Chapter 1: "Night of Blood"

[Hadarai]

Somewhere in the forests of Wissenland on a unnamed road south of Nuln

"Just a little ways ahead it is, you should be able to reach the inn before nightfall!." Those were the words Bernger the coachman had said not but three hours ago when the coach that had been carrying you all had broken down. "We'll be here for some time trying to fix this mess, by the time we'd be finished you lot could be resting easy by the fire with full bellies already. Just follow the road up along the river and you'll come upon the inn, "The Hooded Man" it's called you can't miss it, once we catch up we'll see to it you're reimbursed for the last leg to Nuln with the next coach." The humans in the group recognize the coachman making the sign of Verena as he finishes speaking to seal his promise before he sees you off down the road. "Just stay on the road and don't stop until you get to the inn and you'll be fine!" he calls after you before you're all finally out of earshot.

The journey so far has been relatively pleasant, blue skies, mild temperature, and the road has been in relatively good shape for the last few miles. Along with with the sound of the running river nearby it seems to be a perfectly idyllic day in the forests of the Empire, but suddenly as the day begins it's slow transition into evening the wind begins to pick up and dark clouds start to roll in overhead, the scent of rain is carried to your noses. A storm is coming...

[spanningtree]

Bianca:

We should double our efforts and see if there is indeed an Inn up ahead.... I am Bianca, the lost one. At least tonight that's my name, looking to get to Nuln eventually and scratch up some crowns... doing something. She says with a slight smile.

[Faanku]

Frowning at the gathering clouds, the other elf present pulls a thick travelling hood up over her head and readjusts the straps of the large pack worn on her back. "Most call me Sei." she states to the party, before continuing in the elvish tongue, directed at Bianca. "Seirye Farmal Airinde, sister. If making gold is your intent then perhaps our meeting is fated."

[gialloneri]

Eva, a small human woman no taller than the dwarf in the group's company, looks ill-prepared for the coming weather. "I heard the streets of Nuln are paved with gold! I'm sure there's all sorts of opportunities there, but right now I just want to get this blasted mud off my boots and get a warm meal."

[spanningtree]

Bianca:

In elvish: Seirye Farmal Airinde, I will call you Sei. My family name is Lavanoon, please call me Bianca my sister. We share a common goal. Giving the sign of the earth mother.

Reaching into her sack Bianca produces her blanket and offers it to Eva. Well met Eva, drape this over your shoulders.

To all: Let's keep going, its a wagon trail, right? Has to go somewhere.

[Darklin2]

Hargrim

Well ain't this a fix. Two Elves and Humans. Guess this is going to be a long night. Well we best keep moving. Grungni isn't going to hold back the storms for long.

Pulling his cloak up over his head and shoulders trying to keep his weapons and mail dry.

[VonAlric]

Nicolas

Moving along the road a few steps behind, Nicolas shakes his head at the noise the others make as they move forward. Still, it was nice to hear the sounds of other voices besides his own. "I usually answer to Nic. And I agree with Bianca, we should try moving a bit quicker. I've been outside in weather like this. It's usually best to get shelter before it becomes really bad." Pulling his hat down a bit firmer, Nicolas scans the forest and road for signs of nearby habitations.

[spanningtree]

Bianca:

Excellent to to know you Hargrim and Nicolas... the circumstances could bit a bit better. Bianca will hum an old elvish folk song as the walk.

OCC: How far is it to the edge of the forest?

[Darklin2]

Hargrim

Anyone ever been here before? This has got to be the right way there is no other road or trail leading off anywhere. We have just got to keep going. It will storm soon so stay close together.

[Hadarai]

As Hargrim finishes speaking the first light taps of droplets begin to fall as the sky starts to grow darker. You begin to pick up your pace as the rain becomes heavy and the wind begins to howl even louder. Soon you find yourselves assailed by the storm as the roiling clouds drop torrents of rain onto of your heads and lightning flashes across the sky.

Audible between the rumbles of thunder is a strangled baying. At first this seems to be in the distance, but soon it becomes apparent that the sound is heading towards you!

The Forest edge is about 40 yards from the road you're on to your west while the river runs on your east about 100 yards off, mostly obscured by trees.

[Darklin2]

Hargrim

Removes his shield from his back to his arm. Pushing his helmet down tight on his head.

Gather around there is something coming this way and it doesn't sound friendly. We may want to move off the road towards the river at least that way we have our backs partially protected. Anyone with ranged weapons prepare to fire.

Draws his sword and moves towards the noises in front of the frail elves and humans.

[spanningtree]

Bianca:

Moves in behind Hargrim.

[Faanku]

Sei fingers the knife at her belt and takes a defensive position behind Hargrim. "Keep that blade facing that way, dwarf."

[VonAlric]

Nicolas

Quickly readying his bow, he nocks an arrow and moves a few steps up and back to the river. He strains to hear where the sound is coming for an accurate shot.

[ybn1197]

Brynmor, having been quiet and sullen this far on the trip, prepares his shield and sword. Tapping down his helmet, he moves alongside Hargrim. "Finally, some relief from this quiet trip."

[gialloneri]

Eva pulls Bianca's blanket round her with one hand and clutches an evil-looking wooden club in her other, before moving in close behind the dwarf's protection.

[Hadarai]

The sounds of the baying stop for what seems like an eternity as you nervously watch the forest edge for something to emerge, finally your patience is rewarded when a bursts from the treeline out onto the middle of the road screaming with a short spear hanging from it's side. Moments later the animal is put out of it's misery as a second spear flies from the tree line, lodging itself into the creatures neck. A flash of lightning illuminates the silhouettes of five individuals who slowly emerge from the forest, the first three are smaller in size compared to the other two and you would think were human if not for the mutations they exhibit.

One has eye-stalks like those of a snail or slug that bob up and down as it walks, another has no arms but instead flesh colored tentacles that it is happily slapping together in a crude fit of glee together as he jumps up and down toward the deer's carcass in glee, the last mutant wears nothing but a loincloth and is covered from head to toe in a layer of thick black fur. Behind them you see two hulking forms lumber out larger and much more muscular than the mutants, you immediately recognize these terrible two as beastmen. One carries a sword and has the head of a bovine, while the other is unarmed and has the had of a slobbering hound, it's tongue lolling out as it pants from the apparent chase it was just in.

The hunting party is making it's way out onto the road toward their fresh kill some 30 yards from where you were down the road, the dog headed beastman starts to sniff the air as it walks.

The group has not been discovered for now, if you are trying to hide and sneak away or ambush the mutants test against your Initiative+Cool-30. If you have the Move Silent (rural) or Concealment (rural) skill you get a 10% bonus to your roll. If you pass and want a sneak attack, make one free attack if you can before rolling for initiative then take your turn as normal.

If not please roll for initiative (1d6+Initiative Bonus)

[Darklin2]

Hargrim

Whispers: Now would be a good time to go. Shhhhh Keeping his eyes on the mutants as they attack the kill.

OOC- 33+51 =84-30 =54

[1d100] = 46 Sneak

[VonAlric]

Nicolas

Discretion being the better part of staying alive, Nicolas steps back into the woods.

[Int+Cl+10-30 = 33+29+10-30 = 42]

Sneak [1d100] = 74

[spanningtree]

Bianca:

Retreats with her friends.

OCC: 51 + 52 - 30 = 73

Sneak: [1d100] = 59