Chapter 2: You woke up where exactly?

[Rukellian]

The comforts of grass are the first to welcome the adventuring group, as each person slowly starts to gain conciousness. You can all hear the rustling of bushes and tree branches as if you were in a forest. Opening your eyes, you confirm it to be so. The trees tower high and pieces of sunlight beam down through the canopy of leaves over your heads. You are no longer in the royal keep of New Dathan, in fact, no one quite knows where they are or how they got here...

Alright guys, feel free to post.

[tooleychris]

Flynn rubs his sleepy eyes and sits up.
"I suppose the question concerning access to the royal stores for gear...is a no."

He looks around taking inventory "I don't understand why people are untrusting of magic?" he says in a mocking voice.
"Everyone alright?"

[onlyme]

Whitsell groggily replies,
"Yeah, I uh, think so. What was that? Actually... Why was that?

[tooleychris]

Flynn checks their surroundwings for landmarks.
"Well, if I may put a silver lining on this dark cloud, I might guess our peculiar friend may have saved us a bit of walking. I do wish we might have been better prepared. Unless... "
He looks around for any extra bags.

[Rukellian]

You do not see any bags laying around, only the equipment that each player has in their inventory. Nothing appears to be misplaced either, except... well, your group!

[Grognardsw]

"That pribbling crook pated malt worm!" curses Deceidon, shaking his dizzy head and sheathing his dagger. "I'll gut the fobbing evil-eyed hugger mugger yet."

The son of Urshurak looks about at the flora and fauna, breathes deep the air and feels the temperature, to judge if they still be in close region to New Dathan. He climbs a tree to afford a better view of the surroundings, and to judge direction by the sun.

"Well friends, I didn't catch our rogue mage's name, location, plan or any helpful clue, but I do know one thing. If I had to work for that jackanap, I'd go rogue too."

[NJWilliam]

Gustov, Fighter/Thief

Gustov looks about and checks the location of the sun to determine what time of day it is and how much time has passed since they were speaking with the mage.

[Rukellian]

Upon closer inspection of the surroundings, Deceidon is able to figure out that the flora and fauna of the area resembles that of the Great Forest of Kinra, but he hopes that is not the case. The Great Forest of Kinra is found on the opposite side of the continent, with a mountain range seperating it from New Dathan. Strangely enough though, he finds no such mountains in the distance. Based off of what Deceidon and Gustov could gather, the orientation of the sun suggests its mid day.

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon / lost

"It seems we are lost," says Deceidon after climbing back down the tree. "With no landmark or sign of civilization about, we might as well pick a direction and start walking. Anyone have a better idea?"

[onlyme]

Whitsell offers to climb a tree, unless someone feels they are better suited. Then maybe he can see a settlement to walk toward...

[tooleychris]

"I smell no ocean breeze. "adds Flynn.
"Perhaps when the stars shine above I can get bearing. I dislike walking blindly. Follow the sun's decent?" "

[Grognardsw]

"Aye, that path is as good as any," says Deceidon to Flynn.

He joins the others for a long walk in the woods.

Along the stroll Deceidon inquires of their cloaked silent companion: "You have the look of the fey race in you, comrade. I recall seeing you in the Red Rock Inn before we were summoned. Tell us about yourself."

[onlyme]

Whitsell will follow wherever the crowd wants to go...

[Rukellian]

As the group starts their walk through the forest/woods, Deceidon and Flynn try to make small conversation with Gustov, in an attempt to get to know their group member a little bit better. The trail they walk on is littered with green leaves, barely covering the surface of a natural dirt path. Being a bit fidgety in his new environment, Whitsell darts his attention back and forth between his left and right, staying alert of his surroundings, or trying to at least. Within what feels like 10-15 minutes of walking, the surroundings take on an odd noise. Silence.

[tooleychris]

Flynn draws steel.
"What's the worst sound you might hear in a forest?" he asks not really requiring an answer.

[NJWilliam]

Gustov

Gustov manages just a bit of a smile, "I am elven on my father's side and spent much of my youth with my elven clan.
"Please forgive my silence earlier, I have found that many humans - and in particular a number of them at the Inn we were summoned too - are distrustful of my kind, and it's often best for me to keep a low profile.
"I had thought the invitation was a hoax - foisted on me by someone that wanted me out of the way - but it seems now that it was truly a summons by the king, though perhaps the hoax was on him by his "brother."
"I ordinarily don't take offense to magic and it's practitioners, but that fellow has put a bitter taste in my mouth, what do you think?"

Gustov holds up a hand as he deftly drops a bullet into his sling,

"While it seems this is a path that has been traveled, this silence is not natural."

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon / forest

"An understandable concern," replies Deceidon to Gustov. "As for Fenrin, I don't trust him. Unfortunately, he may be the lesser of two evils."

Deceidon notices the silence of the forest, and doesn't like it. He draws his bow and nocks an arrow.

[Rukellian]

Though the rest of the group seems to be alerted to the sudden silence they find themselves in, Whitsell is still preoccupied with keeping watch on the trees to the left and right of him, not paying careful attention to anything else out of his paranoia.

The group comes to a complete halt as something pierces the air around them. A giggle, followed by the sound of a rope snapping. Before anyone could even react, Whitsell is dragged up into the air forcefully, and yelps in surprise. Both his feet are snared by a rope, and he now dangles hopelessly from a tall tree branch!

"Ahahahahaaah! I can't beweve dat actually workd!"
"SHUT IT you twit," roars another voice in a harsh whisper.
"Aw flop it you guys, let's just get em'!"

Some rough looking bandits jumps out from where they were hiding and pulls out their weapons, while another stays behind with a bow at the ready. One of them then steps forward, a man in chainmail with an eyepatch over his left eye, and gives the adventuring group an ultimatum. "You all can just drop your belongings here all nice like and run off, otherwise we will just have to loot you all dead."

Bandits.jpg (111.77 KiB) Viewed 1313 times

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon / forest

"Cease! We are royal envoys, have proof of thus, and your attack will bring down the wrath of King Benagal of New Dathan!" shouts Deceidon, his nocked arrow trained on the bandit archer. "Surely smart bravados such as yourselves do not want to be hunted down by soldiers and dogs and hung?"

[Rukellian]

The leader of the group turns his head around and looks to his group with a twisted smile.
"You here that lads? ROYAL envoys! We are sure to walk away with full coinpurses," he ends his statement with a roar of laughter.
"Tis unfortunate that you all ran into us, or maybe, it is fortunate. Better to hear this from us then the person who sent you! Hehehe.... you see, King Benagal has no authority over here, no, this here place is a big ol' jail, and everyone here are its captives. So you best get your smarts together real quick like and pick your friends carefully, cuz if you don't, well your dead! Now, being the 'kind' man that I am, I will repeat myself once more, and only once more, drop your belongings and run off." The leader's goons just give a goofy grin, as if they went through this procedure so many times before. None of the bandits seem to budge or waver from their demands, a fight seems imminent.