sky but all but obscured by the canopy of leaves above you.

You continue carefully for not quite another thirty minutes when, Faerun, your compass slowly begins to change direction. You walk another few steps to be sure but the compass now points due northwest.

[sab39]

"Does that mean we're on top of them?"

I take a look to see.

[chrysalis]

I ask Faerun if I could hold the compass and hold it in my hand to see if we get amdifferent direction.

[Web.Metz]

Faerun hands it carefully to Liv.

[Navarre]

Liv, the compass points to Faerun.

[Web.Metz]

Faerun takes it back and waits for T'Ning's result of looking into the Grey Realm.

[sab39]

Trying to give no sign of surprise, I casually wander over to Faerun, tap him on the shoulder, and then tap my forehead and gesture towards his.