Chapter One: The Road to Gnometon

[Sol]

Unther continues, addressing the bashful Halfling. "Perhaps we might refresh our supplies before leaving the city. And we must have one more mount for Jillian. Also, the King told of a letter - that he had received a debriefing on the matter of the druid. Might we arrange to see the contents of this letter before we depart?"

[Keehnelf]

Sorry for the long break: for those still tuned in--updates before the end of the day.

[Keehnelf]

The jovial halfling smiles. "I know quite a bit of the area, and in fact about the elves as well! Truth is, I was a scout for Captain Manderling of Eisenloch afore I was taken in by the good folk of Gnometon a couple years back. So, I know what t'expect from 'em as well as what the terrain looks like. I told the good King that the elves ain't likely to have hurt poor Jillian none, but he's worried nonetheless. The envoys we sent out ain't come back with word, so something's amiss, and that's the truth. If you got specific questions, I'm your man with answers!" He shuffles his feet, perhaps nervous of appearing boastful. The king's steward approaches with the letter and motions to a handful of porters bearing resupplies for the party. "His Majesty has no concerns with you reading the contents of the letter to be provided to Jillian." He presents it for inspection: it is a straightforward declaration of the intent the king had previously expressed: that Jillian assist you in locating Mangore's lair and then return to Gnometon to be celebrated and welcomed back to safety. The letter also presents her in absentia with the title of Knight-Captain and control of the estate of the late Lord Wallingsworth who died without heirs last year.

Satisfied, the steward returns the letter to the king for sealing, and places it inside a steel scroll case before delivering it to the party. The king, seated atop his throne, thanks the travelers for their assistance in returning his valued vassal to the protection of his kingdom and inflicting whatever retribution is necessary against his enemies the elves.

Does anyone have business in Gnometon before you move on?

[Sol]

Unther carefully examines the contents of the letter with a meticulous eye whilst listening to the Halfling, Clearwater. He grunts once, content to have what he needs in order to vote his assent.

Nai Tnam has departed the group and Unther has bid him to rejoin them shortly as he may, providing instructions as to the group's future whereabouts. "Do not be long, sirs," he tells Nai Tnam and his charge, "Time is of the essence."

Before arranging to depart, Unther makes the necessary arrangements for a refresh on their supplies. Unther also makes sure mounts are at the ready in whatever way he can arrange before the group departs the lands of gnomes.

[Zorroroaster]

Nai Tnam returns from his solitude.

"I am ready. Let us away."

[Zhym]

Fjirn nods solemnly. "I am ready," he says.

[hedgeknight]

Dell nearly dozes off during the Halfling's introduction, but then snaps back to attention when his companions speak. "Been ready," he grumbles, stifling a yawn.

[ybn1197]

Grim mumbles that he is ready as well.

[KingOfCowards]

Nothing to add. Gideon said let's get moving three months ago, but I didn't want you to think I wasn't around.

[Keehnelf]

No worries--I was giving it a little bit to see if we'd lost anyone. Thanks all for your patience

[Sol]

"Hmmm," says Unther, considering the letter, "Who, exactly, gets control of the estate should the good lady not return? Hmmm..." He considers to himself that her disappearance may be more than it appears.

[Keehnelf]

January 11, The Year of the Clouded Eye

2:30pm

The party heads south out of Gnometon without fanfare, the halfling Buckman Clearwater leading the way. As the sun rises above the flinty hills to the east, it casts the snow lying there with a faint rosy tint. The air above the snow itself seems to shimmer slightly in the low but frigid wind, and the dwarves gather their traveling cloaks tightly about them on the high road through the hills.

The way wends back and forth as it creeps toward the lowland around the Eisenloch, the distance long enough that the party's halfling scout cheerily points out the landmarks of the region, most especially old rock formations and a series of watchtowers that was constructed by the dwarves along this route before the arrival of the gnomes. The low, sturdy towers are topped with signal fires and serve the group more like waystones than heralds of imminent threat--they appear without fail every three miles along the roadway's length. Buckman reveals that only a third of the towers are still manned--the rest cleaned and preserved but unoccupied due to lack of personnel and need. Indeed, the halfling has a key that will open the door to any of them and at the end of the first day of travel stops the group at an empty tower to rest for the night, safer from the elements while such shelter is to be had. The tower is chilly but not dangerously so, and the group is almost reluctant to move on the next morning, knowing the cold wind will follow them throughout the day.

As the group moves further south, the land to the east begins to even out and flatten, providing intermittent glimpses of the lowland and the faint shimmer of the far-distant lake, while to the west the hills are more rugged and stony. Indeed, much of the time the roadway seems to have been carved out of a steep hillside, leaving hard bluffs or exposed cliff to the party's right. Occasionally, they see signs of further development, such as an abandoned roadside inn or residence carved into such a surface, or memorials of various kinds, but of people there are none--apart from the solitary gnomish sentries atop the watchtowers who knuckle the brims of their helmets at Buckman and the dwarves as they pass.

The sun is halfway through its descent down the western sky on the second day of travel, half-hidden behind a high bluff to the side of the roadway and casting long shadows over the way ahead, when the party hears a high-pitched keening sound and a pair of dark shapes detach themselves from the cliff above. Massive winged figures are swooping down from the west at the party--griffins!

Actions and Initiative (individual rolls)

The griffins are airborne and approximately eighty feet from the party at the start of combat.

[Zorroroaster]

Initiative: [1d6] = 3

Nai Tnam will cast Speak with Animals and attempt to communicate with the winged beasts.

Nai Tnam holds up both hands and begins to hum lowly to himself. A tune that sounds more like the wind itself swirls around the company briefly before fading. He looks up at the Griffins and shouts.

"Hold, noble friends! We are not your enemies, and truthfully neither of us will gain from conflict. Come down from your lofty skies, speak with us."

[hedgeknight]

Dell draws his longsword and assumes a battle stance waiting for the griffins to close. If one comes within striking range, he attacks...for all the good it does.

Initiative: [1d6] = 1
Longsword +1: [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, [1d12+4] = 2+4 = 6

[Zhym]

Fjirn assumes a defensive stance and waits for the griffins' intentions to become clear.

[KingOfCowards]

Initiative: [1d6] = 6
Attack with Bastard Sword: [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20 Damage: [1d8+3] = 4+3 = 7

Gideon will move to protect the party and their mounts. Should a griffin make it within striking distance, he lashes out with his blade.

[ybn1197]

Fighting the cold and environment, wishing he was back in the warmth of the mountain and around more people, Grim barely notices the griffins as the plunge from the sky.

Initiative: [1d6] = 1

Grim removes his sling and some bullets from his waist pouch and takes aim, waiting to see if Nai is able to communicate with them.

[Sol]

Unther's Initiative and a strike with the Broadsword:
[1d10] = 7 [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8 [1d12+2] = 8+2 = 10

(Unther does not strike unless attacked)

Unther narrows his eyes as the Griffins begin their swoop. "They're not coming down to say Hello," says Unther, "That's an attack formation. Here lads," he says, "Away toward the bluff! We may be able to take cover there!" Unther waves his arms to guide any of the others who may have been slow to respond to the threat, using his Broadsword in their defense if he must.