Quote from: Josh;606625"Before, you advocated running off into the woods for no good reason.  Now we have tracks, and if these ents dragged off our frends before they even got to the valley, it may be best to go after them.  Haddon, can your pup tell if our quarry's scent left the road here or continues further toward the gorge?"

OOC: To clarify, the tracks you were following still continue down the road. These other tracks are considerably more recent. I'll be back shortly to push both parties further down the road.

SEQUENCE 3B: THE SUPPLY CARAVAN

HASOR ROLL 9 + HANDLE ANIMAL 4 = 13
MIKA ROLL 7 + STRENGTH 3 = 10
MAGGIE ROLL 11 + STRENGTH 0 = 11
HASOR'S CHECK + AID ANOTHER 4 + UNSEEN SERVANT 2 = 19

With Hasor, Mika, and Maggie all working as hard as they can -- and Aminda's poltergeist leaving a faint scent of sulfur in the air as it floats barrels and bags and chests through the air -- it takes the better part of an hour to ready the wagon and transfer everything to it from cart and store. By the time all is made ready, the sun has gained two handsbreadths of sky.

The supply caravan winds its way out of town: Cudberct riding Buñuelo, Certh and Gileus on steeds belonging to the innkeep, Hasor upon Notor, and the others -- Mika, Maggie, and Aminda -- riding in the wagon.

With the work of loading done, a lingering, sullen silence pervades the proceedings for a good many miles. But the wagon is making good time -- faster than they had expected with cart or donkey -- and the mood slowly begins to lighten. A fairly cheerful lunch is held upon fields of rolling green.

A few hours later, the wagon rumbles beneath the boughs of a thick, green-frilled forest, bringing welcome release from the heat of the afternoon sun. But the rare-used road grows rougher, too, and the ride in the wagon grows bumpy and rough.

Mike, on the reins of the wagon, having spent most of the afternoon humming cheerfully breaks out into a round of raucous song. Maggie, knowing the tune, joins him joyfully.

OOC: Feel free to fill the ride, lunch, or anything else with whatever conversation you like.

OOC: I'm going to go with this color for my posts concerning sequence 3B in the hope that it will add a little clarity about which group I'm talking about.

SEQUENCE 4A: AT THE RAVINE

With a few wary glances into the tree line where the strange tracks disappear, the group rides on down the road. Another mile or so carries them back out of the small forest, and then it's only a matter of a few hills before they can look down to where the road ends at the broken bridge.

The ravine is like a gash in the surface of the earth running off to the southeast and growing gradually wider to the northwest. Where the road ends, you can see several broken pillars of stone jutting up from the earth. Two of these pillars stand straight, but many of them lean against the sloped earth.

One similar pillar can be seen standing at an awkward, twisted angle on the opposite side of the ravine. But all the land upon that side of the ravine is a featureless and ashen gray. There are a few gently sloping hills, but nothing green or growing can be seen as far as the horizon.

OOC: I'll let the parley group control their approach to the a ravine / broken bridge.

OOC: Oh gawd no! You bought new light horses and hitched the wagon to them instead of my light warhorses! Dear gawd, why? A warhorse doesn't spook so easily in battle -- that's their point to a wagon! It's also why donkeys are so useful! ... *sigh* and it looks like I have more light horses for my stable.


At lunch Cudberct immediately starts to usher his light warhorses to swap places in pulling the wagon load. "Sorry to remove the fun from you, Certh and Gileus, but it's better the less skittish horses pull the wagon in case of combat." *spits, as if to ward off misfortune* "We're bringing so much, and lives depend on us, we cannot suffer a tragedy like an upturned wagon lost of supplies."

"Thankfully my military saddles will help keep a rider on during distress. It'll help keep you atop in case these new animals spook." Cudberct returns focus to finishing the re-saddling of the new light horses with military saddles.

"There. Now I have a very important question for you both, Gileus and Certh. Which of you is the less experienced horse rider? I'm willing to let one of you ride Buñuelo so as to keep you from coming to harm. He's seen his share of scary situations, so I trust he won't rear or buck dangerously," smiles proudly to his mount. "I'll ride one of the new horses as it is my responsibility to not endanger my guests or staff."

OOC: Still during lunch, but after reassigning the mounts and getting the answer of who's the better rider from Certh or Gileus...

"I know I can be a tiresome worrywart on an adventure. But it's because I care and feel you are all my responsibility. I'd much rather you be frustrated with me now and stay alive than..." looks away without finishing.

"Maybe it's how I came to understand that my sergeant back in Garland Emerald wasn't just being a merciless hard-ass for the fun of it. We left our training wanting to smack him down right there -- and then kick enemy ass. But his routines broke us down into instant reactions which ended up saving our lives."

Looks up with a wan smile, "I never got to say 'thank you, I got why you trained us how you did'. The closest was buying him a few drinks followed by nice silences once us green recruits met him again after a few battles under our belt. And yet, I think by then he already knew the whole of what we wanted to say.

"Bah! A glum mood holds the food down bad! And those who fight first march on their stomachs. Give me farm gossip, Mika and Maggie. Talk to me big dreams, Hasor and Certh. Tell me tales from afar and ago, Aminda and Gileus. Let's have cheer with our lunch!"

OOC: Gileus is the slightly better rider, so I guess Certh can have Buñuelo.

Gileus's mood has improved somewhat.  Whatever difficulties there were deciding the supplies this morning seemed to have been resolved, and it feels good to be on the road instead of waiting around.  And after a good lunch, he begins to relax, listening to Mika and Maggie's song as they travel down the road.

Suddenly though, he stops, pointing towards the trees.  "Do you see that?  Several creatures, some up in the trees."  His hand moves to his pack, ready to grab his crossbow.

Surveying the gorge, Winthrop scans for any signs of movement, or indications of the fate of the previous group, without approaching too close.  Assuming he sees no immediate threats he turns to his companions.

"What say I slip a little closer to the edge of the ravine.  I can see if ropes or bodies or goblin encampments lay on the other side.  But if I shout, come with the might of the gods behind you - ware the edge, though!"

Assuming the others consent to him scouting, Winthrop will move toward the edge with all possible stealth and silence, actively looking for tracks, ropes, or danger.  If all clear, he will wave the others forward.

Quote from: Tom;606934Suddenly though, he stops, pointing towards the trees.  "Do you see that?  Several creatures, some up in the trees."  His hand moves to his pack, ready to grab his crossbow.

At Gileus' warning Aminda reaches over and pulls the healing wand from where it was stowed...

OOC: Justin, assuming we're about to enter combat thought you should know Aminda's general strategy. Try to keep people between her and danger. If the enemy is focusing on her or is about to attack her cast Sanctuary (it only lasts one round at this point so it isn't too useful). Most importantly try to keep people healed. Start with spells (only use Cure Minor Wounds if, well, if it makes sense to only heal one hit point) and then feel free to use the wand.

"I see them too, Gileus. I can't tell how many, but there are some on the ground as well as in the branches. They seem to be moving as a group too, and that implies that they're organized."

Hasor double checks that his sling and stones are within easy reach.

"Are these goblins known for being able to swing between branches easily? It could be a scouting party, or perhaps just some animals. Either way, we should prepare ourselves in case they prove to be violent."

"Are you sure they aren't a rafter of turkeys or conspiracy of ravens?" Cudberct asks obliviously. "Patita doesn't seem to be growling, and Certh seems to be heading straight, thus Buñuelo doesn't seem scared. Whatever it is doesn't seem to be much of a threat. Yet." Looks around obviously not seeing what others are seeing.

"Why don't you call out to it to see if it wants to talk?" he says smiling. "If you want I could yell for you. I have a decent set of lungs on me." Still scans about fruitlessly, but smiling all the same.

Resting her polearm across the saddlebow, Jastian drew a slender wand from within a scabbard in her greave.  She kept her voice low as she spoke with the others.  "I have little talent for magic, but this tool allows its wielder to conjure phantom visions.  If you hear me call out the wand's word of command, have no fear of any odd images that may afterward appear."

Nudging Paladin forward with a gentle touch of her heel, Jastian carefully scanned the terrain ahead of her slowly plodding mount.  If Winthrop found himself beset, she wanted to respond swiftly.  

OOC: She'll try to keep Paladin quiet as she advances, following 90 to 100 feet behind Winthrop, but keeping him in sight as much as the terrain allows.

Paladin the Warhorse slowly clomped forward, alert for the possibility that his rider would finish whatever it was she wanted and head back to town.  While he enjoyed a pleasant ride as much as the next horse, the Lady's apparent obsession with these long journeys grew very tiresome.  They had passed a particularly enticing patch of grass earlier, but she hadn't let him even sample a bit.

Life would be so much simpler if a horse didn't have to put up with the perverse vagaries of their rider.

OOC:  Paladin may be my Rufferto...