00. Intro: Garth & Shannigans [Nuke66 & Stonjuz]

[dmw71]

*** REMINDER ***
Please refrain from viewing the other "Introduction" threads!

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To this day, Garth and Shannigans continue to forage for spell components in the nearby forested areas; always being mindful to respect nature. As they approach one of their favorite spots, they both sense something is "off."

They approach with caution.

Their suspicions are confirmed when they notice several large chunks of trees missing, as if hacked by a bladed object. More nerve-wracking than the damaged trees, however, are the blood stains which carpet several spots in the ground before them. While whatever caused this current condition seems to have passed the immediate area, the absence of the normal wildlife sounds convinces you each that your once comfortable surroundings are no longer safe.

[Stonjuz]

With arrow cocked, but not drawn, the halfling will leave the blood and advance slowly to the elf at the tree and whisper"Can't tell if this blood was let out by hunter, or splattered about as if by beast. No carcass. Maybe injured nearby. We should look for tracks. And this wood, is that from axe or tooth, fang and claw?" Nothing really out of the ordinary, save for both of these together here. You dont suppose this is a ritual, or territorial warning to either of our communities do ya G?" Shannigans will take two seed-bearing 'fruit' and two splintered shards from the wood and offer half to Garth. "Think you can save this tree? I'll go sneak around the perimeter."

[Nuke66]

Garth if offended by what he sees, wondering who, or what, would stoop to such low levels to simply damage trees.

"Stay back a bit, I'll check for tracks and see if I can't make some sense out of this."

Garth approaches, careful not to step on any other tracks. He bends down to look and some blood stains, looking for any fur or feathers that might give away the source.

[dmw71]

The initial thing you encounter is the blood. It seems to be randomly splattered throughout the immediate area, but there are a few heavier pools which capture your attention. There is also the damage caused to a few seemingly random trees.

Upon closer inspection, the damage to the trees appears to have been made by weapons of some kind. Some kind of errant strike, you presume.

Beneath one of the damaged trees is the smallest of the pools of blood. While you can’t be certain, you suspect that a wounded someone (or something) leaned up against the tree and allowed blood flowing from a wound to fall and accumulate into a small pool. You don’t detect any discernable trail left beyond this small pool.

The two other pools are more out in the open and are larger than the one discovered beneath the tree. The relative size of these pools aside, it appears as if the source of the blood in each case was dragged from the spot in which it bled. These smears of blood lead into the forest and gradually fade away until eventually disappearing completely. Unfortunately, no fur or feathers are discovered during the course of your examinations.

[Stonjuz]

As Garth proceeds with his investigating deeper into the foilage, he is followed by the halfling who is trying to guard the druid's rear. Although silent for the most part, the young rogue's skills are not sufficient enough to let the elf think that Shannigans obeyed the request to stay back and that he is the only one following the blood trail. As the twig cracks, and the elf notices .... "Sorry..", the halfling silently mocks with his lips.

[Nuke66]

Garth checks out the blood pools, looking for tracks of either a human or animal type.

"I'd suspect a hunt if it weren't for the trees being damaged, and the lack of a gut pile. There seems to have been a fight, almost to the death, but both the victor and vanquished are gone."

After a while, Garth stops, "The blood is gone, but it appears as if there is little remaining trail."

He stops and scratches his head. "A drag of a body would be easy to discern, what in the seven hells is going on here."

[Stonjuz]

Shannigans slowly looks up at the canopy. "Maybe the victor flew away with it's prize."
The halfling then points back to one of the larger pools. Still whispering, he inquires, "Dare I say it....dragon's blood?"

[Stonjuz]

Further back in the story

Englarge would have to be the spell that Garth witnessed. Magic Missile needs a living target, which would only have brought ire from the druid. It isn't in Shannigan's nature to cast it on himself but the halfling had cast Enlarge on an animal, a butterfly merely for whimsical amusement. The elf witnessing that may have drawn a smile.

Subtracting one simple component

[dmw71]

After a while, Garth stops, "The blood is gone, but it appears as if there is little remaining trail."

He stops and scratches his head. "A drag of a body would be easy to discern, what in the seven hells is going on here."

ooc: Sorry, to clarify, when I said this: 'These smears of blood lead into the forest and gradually fade away until eventually disappearing completely. Unfortunately, no fur or feathers are discovered during the course of your examinations.,' I merely meant that the blood trail ended, there are still other signs of a body being dragged further into the forest.

There seems to have been a fight, almost to the death, but both the victor and vanquished are gone."

I can't say this is definitely the case, but given the remaining evidence (or lack there of), it is the most likely conclusion to the battle you're examining the results of.

[dmw71]

Subtracting one simple component

This is not necessary. My 'forcing' you to cast a spell as part of your background story does not affect your starting inventory or spell component limits.

What you rolled to start with, you start with.

+1 spell component

[dmw71]

Garth checks out the blood pools, looking for tracks of either a human or animal type.

While the streak of blood eventually ends, the path of a body or other object being dragged continues. For how far, you do not know... yet.

The earth below you is solid and no visible foot depressions or tracks are evident.

[Nuke66]

Garth follows the trail after turning to Shannigans and placing a finger in front of his lips. Stalking reasonably fast, he continues to looks for sign of what is going on.

[Stonjuz]

As Shannigans turns back from his dreams, or nightmares, of dragons, he sees that Garth has continued on. It seems that it is all he can do to keep silent and keep up as the pace quickens. When the halfling notices that the signs of dragging continue, he feels a little embarrassed by his own presumptive suggestion.

[dmw71]

Garth hastily follows the trail, pushing further and further into the forest with Shannigans not far behind. The dragging appears to continue for another thirty or fourty yards and appears to stop at the base of a tree. Stopping to look in all directions from where the dragging appears to have stopped, there is no further evidence that anything was being dragged any further. You do, however, happen to notice some droplets of blood on the ground where this tree stands.

A moment later, Shannigans yelps.

He looks up just in time for a drop of blood to fall from above, just missing his eye. It begins slowly rolling down his cheek.

[Nuke66]

Trying to take a look without being obvious, Garth determines the person they are looking for is up a tree. Perhaps without a paddle.

[Stonjuz]

Drawing the blood away with the back of the hand as an arrow is pointed straight up, the halfling takes a step or two back for angle, draws the string and freezes. With a quick glance at the druid, Shannigans returns to the lofty target and the controlled kinetic energy at his fingers.

[dmw71]

Startled, you look up and notice, approximately ten feet above your heads, an unmoving human figure lying atop one of the larger, more sturdy branches. A length of rope wrapped around it and the branch, roughly securing in place.

A moment later, another droplet of blood falls from this form.

[Nuke66]

Given that the quarry looks a little worse for wear, Garth decides to open up a conversation.

"Hail, up in the tree. Are you alright?"

Obviously knowing the answer, he is waiting a reply.

[dmw71]

The only response, after a few moments, is another droplet of falling blood.

[Stonjuz]

"Cover me Garth."The halfling prepares himself for a treeclimb, removing unnecessary gear, and begins to look for a way up. Jestering with his left leg up and dagger 'tween the teeth, he mumbles.... "How 'bouta boost?"