"This might be a frivolous attempt at finding something out of nothing. Maybe we should change our direction slightly to see if we can find the actual place of the bandit encampment?" Zork waits for input from the others.
Out of Character: Is there a map of sorts to see where we are going and what we've seen?
"We are not tracking the trolls we are just following their tracks as they go the way we are going as we explore the lands around here as we were hired to do. If we run into the trolls then we will deal with them as we must. I would rather avoid a fight with trolls for now as they are not the easiest of creatures to deal with."
Oathday 11 Gozran
In the morning, you pack and discuss the route as Jhod is preparing spells. You all head to the river to fill your waterskins, down a rocky 30 degree incline, holding on to thorny bushes for support. Everyone fills up from the clear river.
As you begin to head back up, grabbing bushes and rocks to climb, Theaton's and Zork's hands slip off their supports as though they were covered in a layer of grease! Then your feet give way as the ground suddenly becomes slippery! Two splashes follow as you fall into the river.
Jhod laughs from the riverbank and looks pleased with himself.
Out of Character: You must roll swim to get out. The water is calm, so you are swept downstream very slowly, and it's only a DC 10 to succeed. Don't forget to include bonuses and your armor check penalty (Not doubled, unlike Dungeons & Dragons 3.5).
Out of Character:: rolled a 18 +6 for swim - 3 for armor is a 21 I think I was able to swim out of the river.
Theaton looks around and aids Zork if he looks like he needs it. Otherwise he climbs back up the river bank and heads back to the horses to get ready to move out.
Zork splashes out of the water behind Theaton and you climb up the slope back to the camp to wring your clothes out. Jhod says, "I feel honoured that the fey have accepted my gifts," And he smiles smugly.
Travel continues through the hills and you fill in sections of the region you haven't explored. By sundown, you are tired, and thankful no further pranks have been played on you. You also feel a great sense of accomplishment from within.
Out of Character: Congratulations, that's the first quarter of the region explored! The whole region is shown on the centuries old Taldan map at Source 1. It's within the red box.
The currently explored region was last filled out here: Source 7. The next time you visit Oleg's, I will draw in the exploration you just did, and I'm going to have to zoom out as you explore more.
Everyone enjoy 1200 XP! Theaton I hope you don't mind the equal share, but you are far ahead of all the other PC's!
So right now you are approximately where the north most hill is on the brown region. The bandit camp to the west (The red dot) was a river ford if you wish to cross back into the forest. Or you can head south to fill in unexplored bits. Oleg's is always an option as well.
Out of Character: Sorry I seemed to have missed your last update to the game but good for Zork in swimming out and getting this far. I have over 2100+ experience now.
In Character: After trying terribly to dry himself he looks at Theaton, "Shouldn't we try to get dry first unless we are heading straight back to Oleg's?"
Theaton looks out to the west then turns to the south. "Let's head south now so that we can continue to explore some more. We can always head back to Oleg's after a few more days of exploration.
Out of Character: Theaton has 5,600 experience.