Birthmonth the 30th, 289 of the 29th age. 8 PM. Eoghan seemed to be a bit more of himself on this day and we discussed a bit at length the averted adventure to liberate King Mombi’s Vice-queen. In fact the next day, Heatmonth the 1st, after we had set off on the Windshade. Darius talked to the ranger frankly. He admitted what happened, embracing an honest discourse and left nothing behind.
Eoghan seemed to understand, was not totally thrilled or upset about either. Eventually the matter was put behind us. Captain Twilick had put in all our supplies and using the Kaiser’s stipend, also paid for 4 additional days of food for us to take. We are going to set up a base camp at the southwest foothills of the mountains, on the river bed but safely enough away from any of the crazy wind issues or mountain predators.
It was about 3 PM when we brought the Windshade down. Some of his crew set up a simple series of blocks pre cut and notched for the skyship to rest in. A camp was established and we bid the gnome captain a farewell for now. Where he was, he could feasibly stay there almost 2 months, which gives the party plenty of time to go to the mountain and eventually make their way inside and return.
Packs shouldered the group set off, moving up and down the hills and staying in the valleys when possible. After 3 or so hard miles, we were cresting the larger valley cleft to the mountain range. The wind was really buffeting us, hair wild and cloaks driven forward. We climbed almost 1000 feet up before coming over the top of the rise between the 2 mountains and were on the lee side of the 1st valley. The wind died instantly and we were able to find some sort of place for camp. The idea was we’d stay in the hut, but position it so it faced a rocky outcropping and no chance of the group being accosted at night. We slept well.
Heatmonth the 2nd we were on the go by 8:30 AM. At some point, Wilhelm stripped down and took Raven form. He flew east and north, scouting ahead and watching the sky. The wind was pretty fierce in places and he did find the peak in question, but as he flew closer he could feel a frightening. His avian senses were telling him a predator, and a large one, was in the area.
He flew back and after getting changed, let us know about the land between here and the Donnegarten peak as well as the feeling of a predator in the area. We opted to be on higher alert and continued to set off.
Around 2 we came to an area where a fire had burned about 2 acres of forest. Older burn, and somewhat regular in size and dimension. About 4 as we closed in on the mountain, Wilhelm changed again, this time to a black bear. He too felt a presence of passing into a predator’s hunting grounds. We stayed on high alert and it began to drizzle out. By 7:30 we were at the mountain’s base and set up camp again with the hut, once more facing to an outcropping of rocks to keep the door from being accidentally found.
We awoke the next day Heatmonth the 3rd and it was raining hard. Knowing that our time of the hut was not infinite (12 hours max per 24 hour period), Darius went out and set up some of the tarps we had to keep most of the rain off of us. It was not very well and the wind was driving. 2 Hippogriffs had flown by but kept going. And we stood out there, miserable but not going to climb the mountain while it was storming out.
Some regular and giant goats crossed our paths but by 12ish, the bulk of the storm had moved on. We cleaned up, Shim prestidigitated us, and we all linked up by rope. Then it was climb time. Darius, Connal, Eoghan, and Wilhelm all had a good idea on where the entrance to the Donnegarten system was (5,000 feet up). But the mountain was wild and untamed here. And even roped up, Shim and Wilhelm did trip and fall a few times, bashing face and twisting ankle.
We had to rest briefly at 4:30 and them kept on. By 7:PM, we found the entrance. 11’ high, 25’ wide. It was a ragged hole into the mountain itself. Hundreds of crushed splintered bones littered the outside and it stunk terribly like some animal lair. We went off a bit and found an area a few hundred yards away where we set up the Chime as well as the hut – deterring any predators from coming to the area and giving us the last chance to rest.
Heatmonth the 4th had us up and ready 5:30 AM. We broke fast, studied, and Eoghan went looking around. South of the cave entrance, he found 2 long 3 toed foot prints heading away from the cave. Each was a bit under 3’ in length and they were 7’ apart. No others. Something leaving the cave?
We drew up and entered. The cave sloped down, uneven ground at best. Ceiling was a rise and fall between 11 and 15’ of height. Lots of scat, bones, and uneven ground – we’d move half speed at best. Some green scales, lots of them, found on the ceiling and floors. Two passages out of here – east and south. Faint noise to the east.
Nate took out his Seshele Trident, raised it to his eyes, and looked through it. He got two visions – to the east was a 13” cave bear head on its hands snorting and looking. To the south, a 35’ long green scaled wyvern.
Damn it.
He let us know of the threats and we then proceeded to discuss at long length what to do and how to handle these foes. Heatmonth the 4th, 7:50 AM
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