Action Thread 1: The Meeting/Encounter on the Coast Trail

[tkrexx]

Emm waits until most of the others stroll to the beach, glances back at the forest across the meadow, and raises her eyes to the great moon, whispering a short prayer she is not making a grave error. Finally she follows the rest of the gathering, still keeping her cowl and cloak closely about. That a Half-Orc and a Half-Elf can be on friendly terms she takes as a good start, but she won't allow the Half-Elf with the leather armor & short sword, nor the burly pair of men in chain get behind her. Getting close to the old man with the child, she whispers: Come, Grandfather, let us be each others' eyes tonight.

[Nuke66]

Lauranna also gravitates toward the child as they walk, moving to the side if anyone approaches from behind. She will manage a smile if the girl looks at her.

[Argennian]

A like bird-whistle sound answers twice to Billy’s previous call within moments from the trailhead you passed above and behind you. From the shadows of the raised thicket whence the voice came steps out a tall figure followed by what appears to be an animal of some kind. The animal’s eyes are large and bright, and appear to almost glow yellow in the moonlight. The duo walks towards the meadow and as they get closer, you see a middle-aged human dressed in a light-colored cloak with what appears to be a funny-looking dog on his heel. He’s dressed in fine leather armor and high, soft boots. On his head, a seaman’s bandana and around his neck is draped a strangely-shaped amulet that looks like an ocean wave. In his front beltline is an ornate dagger and pelt pouch. On his left hip is a short sword. He carries a light backpack over his shoulder and a couple of wineskins. The large-eyed dog must be a foreign breed and resembles a cross between a fox and large cat. It looks at each of you as they pass the fire pit and turn west to the trail that leads down towards the beach.

“Let us make our way then friends,” explains Gentleman Billy with a flourish of his hand as he takes the trail. The older, armored man in the silver cloak, the armored dwarf and the half-elf couple fall in behind him. Behind them walk the group of four, with the large armored man first, then the young human and elf with the funny hat, followed by the half-elf with shiny leather armor. Bog falls in next, followed by Thalion the Grey, Caelvanna, Griffo and the cousins Rachstaad. Behind the dwarven clerics marches the two massive human warriors in chain, effortlessly carrying their venerable charge in the bright robes between them on his special “traveling stool”. After them comes the cloaked halfling that had been lying in the grass and the two gnomes with their massive packs. The young girl struggles to break free of her guardian’s protections as they move to fall in towards the rear. The old man continues to maintain his nervous visage, even with Lauranna and Emm’s reassuring presence at the rearguard behind them. The young child shyly smiles at any that catch her eye but says naught.

The trail switches back and forth within the small valley as it gradually descends. The group finds its way into the trees and sparse thickets as the fog returns. The great moon above does its best to penetrate the thick and encompassing blanket, but it again gets dark and damp. At the front, Billy produces a light source of some kind as he and his animal friend continue to lead the way. The sound of the waves can just be heard in the distance as the party descends in the trees along the well-worn path. As soon as the trail levels out, the tree line appears ahead. The aroma of saltwater from the Sea of Ghosts wafts in on the light, westerly breeze, its invite to your secretive voyage swimming casually and uncaringly amongst you.

Just as the party is about to break the tree-line, Billy stops short and holds his hand up to indicate pause. For those close to the front and for any others that want to step to the side to see why they’ve stopped, it’s easy to spot. Billy’s dog is out in front of him by about 25’-30’. Its semi-crouched, ears perked and pointed straight ahead. “What is it, Sheba?” the old sailor queries of the strange canine as he adjusts his light source to shine brighter and further. He steps forward, still shining the light in front of him. His other hand glides naturally to his beltline. "Rufal, is that you?" The older armored man in the silver cloak, easily noticeable due to his large profile with the light source in front of him can be seen reaching for the handle of the two-handed sword on his back.

[tkrexx]

Whispering, Grandfather, behind me. Emm steadies her shield and feels her grip on her spear tighten.

[Alethan]

Bog lets out a low grumble as he tries to peer ahead, "Blasted light is ruining my night vision..."

He shifts one spear to his right hand and scans the sides of the trail, looking for any indication that there might be assailants on their flanks. Hopefully, the light source being further ahead of them will allow his infravision to function properly.

[dmw71]

Caelvanna instinctively reaches over her shoulder and produces an arrow from a quiver strapped to her back. She nocks the arrow; bow held out in front of her.

She listens intensely while her infravision ability recovers.

[SocraticLawyer]

Ulrich plants his feet and readies his shield and staff. Scanning his field of vision for possible enemies, he mutters a quiet prayer to Moradin and waits....

[Xaxyx]

Taking a cue from Ulrich, Hartnid hefts his flail and stands near his cousin, peering into the darkness with a worried frown.

"What's happening?" he whispers.

[Nyctos]

Griffo notches his own arrow but does not draw yet. He takes a step to the side slightly out of line with the other travelers. Glancing into the woods to the side and forward. He calmly waits for a sign.

[tkrexx]

Emm remembers the secret pouch she found in her Teacher's home, and tries to slip her fingers inside. How wide is this path?

[Thalion]

Thalion attempts to feign disinterest at what is going on.

As he continues to have a conversation with himself, his eyes dart left and right... watching for anything unusual as well as seeking out a place to hide.

[Argennian]

How wide is this path?

OOC: The actual path is only about 2'-3' wide but there's easily another 2'-3' of grass and short weeds on each side before the flora becomes thicker. The terrain is moderately treed here with a type of tall but thin coastal pine. There’s light to moderate undergrowth and sporadic bunches of thicket and brush.

Due to the thick fog and lack of available moonlight, visibility is limited to around 60 to 70 feet or so. Those that have infravision should be able to spot anything that approaches from the sides out of the fog, at a distance relative to how close they are to a light source and how much ambient light is being produced.

~ You’re currently about 100 feet or so from the edge of the tree-line straight ahead (west). The trees go out to each side of the canyon and up the sides, those being at least a few hundred yards in each direction (north and south).

[Nuke66]

Lauranna slows, and looks behind her, slowly fading silently into the edge of the undergrowth. She quietly unsheathes her sword, taking care not to let it flash in the moon light.

[SocraticLawyer]

Taking a cue from Ulrich, Hartnid hefts his flail and stands near his cousin, peering into the darkness with a worried frown.

"What's happening?" he whispers.

Ulrich answers in the dwarven tongue, Some treachery, I fear. Betrayal, perhaps. Let us keep to our guard.

[Argennian]

Every member of the group is now aware that something is wrong, and begins reacting to the situation.

Gentleman Billy continues shining his strange-looking lantern into the fog along the trail, a glowing dagger now in his free hand. His dog begins growling and barking low, and then crouches for action. The tall, older man discards his silver cloak, revealing what must be a masterwork Karagonian suit of silver plate armor. He draws his massive, now-glowing two-handed sword and steps up next to Billy. The silver chain and symbol of the sun around his neck begin to noticeably grow brighter and brighter. Behind them, the older half-elf couple moves back and to the south side, to a bush and crouch down behind it. There is no sign of the armored dwarf.

In the group of four just behind them, the armored soldier pushes the young noble back and down at the edge of the trail with a muttered curse and instructions to hide and be quiet. The half-elf quickly readies his bow and steps to the side. He throws the hood of his cloak over his head and melts into the tree next to him. The robed elf with the funny hat stands right where he is but draws a wand from somewhere on his person with his free hand and begins looking around.

Next on the trail, Bog readies a spear and scans for threats to the sides, as does Caelvanna and Griffo with their bows. Thalion the Grey finds a bush near a tree to crouch in and begins muttering a prayer or oath, also looking from time to time to see what’s happening. The cousins Rachstaad stand firm, their weapons ready and dwarven eyes searching for danger.
The two massive bodyguards hurry their fussing, elderly charge to the side near a large tree and ready weapons, one with bow, the other with sword. They look nervous. There is no sign of the cloaked halfling anywhere and the two gnomes just stand there woodenly watching Billy and the armored warrior at the front.

“What is it, Yorn? What’s happ….” the little girl blurts out before the old man can cover her mouth and drag her over next to a large bush. His eyes are evidently wide with fear and he clutches the child to him hard as he mutters prayers under his breath and fumbles for a charm that hangs around his neck. Closeby at the rear, Emm fingers something in her large pouch and looks around for trouble. Lauranna steps to the side to conceal her position and quietly draws her sword, looking back along the trail the way they came...


~ The sounds of nature become suddenly paralyzed with silence. Within moments the air becomes noticeably colder and tangibly heavy. A low rumble begins to slowly echo through the trees followed by an uncharacteristic chill that jolts through your body such as you’ve never experienced. The staff being carried by the elf with the funny hat suddenly glows red and lets off an angry, snapping drone. The High elf points the wand in his other hand at the trail ahead and begins to move forward. A thick and darker bank of fog begins to form along the trail about 10-20 yards past the older sailor and knight…


~ Please post declared actions. Bog is the closest PC to the front, so Alethan, please roll a d6 and a d100 percentile for the party.

[Thalion]

Thalion briefly touches the mark on his cheek. He quietly draws his longsword and dagger from their scabbards and slowly tries to make a wide circle around the area, using both the cover of darkness as well as any vegetation to hide his movement.

As he moves, he will be watchful for anything threatening, ready to bolt if he feels he's spotted.

[Alethan]

Initiative roll maybe? [1d6] = 4

Not sure what this one is for... [1d100] = 81

[Alethan]

Bog crouches low and readies his first spear for throwing. He holds to see what comes forth from the fog.

[tkrexx]

Emm draws forth a tiny sprig of mistletoe and an oak leaf from her pouch.
Approximately how long is our line? Emm is at the rear, how far to the front? For spell range purposes.

[SocraticLawyer]

Ulrich holds his ground, ready with staff or spell for whatever danger lurks beyond....