0003 The Trail and Trials

[Eris]

It is late morning as you pass through the eastern gate onto the dirt track leading away from Berm. The Gate guard calls down his thanks for your help the previous night and wishes you good luck on the trail with a wave. Behind you the gate closes and you hear a thunk as a wooden bar is dropped across it to hold it closed.

The dirt track heads east for the first hour of your walk through thin forest with occasional openings where small groups of houses surrounding by farm fields can be found. You are stopped a time or two by curious farmers wanting to know if it's true that Berm was attacked, how it went and where you are going. OOC: How do you answer them?

Shortly after the sun has reached as high in the sky as it is going to get this time of your the trail turns north and enters deeper woods. Soon the ground rises and then fall as you begin to cross over hills that reach down from the east toward the river to your west. The path is in shadow as you walk along. With the canopy of trees stretching over it and undergrowth tight on either side it almost seems like you are walking through a tunnel.

Still there are occasional clearings where trees have fallen or the ground, for some reason, doesn't support their growth. If you wish you can stop in any of these clearings for a rest and bite of food before moving along. You have been walking for a few hours now and have probably covered four or maybe five leagues.

You have forded several streams running down the valleys between hills as you walked. Now you come to a larger stream and the dirt path turns east along its bank. The stream doesn't look fordable here. The map you made up from the towns folk's description showed that the path would turn east for another three or four leagues passing near what was described as the "Village of the Little Folk" before turning back north and west toward the river and Old Bridge.

It is getting later in the day now the village the towns folk mentioned should be about an hours walk from where you are. If the village is only that far away you can make it before dark, but it will be twilight by then.

Do you push on to the village or try to find a place to camp along the path for the night?

[ateno]

Malbek would tell the truth, but tell them that it appears to be a group attacking out of desperation instead of a military action.

"I for one would like to push on and meet the little folk, if that's alright?

Malbek

[Eris]

Malbek would tell the truth, but tell them that it appears to be a group attacking out of desperation instead of a military action.

"I for one would like to push on and meet the little folk, if that's alright?

Malbek

Everyone looks around and up. The sun is about half way down. You have another 2 hours of light, at least. If the village is where you were told you'll make it before dark. Of course, if the village is in a valley, it might grow dark more quickly as the hillsides might block the sun as it goes down.

[bobk2323]

Malbek would tell the truth, but tell them that it appears to be a group attacking out of desperation instead of a military action.

"I for one would like to push on and meet the little folk, if that's alright?

Malbek

"I would like to try to make the village before dark too, Malbek..." It's become pretty clear that Maeva does *not* enjoy "sleeping out in the rough" too much.

--
Bob K.

[Eris]

Malbek would tell the truth, but tell them that it appears to be a group attacking out of desperation instead of a military action.

"I for one would like to push on and meet the little folk, if that's alright?

Malbek

"I would like to try to make the village before dark too, Malbek..." It's become pretty clear that Maeva does *not* enjoy "sleeping out in the rough" too much.

--
Bob K.

OOC: That's two for pressing on. Does everyone agree?

[ffilz]

Yes, press on.

[Eris]

Yes, press on.

That's 3 of 4 and I doubt JR doesn't say press on. So, press on we shall!

The party troops up a long hill running parallel to stream to their right. As you crest the top you see a wide valley stretching out like a bowl before you. The stream, on your right runs through the valley for, at least, 2 or 3 miles ending in a small lake. A waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff into the lake marking where the bowl ends and rising hills begin again. Looking right and left you see the valley is about 3 miles wide with the stream running just about down the middle.

A village is visible near this end of the lake where it turns into the stream in a series of cascades. You can see waterwheels turning in the stream connected to what must be mills of various kinds. There are only a few houses visible, but you see many mounds of dirt covered with grass and gardens along tree lined cobbled streets.

Out of the village, there are copses of trees scattered here and there amid fields of freshly planted crops and large pastures. Orchards of what look like fruit trees as well as oak, maple and pine grow in the copses. The fields look like they are planted in grains and other food crops. The pastures are fenced and you can see ponies in some, cows and sheep in others.

From your position atop the hill leading down into the valley you see small figures going about their business in the late afternoon, working in the fields, herding animals and moving about on the streets of the village.

Before you take a single step down the road into the valley a group of small men, halflings by their look, come out of the woods on either side of the path. You count 8 of these halflings. Each is wearing leather armor with a tunic of green over their chests. Each is armed with a spear and small shield as well as a short sword in scabbards attached to their belts.

Aislin's woodcraft senses movement to either side of the party, off the path in the thick underbrush, but even her keen eyes don't see anyone. There, those were the sounds of arrows being nocked in bows...she knows that sound! She can't tell how many, but there are several and they are on both sides of the path.

"Halt there!" calls out one of the halflings in Common, "We bid you welcome to the Valley if you come in peace. If you do not, I suggest you turn around and go back the way you came."

This hobbit, an older one by the grey of his hair peeping out from under his leather helm and wrinkled face, looks you over and says with a wary...but not unfriendly expression, "Who are you and what brings you down the Digalow path to our Valley?"

[ateno]

"Who are you and what brings you down the Digalow path to our Valley?"

"Well my dear fellow, I am Malbec just up from the south, and heading north and the river city south of you told us of your village and we thought we would like to see it, drink a beer or two and spend a coin or two if that's alright?"

Malbec

[joertexas]

Yes, press on.

That's 3 of 4 and I doubt JR doesn't say press on. So, press on we shall!

I didn't have notifications set for this thread. Sorry 'bout that...

Aislin keeps her bow pointed downward while the others talk.

[Eris]

"Who are you and what brings you down the Digalow path to our Valley?"

"Well my dear fellow, I am Malbec just up from the south, and heading north and the river city south of you told us of your village and we thought we would like to see it, drink a beer or two and spend a coin or two if that's alright?"

Malbec

That receives a chuckle from the hobbit taking to you, "As I said, if you've come in peace, you are Welcome here. I'll wager you'll find our beer as tasty as any you've had and Bigalow, at the Inn, would never turn down a coin or two from friendly travelers."

"I'm Makewise Twopiece of Hobbitown here in the valley." he says stepping forward and holding out his hand to shake with each of you, "We don't see too many travelers along the Digalow, most travel up and down the river. You're coming from Berm and heading to Old Bridge, are you? Hum, I've heard there's Goblin trouble in Old Bridge."

Once you shake hands with Makewise, you see the rest of the halflings relax and there is rustling as 6 more of the small folk slip out of the underbrush on either side of the road. They have short bows, but aren't aiming them at you.

"We've had you folk under observation for the last hour or two." says Makewise as he and his troop lead you down the road toward the village below, "In these woods, especially in these times, you can't be too careful about visitors showing up, you know?"

[bobk2323]

Yes, press on.

That's 3 of 4 and I doubt JR doesn't say press on. So, press on we shall!

I didn't have notifications set for this thread. Sorry 'bout that...

Aislin keeps her bow pointed downward while the others talk.

Maeva approaches with none of her weapons made ready, to make it very clear to the Small Folk that she's no threat to them.

--
Bob K.

[bobk2323]

"Who are you and what brings you down the Digalow path to our Valley?"

"Well my dear fellow, I am Malbec just up from the south, and heading north and the river city south of you told us of your village and we thought we would like to see it, drink a beer or two and spend a coin or two if that's alright?"

Malbec

That receives a chuckle from the hobbit taking to you, "As I said, if you've come in peace, you are Welcome here. I'll wager you'll find our beer as tasty as any you've had and Bigalow, at the Inn, would never turn down a coin or two from friendly travelers."

"I'm Makewise Twopiece of Hobbitown here in the valley." he says stepping forward and holding out his hand to shake with each of you, "We don't see too many travelers along the Digalow, most travel up and down the river. You're coming from Berm and heading to Old Bridge, are you? Hum, I've heard there's Goblin trouble in Old Bridge."

Once you shake hands with Makewise, you see the rest of the halflings relax and there is rustling as 6 more of the small folk slip out of the underbrush on either side of the road. They have short bows, but aren't aiming them at you.

"We've had you folk under observation for the last hour or two." says Makewise as he and his troop lead you down the road toward the village below, "In these woods, especially in these times, you can't be too careful about visitors showing up, you know?"

The dark-haired young woman nods, and smiles politely to Makewise. "Perfectly understandable, given the current circumstances."

--
Bob K.

[joertexas]

The dark-haired young woman nods, and smiles politely to Makewise. "Perfectly understandable, given the current circumstances."

Aislin puts her arrow away. "Makewise, do you know how the goblins came to be at Old Bridge? They must have a reason for taking and holding it."

[Eris]

The dark-haired young woman nods, and smiles politely to Makewise. "Perfectly understandable, given the current circumstances."

Aislin puts her arrow away. "Makewise, do you know how the goblins came to be at Old Bridge? They must have a reason for taking and holding it."

"No, Aislin, I do not. I don't think any of us know that." Makewise shakes his head, "They stayed on the west side of the river and we and most humans stayed on this side of the river and didn't bother each other for longer than I've lived. Something must have caused them to move from the hills down into the river valley and then try to cross the river to this side. They haven't taken the town of Old Bridge, though. They just infest the western approach and hold the island, they haven't crossed over to the eastern side...not yet anyway."

[ateno]

"Alright, talk like this comes better with the taste of beer. Will we have a escort or since we passed you we are assumed clear?"

Malbek smiles and looks around at all the hobbits while saying this.

Malbek

[joertexas]

"Alright, talk like this comes better with the taste of beer. Will we have a escort or since we passed you we are assumed clear?"

Malbek smiles and looks around at all the hobbits while saying this.

Malbek

"Thank you, Makewise, we will try to determine why the goblins are there, along with pushing them back, of course," the elven wizard-in-training replies.

[Eris]

"Alright, talk like this comes better with the taste of beer. Will we have a escort or since we passed you we are assumed clear?"

Malbek smiles and looks around at all the hobbits while saying this.

Malbek

"I hope you won't mind us keeping an eye on strangers to the Village, will you?' says Makewise then adds with a chuckle, "Not planning to lock you up or anything."

[Eris]

"Alright, talk like this comes better with the taste of beer. Will we have a escort or since we passed you we are assumed clear?"

Malbek smiles and looks around at all the hobbits while saying this.

Malbek

"Thank you, Makewise, we will try to determine why the goblins are there, along with pushing them back, of course," the elven wizard-in-training replies.

Makewise nods, "Aye! Best to keep the goblins over the river. If something worse than them is pushing them this way, be good to know that too."

[bobk2323]

[
"I hope you won't mind us keeping an eye on strangers to the Village, will you?' says Makewise then adds with a chuckle, "Not planning to lock you up or anything."

"Keep an eye on us as much as you feel is necessary," says Maeva with a nice smile. "Your being careful is in no way offensive to me."

--
Bob K.

[ateno]

"Well now, should we all? We just need to know where ti get a meal, a beer and a spot to sleep. If you could let us know."

Malbek