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Zanroar says: "That is indead a nice sum of gold you are offering, I'll gladly come.". Then, adressing the rest of the adventurers : "I disagree on the route though. Long and boring or short and interesting? Sounds like an easy choice to me.
More importantly, although sadly the odds are slim, it might be better to hurry in case there are some imprisoned survivors."
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander: "Shorter is not necessarily faster, Zanroar."
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Jennifer Fuller
United States
Argyle TWP
Maine
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Xyrlynn to the group: "I agree that shorter isn't necessarily faster. I am thinking that it may be better to take the longer route abs save our strength. Unnecessary battles unlong the way will not make the journey an easy one even if it is slightly shorter. I know I have the strength and stamina for the longer journey but I am willing to do whatever the group chooses."
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Nick Jones
United States
edmond
Oklahoma
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What? Take the longer route and miss the action! Let me at them!
RAISE A PINT! RAISE THE HAMMER! TO VICTORY!
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Ryan Metzler
United States
Kenosha
Wisconsin
Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
I think so, Brain, but if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, why does Eleanor Roosevelt wear that spooky mask?
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I must say I agree with the majority new friends....lets take the fast route and get to the point. The gods shall guide our way.
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Ryan Metzler
United States
Kenosha
Wisconsin
Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
I think so, Brain, but if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, why does Eleanor Roosevelt wear that spooky mask?
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Flyboy Connor wrote: Alexander considers the proposal. He looks at the band of adventurers around him, and addresses Riclamin: "You are a cleric, right? Do you have some means of dealing with the undead? It might be a good idea to check the site out. If we have to make a hasty escape, I can probably keep the brigands of our backs for sufficient time to get away, but I don't know if I can handle those skeletons."
But of course sir. The Clerics of Bahamut are well versed in the turning of the undead. They should pose little problem for the power of the gods of Good.
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander says: "It looks like the majority has spoken, and we are going to try to brave the Cloakwood. At least the trees will provide some protection against the weather, and the stories about kobolds might be exaggerated.
My comrades-in-arms, it might be a good idea to appoint a leader of our group, who will represent us in dealings with other parties and who will decide on our marching tempo and such organizational matters. In my view, the cleric seems trustworthy, and is both the most experienced and level-headed of us, so for the present task I propose he will function as our leader. We can always replace him if we are dissatisfied with his performance."
Spoiler (mouseover to reveal): It looks like I am being swayed by Riclamin's charisma score. And according to Faringray, he is experienced in these matters.
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Nick Jones
United States
edmond
Oklahoma
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Thromgood to the group: Let it be known that the Stormhammers follow no one except Moradin or our fellow shield brothers. However, you are right about structure. I'm fine with following the cleric, but when we get into the thick of it, you better listen to a tried and true soldier before your little altar boy over there.
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander to Thromgood, slightly disdainfully: "I imagine that your tactics consist of running into the thick of combat and swinging your hammer at everything that moves. While that will undoubtedly be effective when fighting a bunch of kobolds, I was hoping for a more strategic approach to ensure that we all survive the ordeal. But I am fine with you taking point in battle."
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Nick Jones
United States
edmond
Oklahoma
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Thromgood to Alexadner I WILL NOT BE TALKED DOWN TO BY A BOY WHO HAS SEEN MORE BOOKS THAN BATTLES. Yes, you are correct, I do intend on running in there hammer first... But seeing as how the effects of last night's drinking haven't quite worn off yet, maybe it is best if the cleric points me in the right direction first. Lead the way...
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Paul Unwin
United States
Seattle
Washington
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Preparations
Orvash and Faringray exchange a look. Orvash shrugs.
"Then we best get a move on. I've a pack under a tree yonder, along with a sturdy pick. Meet back here when you're ready."
Post any specific preparations you're making, along with any additional equipment you're requesting from Faringray. He can have it ready within an hour. I'll be posting the first leg of your journey within the next day.
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Ryan Metzler
United States
Kenosha
Wisconsin
Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
I think so, Brain, but if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, why does Eleanor Roosevelt wear that spooky mask?
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Riclamin to the group: "Alright comrades, you heard the man...we must make our preparations for the arduous path ahead of us. We need provisions, rations, rain gear, materials for making camp...kindling and the like...and I'll be needing my books and relics. We meet back here within the hour, and may Bahamut guide us."
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander mumbles something under his breath about drunk dwarfs who are going to be the death of him, and then says: "Besides what Riclamin listed, I'd like some rope, a water skin, material spell components if they are available," (I'll bring my own anyway) "a dagger," (not for fighting, but it could be useful in the woods) "a map of the area if they have it, and some cooking materials, including salt and seasoning herbs." (to keep up appearances of civilization when camping out with an obnoxious dwarf) "As I have brought everything else that I need, including my spellbook, I'll take a look around the camp while the rest of you collect your personal stuff."
While in the camp, I intend to talk a bit with the soldiers there. Some of them might provide information about what we will encounter in the Cloakwood, and further to the west.
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Paul Unwin
United States
Seattle
Washington
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"Cloak Wood? You're going in there? You're nuts!"
"Kobolds is what I heard. Lay snares and deadfalls."
"Naw, I heard it was lizardmen."
"Kobolds are lizard men, ya' lump."
"No, I mean like--"
"What are you lot on about? There's nothing in Cloak Wood. My uncle hunts there."
"Heard from your uncle lately?"
"Well, no, but..."
"Ooh, can I come?"
This last is from the young woman Faringray had called Anajeen. The rest of the prospective guards edge away from her, or roll their eyes, or shake their heads. She's gazing up at Alexander, wide-eyed, grinning and spattered with mud from head to foot. You can't even tell what color her hair is. The spots on her nose and cheeks might be freckles, or they might come off with a good scrubbing. She's brimming with energy, even after a long training session in the cold and muck.
Before you can respond, Faringray steps up and barks, "TenSHUN!" The recruits manage to sag a bit less, except for Anajeen who, still grinning, goes as straight as the staff at her side. "Looks like you're not all awake yet! A double time march back to the ferry should get the blood pumping. Airc, set the pace. Company... MARCH!"
Faringray marches in place next to Alexander as the trainees head off. Then he stops and looks at the wizard. "They're a good bunch. They'll do alright, if they have time to train, but I'll probably be pushed to send them out on the road well before then. Bring back the guards at the tower, if you can. They were... are... a good bunch, too."
Spoiler (mouseover to reveal): The above is about the extent of what these trainees know. There's a lot of rumor about the wood, just as there is about most other areas of the world, and that's all most people have to go on. If you have other specific questions, please let me know. Faringray's dismissal of the cadets is not intended to prevent you from trying to find more answers. We can retcon somewhat freely in play-by-post.
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander winks at Anajeen. (jokingly) "Are you new here or did you eat some interesting mushrooms?" (a bit more serious) "You seem a lot less disheartened than the other soldiers. Why is that?" (continuing) "As for joining us, I assume you are under contract here and I don't know what Faringray would say to losing yet another soldier. And you seem a bit young: do you have any battle experience? Where did you get your training? Have you been out to the west?"
As for the talks with the soldiers, if anyone knows more about those "snares and deadfalls" I would be interested to pursue this line of questioning.
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Paul Unwin
United States
Seattle
Washington
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Flyboy Connor wrote: Alexander winks at Anajeen. (jokingly) "Are you new here or did you eat some interesting mushrooms?" (a bit more serious) "You seem a lot less disheartened than the other soldiers. Why is that?" She shrugs. "I dunno. I guess I've always wanted to be a guard. And they seem to really need them!"
Flyboy Connor wrote: (continuing) "As for joining us, I assume you are under contract here and I don't know what Faringray would say to losing yet another soldier. And you seem a bit young: do you have any battle experience? Where did you get your training? Have you been out to the west?" She sees Faringray approaches, and her smile dims a bit. "Yeah, you're probably right. And I don't have any real experience yet, just what the Captain has given us in the past week. I've hardly even been outside the walls."
Flyboy Connor wrote: As for the talks with the soldiers, if anyone knows more about those "snares and deadfalls" I would be interested to pursue this line of questioning. There are lots of shrugs. What information you get is largely hearsay and surmise, but the general consensus is that kobolds prefer trapping their victims, or at least hobbling them with traps, before making their approach. They're not, as a species, interested in a fair fight. They're also believed to be rather ingenious and darkly humorous (from their point of view) in the designs of their traps, but they're not a civilized race as such so they generally make due with primitive materials and little or no magic in their contraptions.
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander chats a little bit more with Anajeen, then bids her farewell. "If you like, I'll look you up when we return from the tower. We can have a drink and I'll tell you all about it." (winks again) "Assuming the barkeep doesn't care about you mudding up the place, of course."
I don't need to further pursue the talks with the soldiers, but when Riclamin returns I tell him: "I talked a bit with these soldiers, and was told that there are indeed kobolds in the Cloak Wood, and that they tend to lay out traps. Nothing fancy, but they are probably quite experienced at using natural materials to create devious snares. Perhaps we should let the halfling take point, and walk in a straight line behind her."
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Jennifer Fuller
United States
Argyle TWP
Maine
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Xyrlynn to Alexander: "I am willing to take whatever position you think would be best."
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Ryan Metzler
United States
Kenosha
Wisconsin
Are you pondering what I'm pondering Pinky?
I think so, Brain, but if we have nothing to fear but fear itself, why does Eleanor Roosevelt wear that spooky mask?
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Riclaimin to Alexander: I couldn't agree with you more. I've no experience with the spotting or disarming of traps, but I'd hope the halfling is keen on these matters. We certainly don't need dwarf barreling ahead and muddling up our travels. Best to be cautious. However, traveling in a straight line lends to an attack from the sides. We best hope they aren't well organized, or a few should scout the woods while the rest walk the path. We need to keep a keen eye ahead, behind and to the sides to clear this journey safely."
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander to Riclamin and Xyrlynn: "As I understand, the common kobold tactic is to lay in wait until their victim has triggered a trap. Then they come out. So, if we manage to detect traps without triggering them, we know that they are probably close when we find one. That would give us an advantage. If the kobolds indeed work like that, we probably don't need to worry too much about flanking attacks. Still, it does not hurt to be careful."
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Nick Jones
United States
edmond
Oklahoma
-
Thromgood: Runs up, out of breath. Sorry I'm late. You guys ready to smash some Kobolds? Sounds like you want me in the back? Fine with me, I prefer not to get caught in a Kobold snare anyway.
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"Cloak Wood is it then!", shouts Zanroar, enthusiastic. "I'll walk in the middle, you can trust me with the coordination of our actions in battle.
Tactics are my specialty, and I'm familiar with this kind of job".
"Be careful Xyrlynn, Kobold traps can be deadly, don't expect a mere binding."
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Jennifer Fuller
United States
Argyle TWP
Maine
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Xyrlynn to the others: "I am adept at spotting traps having spent much of my childhood and early adulthood exploring the land on my own. I had to look out for everything since there was no one else to look out for me. I will do my best to keep us from traps."
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Paul Unwin
United States
Seattle
Washington
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Almost immediately after getting underway, you leave the King's Road , and with it all signs of civilization. Fallcrest might have been visible from some of the higher hills you're now contending with, but rain, mist and clouds have hidden it from view. Indeed, your general visibility is limited to perhaps a few hundred feet ahead of you, but Orvash seems to know his way, and plods straight ahead, hills and hollows be damned. Until you catch your second wind, which is sooner for some of you than others, it's all you can do to keep up with him.
You reach the outskirts of the Cloak Wood about 3 hours after leaving Fallcrest. The land was trackless and the weather unrelenting, but you made good time. The less athletic of you may find yourselves a trifle sore in coming days. Orvash recommends eating and taking care of other needs before entering the wood. "We ain't gonna wanna dilly-dally once we're inside."
You can see why. Even without rumors of crafty reptilians within, the Cloak would strike you as decidedly uninviting. Between the depth of shadow and the density of the trees, you can't make out anything beyond a handful of paces. Once within, the miner's eyes of the dwarves, the sylvan sight of Riclamin, and the infernal vision of Zanroar will have no difficulty, but Xyrlynn and Alexander will be plunged into heavy twilight.
Other than the darkness, the Wood simply seems unfriendly. The trees are uniformly ancient, with scars and boles indicating they have weathered their share of violence and pestilence that has swept the Nentir Vale. There are pines, oaks, and great elms, powerful trees who seem silently disapproving of youngsters invading a gathering of elders.
Packs repacked and rehefted, weapons loose in their holders, the party enters the Wood.
Spoiler (mouseover to reveal): Those without the natural ability to see in low light, namely Alexander and Xyrlynn, will suffer some minor disadvantages unless they or someone near them carry a light source. You each have two sunrods, each of which will shed copious light for four hours which is more time than Orvash is planning to spend in the crossing. Alexander can cause a single object at a time to emanate magical light about as bright as a torch. This is essentially permanent until he douses it, lights another object, or goes for about five minutes without refreshing it.
There will be something to react to shortly, or if you have actions, questions, or observations feel free to make them.
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Pieter
Netherlands
Maastricht
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Alexander says: "Xyrlynn, if you stay in front, you might need a little light. I could cast a Mage Light on your weapon of choice, or any other object that you carry, which you can use to light your way. I'll stick close to Riclamin, who can help me not to stumble too much."
If Xyrlynn accepts, I will cast a Mage Light on her object of choice, to help her guide us. If she is going to do something else, then I will cast a Mage Light on my staff and use it to help me find my way.
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Posted Sun Feb 5, 2012 9:03 pm
