[Completed] - Rhodri/GoldFinger - 5 April, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

This expedition was led by the dour elf Rhodri to attempt to sneak into the Finger of Doom and pillage the gold that is rumored to lie within. It departed Vaul on April 5 and included the following:

Rhodri - male elf
Numen - male elf
Orrin - male dwarf
Lug - male human
Naila - female human
Kennit - male halfling

Please let me know in the tavern if others are participating--I believe this is it but I might have overlooked someone. Make sure you are re supplied in town business and paid up through April 5 before this gets moving.

[Zorroroaster]

"Do you expect me to talk?

No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"

Orrin paid up and ready to go.

[GTan_Baq]

Naila is ready.

[Mister-Kent]

Numen has one more bit of Town Business (in the Tavern, actually), and then he and Mammon are prepared to go!

[Keehnelf]

As the party prepares for departure by the gate, they catch sight of Jord, who is somewhat less young than seemed to be suggested. He has short, matted dark hair and looks as if life in a mercenary camp has not been treating him especially well. His movements have an uncoordinated and graceless sort of quality, and he is neither physically imposing nor especially clever looking. He has a short bow slung over one shoulder and a long sword at his side, with a travel pack and cloak over his studded leather armor.

"You Numen," he asks, in a monotone, to no one in particular. "I hear you wanted some extra muscle for your trip."

[Mister-Kent]

Numen steps forward with a shallow bow. "Numen," he introduces himself. He presents a pack of trail rations--7 days worth--then turns to the group.

"Jord," he announces, gesturing towards his hireling.

Mammon goes over to gently sniff at the newcomer.

[Keehnelf]

Jord takes the pack of rations and considers it. "Just a week, then? What are you doing?"

[Mister-Kent]

He holds up his index finger and retrieves three more rations from his pack.

"Gold at the Finger of Doom," he explains.

I'll retroactively have Numen pick up another 7 rations, keep 4 and give Jord 3. Just in case ~ some of these adventures become prolonged affairs!

[Keehnelf]

"You in charge of this whole thing?" he eyes Mammon uncertainly.

[Zhym]

Lug hums The Lay of Lug as he sets out.

[Zorroroaster]

As they depart the city, Orrin sidles up to Naila and elbows her playfully in the ribs.

"Try to stay awake for this one, eh?"

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit meets the group at the gate. He looks to be in much better shape than the day before.
His lips are curled in a smirk.
"Elf. Good to see you again." He nods at Rhodri. He nods at Orrin as well, remembering him from the tavern. The others he seems not to recognize, if they were at the tavern he must have surely been too far in his cups to remember. Especially Naila to whom he gives a less than gentlemanly wink

[Mister-Kent]

Numen shakes his head to Jord, and points his finger towards Rhodri. Then with that same hand he snaps his fingers, calling Mammon back to his side.

[Keehnelf]

Jord hands the rations back to Numen unceremoniously, then shakes his head. "Nah, I think I'll sit this one out. I hear the mountain's full of goblins. Not interested in dying this week. Good luck, though."

NPC Reaction Check [2d6] = 9

Hireling declines offer.

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit spits. "More for us."

[Mister-Kent]

"Not interested in dying this week."

Numen sniffs at the rejection. "As if Death would be so interested in you," he scoffs.

Sliding the rations into his own pack, he seems heartened by Kennit's response. "Yes." He gives a rare smile, wide and toothy. He looks down at Mammon, who returns his grin. "More for us indeed."

[Keehnelf]

so what direction is this party headed in?

[Spartakos]

Rhodri shows up last, with an expression like he's going to his own execution rather than leading a treasure-hunting expedition. He nods to each of the party in turn. He watches dispassionately as Jord declines to come along. "Well, I expected someone would give up before we even began; just as well it was the hired man."

Turning to address the group, he says, "I'm not one for making speeches, so I'll spare you the tedium. We go out into a dangerous damn wilderness, where I've seen plenty of brushes with death, and experienced a few myself. We might all die, but it's not like anybody ever cheated death by staying home and sitting next to the fire...though I suppose they might have died warmer. But I'm willing to chance ending up in a wolf's belly, for a shot at making my fortune. Let's go."

With that, he straightens his pack and strikes off to the northward.

I'm aiming to head due north to the forest's edge, then bear northeast towards the finger.

[GTan_Baq]

As they depart the city, Orrin sidles up to Naila and elbows her playfully in the ribs.

"Try to stay awake for this one, eh?"

Naila gives Orrin a smirk and tugs his beard. "Well, here's hoping we all walk back from this one."

[Keehnelf]

April 6, 1 VC - 2:40pm

The party heads north from Vaul, turning their course steadily more northeast over the course of the day to point them toward the Finger of Doom. The entirety of the first day passes without incident, and the night is similarly calm. The weather is quiet and the sky clearer than it has been for days.

The next day around mid-day they reach the edge of the woods, and head in, attempting to keep their sights on the Finger and generally keeping on a direct course thanks to momentary breaks in the canopy of the forest.

Before too long, the group hears the sound of running water, and as they approach they see a massive tree dominating a small clearing with a wooden barricade erected around it. The enormous hanging roots of the tree create dark hollow spaces beneath it, that seem like they would be suitable as dens for animals or perhaps even cave entrances.

The area appears quiet and deserted, so the party approaches cautiously. They hear no noise except the running water in the distance, though the ground in the clearing seems to have been disturbed by some kind of activity lately. Just then, Rhodri notices a goblinoid leg sticking out of a bush off to the party's right side, as they are ambushed by a pair of mottled gray and brown dire wolves that leaps from the underbrush into their midst!

Surprise roll: Monsters: [1d6] = 3, Party: [1d6] = 1

The first, a massive creature with two barely-healed but horrific-looking scars along one of its sides, attacks Lug while in the air, but the massive fighter's reflexes are well-honed from long travel in unsafe places and he dodges to the side, sending the creature sprawling in the dirt.

DW 1 vs Lug [1d20] = 2, damage [2d4] = 3

The second takes aim at Numen, streaking low across the ground to attempt to pull his feet from under him and savage him, but Numen also proves to be faster than the enemy and he jumps over the wolf as it charges, whistling instinctively for Mammon to protect him.

DW 1 vs Numen [1d20] = 4, damage [2d4] = 4

Actions and initiative!

Wolf 1: 15 HP
Wolf 2: 19 HP

Please deduct one day's rations apiece.