They followed a rough trail that led alongside the stream that issued from the cave of Azval Stalvaq, heading back into the forests that surrounded it. Chance studied the map as they walked; to get to Camp Brokentooth following the paths would see them make a great big loop, crossing a bridge and then coming back in the direction they had started from. It would be much quicker to cross the stream, which was not all that deep or wide, a little bit along the path, cross what looked like some hills and come upon the camp from behind.
Besides the three camps, the map also showed two other unnamed locations, a ruins on an island in the middle of what looked like a swamp and a standing stone in the middle of the forests far to the south-east. They wouldn’t have been included on the map for no reason and so he suspected that they were bonus locations to check out for those prone to explore beyond the basic questline. There he might find something of value or that could aid him, or so he hoped.
Shags was loping out ahead of them as they walked, with Yrip tucked up close behind Chance, trying to stay away from the big wolf. Although they had promised not to do anything to each other, there was still tension evident. They did not entirely trust each other, it was obvious to see, though Chance hoped something could be done about it before long. If they were going to be travelling with each other for the foreseeable future then they were going to have to get over it.
Chance focused on the parchment, removing the map for a time and returning to all the character information. He wasn’t interested in that specifically, but instead went hunting for information, specifically on his two companions. Under the entry for Animal Companion, he found the mention of wolves and focused on that. As he had hoped, the parchment changed to give him a description of them, and more importantly what they were capable of.
Knowledge: Wolves
Affinity: Nature
A large, intelligent pack animal, wolves bear some resemblance to dogs, but are not to be treated as dogs. They are wild creatures, wary of men, with a reputation that is not warranted as dangerous killers. In general they will stay away from men. They have a close association with the Nature based classes, such as druids and rangers, and can be found as companions for them.
Stats: Body: 2. Mind: 1. Soul: 1. Reaction: 3. Presence: 1. Perception: 2.
Affinities: Nature, Hunting
Skills: Stalk, Track
Powers: Hamstring, Unnerving Howl
Shags had better stats than him. Looking at the large wolf, he could understand that; Shags would have no difficulty in taking him down. Handy in a fight, handy for hunting. No wonder other druids valued them as companions.
Closing down the note on wolves, he went searching for one on kobolds; he needed to know just what the issue was that people had with them. After a bit of searching he came upon a reference to them and focused on it.
Knowledge: Kobolds
Affinity: Lore
A small reptilian people, individually kobolds are weak and of little threat, but they are not to be under-estimated. They bear a grudge against everyone of bigger stature than them, and in numbers are vicious, vindictive and hostile. Due to their physical limitations they prefer traps and ambushes to deal with their victims.
Stats: Body: 0. Mind: 1. Soul: 1. Reaction: 1. Presence: 0. Perception: 1
Affinities: Traps.
Skills; Stalk.
Powers: Cunning Trap
Chance looked at Yrip and then back at the description, trying to reconcile the idea with the appearance of Yrip. He looked mostly harmless, not some terrible monster that lurked in shadows waiting to pounce. This place was weird if they were so worried about kobolds.
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Shaking his head, Chance rolled up the parchment and stowed it away, trudging on down the path. Ahead he could see the path and stream start to bend, and across it a series of low hills rising, capped with the skeletons of trees, bare branches stretching out towards the skies.
He was struck with a slight tightening of his chest and a sense of discomfort, much like a mild form of indigestion, coming out of nowhere.
Must be the lack of decent food, he reasoned. A couple of fish, a few berries and some water were all that he had partaken of since arriving and that did not seem enough for the burly form that he had been given.
“We are going to cross over here,” Chance told the others, trying to ignore the discomfort. “The goblin camp is on the other side of those hills and it’ll be faster and less tiring to follow the path all the way around.”
“Cross the water, master?” Yrip asked, looking suspiciously at the stream. It wasn’t all that deep, rising no higher than even Yrip’s knees, slow flowing though it was fairly wide, five metres across or so. The bed of the river was a mix of sand and stones, most of them worn smooth. A few poked above the surface of the water, providing stepping stones.
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Yrip can’t swim,” Yrip replied, wringing his hands together. He looked so pathetic that Chance had to work hard not to laugh, though he couldn't help but smile.
“I don’t think it is really an issue here, Yrip. It Isn't very deep.”
“Iyari don’t like water, master,” Yrip explained. “Water demons are always trying to snatch us away.”
“There won't be any here, Yrip,” Chance told the worried kobold, “But stick close to me and I’ll look after you.”
Yrip beamed. “Thank you, master.” He shot Shags a look. “Shaggy Death can look after himself.”
Shags gave his peculiar wolfy grin and sprung away, leaping from stone to stone and reaching the far side without even getting his paws wet. He turned when he had arrived and looked back and Chance was sure that he had a smug expression.
“Show off.”
There was no chance that he could get across the stream without getting wet though, or Yrip. Both were too short and lacked the ability of the large wolf to leap about so easily. Edging to the stream, he started to wade in, using the stones when available. The nervous kobold was pressed right up against him, a fact that didn’t make it easy when stepping on smooth stones beneath the water’s surface. About half way across, Yrip grabbed at him to support himself, an action that almost saw Chance tumble as well, a stone shifting beneath his feet.
He flailed about for a moment, attempting to right himself, managing to get his balance back, but Yrip, with a startled yelp, toppled, landing in the water. Sitting down, it came up almost to his neck and the little kobold’s large eyes were almost panicked.
“Master!”
Chance grabbed at Yrip, hauling him back up to his feet. Across the stream, Shags had settled down on the bank and was observing with his golden eyes. Chance couldn’t exactly blame him for that; there wasn’t much the wolf could do, and besides, any help he might try and provide would just panic Yrip even more.
“All better?” Chance asked Yrip as the kobold regained his footing.
“Thank you, master,” Yrip replied. “Water demons almost had poor Yrip there.”
“Just be a bit more careful next time,” Chance told him. They started off again, pressing through the water slowly, using the exposed stones when they could, reaching the far bank in time without further incident, re-joining Shags.
Water dripped from them as they stood there, though it was not too uncomfortable as the sun was rising higher and the day was warm without being hot. It would not take too long for them to dry off.
As Chance looked around the spot they found themselves in, a message pinged in his mind;
Knowledge Check
Affinity: Nature
Tree, Apple: Wood, other uses unknown.
Spotting the juicy red fruit hanging on them, he knew exactly the use he planned to put them towards. It was a step up from just berries, and there seemed to be a small orchard of them growing wild there, with plenty of fruit to be had. With time and more searching, he hoped that further fruit trees could be discovered. In the meantime he picked a couple of the apples, tossing one to Yrip. Biting into the apple, he found it had a slightly tart edge to it, not the sweetness of the ones back home he was used to, but it was still juicy and not unpleasant.
There was a crunching from Yrip as he chomped down on his apple.
Want one?
Shags gave him a long look. I am a wolf, not a bear.
Chance shrugged. Craghand might know all this stuff, but it was still new to him.
While he wasn’t going to starve now, a bit more variety would be appreciated, as would someone who knew had to cook properly. Not much chance of that though.
As he chewed on the apple, he looked at the way ahead, where the hills sloped gently upwards. They didn’t look too difficult a climb, though the lack of trees upon them meant there wasn’t much in the way of cover. Still, with Shags around that shouldn’t have been much of an issue.
“Time to move out,” he said. “Let’s see if we can’t find these goblins and work out how to deal with them.”