Subject Planning

Mund challenges Surin to a game of knife-throwing.

Subject Planning

'I agree Brother Ragnar. Ranthir, if you would coordinate search teams tomorrow, I would appreciate it. Then the following day, those of us with magical abilities can try to narrow our search areas down as best we can. Salix, I am sure you will have already asked Noctis to notify you of anything strange, but if you not mind talking with a few of the more intelligent animals about helping us out, I would appreciate that as well.

I would like to try to determin if the portal is around or behind the waterfall without actually climbing though it. Maybe Brother Ragnar and I can work on that the day after tomorrow.

Does any one else have any suggestions?"

Subject Planning the search

Ok here come my ideas. So far, the most difficult part to search will be in that tunnel the water is coming out of. So if possible, we will want to avoid searching it. My idea is to use a locate object spell from the point nearest the tunnel I can get and see if I feel anything; locate object has a nice range for a spell, 600 feet for Ragnar. That means that if the spell actually works, he will probably be able to feel if the portal is near the entrance, but if its farther back, no such luck. Another option is for Harp or Ragnar (or both) to use an augury spell to ask if going into the tunnel is a good idea.

If its necessary to get in there, it shouldn't be too hard for one of us to go in and search. Allistair can cast fly on someone to get them up there, that gives them 5 minutes. After that, Ragnar has a water walk spell that would allow them to spend 50 minutes walking on the river and exploring whatever is back there. The harder part would be getting down; Allistair might be able to feather fall them so they can jump, but its a pretty small range. If not, he might have to fly up there to cast fly on them again. The final option is for Salix to change into something that flies (and can see in the dark) and check it out himself. Problem there is its probably very damp and loud in the tunnel, which owls and bats would not enjoy.

As far as searching the outdoor terrain, I think that the easiest and quickest way is for Salix to fly over everything nearby. The problem is that in the forested areas, the portal might not be visible from above. (And seeing how Mark just said this would be an important part of the quest, I think we can count on it not being that easy!) So we'll have to set up a grunt-work search too.

Subjec: Planning the search

OOC: Mark, I am going to agree with Jason that a basic map of the immediate area would be nice in order to set a search plan. Nothing beyond what we can see, but I am not good at visualizing where we are. The charactes would be able to tell the basic layout of the area.

Jason, the plan sounds pretty good. I would like to see what the others think, but we do not want to take too much time planning the initial search phase. The other problem with flying is that the portal has no thickness, so you would probably fly right over it during the day. At night, you might see it glow, but daylight is probably out for aerial surveying.

An overflight might help give us a good basis for the map we want Mark to give us.