You have been hired by the mayor of Daggerford to hunt down the monster that has been attacking travelers and farmers at night. It's the 6th night you have been out in the darkness watching and waiting. The night air has a bit of a chill to it as a breeze flows past you, you pull your cloak up to keep warm. Your companions, all hired to do the same job, sit, stand, or lean around you, watching with you. A scream breaks the night's silence around 3 am. It's that of a young woman, it sounds like Sharon, a local girl who lives on a farm only a few yards from you. There is a crashing sound of wood splintering and screams of a man and woman. You rush with your party from your hiding places and towards the farmhouse. About 60 yards away, on the hill above the farmhouse, you see a silhouette bathed in the light of a full moon. It's that of a humanoid wolf standing about 7 ft. high. Clutched in its clawed hands is what appears to be a human limb. The creature raises it's head and a deep howl rushed out from it, shattering the cool night air. As you move towards it, it turns its head towards you. You can't make out much of its features but you do see the eyes. Large, glowing and red, bore deep into you. The creature turns and, with amazing speed, it disappears into the nearby woods. The farmer, dressed in his sleeping gown, and holding a pitchfork, rushes up the hill but stops short of the woods. Seeing your party he says "That's it, lads, it took my loves arm with it and I want it dead!" The farmer points to the woods.
There has to be a better way to make 20 gold, you think to yourself as the party rushes to the woods, following the creature. Your paces slows as you enter and you find the forest to be dark and quiet. Your senses seem acutely sharp in the darkness of the woods. As you travel forward you see a mist on the ground. At first, it is thin and spotty but as you go forward it grows thicker and denser. The mist starts to chill you even through your clothing. Suddenly you are afraid. Something is not right. This mist is unnatural and it appears to move of its own accord. Suddenly panic overcomes you. You have to get out! That is when the world goes dark.
You awaken at a forest edge. The party is around you, waking just as you do. Looking around you find the forest you are in is not the one you chased the creature into. Looking out you see what appears to be a dirt roadway about 30 ft. to the east of you, or what you believe is east and the sky has an overcast.
As each of you peers out, something catches your attention. You hear wheels coming in your direction along the road. After a few moments, you see 2, somewhat elaborate coach wagons pull up along the road. The wagons are pulled by 2 black horses with a driver at each of the reigns. As they stop a tall thin man with elven features exits one of the coaches and approaches your location. he is dressed in fine clothing, a small sheer jacket, pants that stop below the knee, and are met with white socks and hard looking fancy shoes. The man's appearance is emasculate and well-groomed. The man stops 20 ft. from the forest edge, all of you are occupying at this time and looks at you. he smiles then speaks:
"Hello Everyone," he says in a soft voice that seems to carry, "It's is so good to see you all. I trust everyone is unharmed and rested?" he asks. He waits a moment then continues: "My Master, the Lord of these lands, has sent me to fetch you and instructed me to bring you to his very Castle so he may properly welcome you and meet each of you personally. My Master is a prudent man but, his patience is limited at times so do come along and meet him." The elf smiles warmly.
(OCC: For your first post please include a brief description for the other members of the part. "IT BEGINS!!!)
Dmitri Darkwood moves gracefully to the forefront of the group, his half-elven heritage is evident with his fine features, lithe build, and slightly pointed ears. His long black hair is tied back to keep his vision clear. His deep blue eyes dart about the vicinity of the party taking in the details of the strange land they have appeared in and the suspiciously convenient carriages arrival.
He is attired in supple leather breeches, a finely made white shirt, a deep green vest, and lambskin boots complete his outfit. He wears scale mail armor that has been treated to make it appear dull and minimize the reflection of light. In his left hand he carries a shield with the emblem of a raven in flight over a blazing sword. His right hand rests comfortably on the hilt of a longsword at his side. A brace of hand axes are tucked into his belt and he has two daggers strapped to his belt tucked in the small of his back. He completes his adventuring atire with a grey greatcloak with the hood cast back and the length of the cloak pushed back behind the scabbard of his blade.
Dmitri smiles confidently at the manservant as he says, "Greetings! Before we join you for the journey to meet your master, please tarry but a moment to answer a few questions. Who is your Master? Where are we? Are we still in the domain of Daggerford? We six were in service to that fair city and I fear our task is left undone."
Dmitri smiles and shifts into a comfortable stance as he awaits the elf's response to his inquiries.
Getting up, Tio dust of her robes and pants and mutters to herself softly “How strange for this to happen twice.” Tio is wearing a all blue cloak and robes with silver flower patterns with black pants. She wears black gloves over hands that’s reach up into her sleeves. Her hair is a pure black reaching pash her shoulders. She has a porcelain mask on which covers her face.
James gets up in a sweat and puts his hand up in a defensive gesture before calming a few moments later. He stands up revealing more of his features, brown hair and pale skin. He wears armor, although he looks like he’s barely strong enough to walk around in it. His clothes are plain. His more notable feature is a slash of burned skin on his hands and forearms in a very distinct pattern.
As usual Bob Beezly is slow to rise, having planted himself firmly in the dirt by the road after their strange sojourn through the misty forest. He didn't like change as a rule and here they were, in a strange new land with strangers somehow finding them despite being hopelessly lost. He frowns, his weathered, leathery skin furrowing along deep laugh lines. He uses his staff to right himself, a long haft with a honey dipper on the end made of wood from a peach tree. He is short, even for a dwarf, and wide. The cooking utensils on his pack certainly weren't just for show. All over thick golden hair lays on his shoulder in a full mane and he has a beard to match, both festooned with twigs, leaves, flowers and quite possibly a bird's nest in there somewhere (he wasn't sure if there were still eggs in the nest or not). Occasionally one might catch a glimpse under his all-encompassing weather-beaten cloak and see leather armor that was like new and a flash of metal from an elven scimitar on his hip. He stays withdrawn, eschewing the social graces that Mr. Darkwood employed so well to simply shout, "An' who 're you s'posed t' be?"
Gillain wakes (more fretfully than the others so far), muttering as she does so between panting breaths: "...what?.. No.. uh?!........cold mists.... beast... I... where?....". Her boots scratch on the ground as she scrabbles to get up, looking around and trying to clear her head. She holds her shield and spear out before her as she turns this way and that, getting her bearings now and spotting the rest of her party...
Gillain stands ready in gleaming chain-mail armour. She's human, and not tall. She's relatively slight too, but has an athletic build, such that in full armour she still strikes an imposing presence. She has pale skin, and dark hair that is normally braided and tied back (but right now, much of it has fallen loose and is strung about her face).
As the coaches approach, she shakes her head... once, twice.... and as she looks up, a certain clarity seems to wash over her; her breathing still hitching and panicked, but now deep and slow too. She looks around with a penetrating stare that seems like it could pierce right into someone's soul.
((using divine sense she opens her senses to detect the forces of good and evil that might surround her after such an unusual event: sensing celestials, fiends, and undead within 60ft that are not behind full cover, and consecrated or desecrated ground and objects))
She stays on guard near the middle of the group depending on what her senses reveal...
Ermren Brawnanvil pulls himself up to his full height, barely five feet, straightens his rather plain burn scarred workman's outfit and casually adjust his clearly heavy pack, with what looks like a set of hammers and tongs strapped to the outside next to a small hand bellows, and starts towards the carriage using his iron bound staff to steady himself on the dirt path. As he nears he plants his feet for a moment and ensures the leather thongs holding his long red hair and beard together and out of the way before fixing his strangely silver eyes on the newcomer for a moment before shrugging and looking to the others, "Seems to me, he's here and knows where we are, which puts him one up on us, so why don't we go along and wait for this to make sense." Turning to move towards one of the carriages he clearly mutters, "Thautam, wasn't there anyone else? I was happy in the forge..."
"I am familiar with this Daggerford and you are far from it so, I assume your employment there has been terminated." he says "As for your other questions, I am forbidden to answer then, by the word of my Master and I will not break my oath to him. if it is any consolation I am to offer the Hospitality, by the Ancient Code. No harm will befall you under his protection." The elf says.
"As for who I am I am called Rahadin and I am my master's most loyal servant," Rahadin says. "So this way if you please." Rahadin motions towards the carriages then turns and walks towards them.
You get the sensation that he is finished with his introduction and only expects you to follow.
Bob shuffles forward, cloak dragging across the ground with a soft susurration not unlike a snake, and squints at the elegant man. He gives a long, hard dwarven squint, the kind of penetrating gaze coming from the beady depths of a face that's mostly beard that could cut through stone and see to the core of a mountain.
...Then he looked at the mist. It swirled menacingly. He had never thought mist to be menacing before. He usually rather liked the way the morning fog settled in the dells between the hills and clung in the form of dew drops to the grass. But this mist didn't cling so much as insinuate itself into your line of sight before dancing away as you try to get a good look. He found himself somehow more disturbed at the notion of trying to find his way home in the mists than facing the aberrant creature they were hired to hunt. He gulped.
"I-I agree with Ermren! Trust a dwarf to speak sense, after all. The carriage is bound t' be more comfortable than a night out here in this fog," he says, wrapping his cloak about his shoulders like an old crone warding off the winter chill with her shawl. He totters over to the nearest carriage as fast as his stout legs will carry him.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Gillain whirls on her heels on the spot, nodding distractedly at Bob and Ermren as they trek past her towards the coaches. She seems to look through the two dwarfs though. And through the mist and the trees, into the darkness they just came from. "Yes... yes... go.... Go on...", she whispers to everyone, gesturing towards the coaches...
She stands facing away from the vehicles, waiting for everyone to go past her. She casts furtive glances at the trees as if jumping at unseen shadows: shield raised, spear-tip following her eye-line...
Perception?: 18
((Just normal, visual perception though. I think divine sense has probably faded already?))
She'll wait until everyone is past her, before bringing up the rear. She'll get on board last, ever watching the treeline, spear poised...
Dmitri nods at the unconventional wisdom displayed by the dwarves. They were leagues away from Daggerford. They had been spirited away by some eerie mist to a strange land. Perhaps Rahadin's employer could shed some light on their situation. Either way a carriage ride would be far more comfortable then traveling afoot. Dmitri turns to the two female members of their party to state some flippant remark; but sees Gillian looking on edge. He calmly walks to her location at the rear of the party. As he does so he whistles a common folk song about a lass riding horses and coming about a mountain. Dispite his outer calm, he was greatly distressed about this turn of events.
As he closes on Gillian he calmly says, "Gillian was it? I don't fancy walking about these woods. Perhaps the master of the castle can help us with our situation. The dwarves have the right of it. A carriage ride is better than walking. Shall we join the others? Hmm...", Dmitri holds out an arm to facilitate the warrior accompanying him to the carriages.
As Ermren settles into one of the carriages, he waves his hand over his clothing, using a simple trick to clean and dry them after the trek through the mist and woods, as well as warm them slightly to make himself more comfortable. (Prestidigitation)
“It’s ‘Gillain’...” Gillain says quietly without looking round as Dmitri approaches. “Gill-Lane... G’Lane... with a hard ‘G’... How many times?!...”. She says this with mock-annoyance and tries to frown, but has trouble hiding a smile instead. Dmitri always manages to push her buttons, but she can’t help liking the guy. “It’s better than ‘Squire!’... or ‘boy!’ at least!”, she teases.
She takes another look along the tree line. Maybe it was that little moment of normality between her and Dmitri, or having another warrior at her back, but Gillain relaxes (a little).
”I thought I saw something... or... not really ‘saw’...” she says quietly, backing up against Dmitri, still between him and the trees. She backs up another step, gently guiding the half-elf backwards towards the carriages with her shoulder, but also getting close enough to whisper, “I had that feeling you get when you’re being watched. Something in the woods. Maybe it’s nothing. Just... stay alert...”.
She eventually turns to Dmitri and stows her shield and spear. She sees his hand out to help her, and performs a little pretend curtsy, and allows him to take her arm and guide her the last few steps to the carriages.
Tio: You feel this elf is being genuine. You do not suspect any deceit on his part.
You make your way to the carriages. The doors open and Rahadin, who stands a bit off from you but when he speaks you can hear him clearly. "Yes, rest your weary bones and find comfort. You are safe now and will be for the batter part of this day," he says with a comforting smile on his face. "Once you reach the Castle, My Masters servants will greet you and make you feel at ease until your audience with My Master.'
Rahadin turns to walk down the road a bit then turns back to you as you board the carriages. "One thing," he says to you all, "these carriages travel very fast I would not open the doors or hang any body part out of the windows as you travel. it could prove disastrous and I would not want My Master to meet your corpse and not you on this auspicious occasion." With that Rahadin turns and walks away from you.
Once everyone is boarded, 3 to a carriage, and gear is stowed, and you settle in for your trip. The doors close and the carriages lurch forward. You can hear the grunt and whinny's of the tow horse teams pulling the carriages. The drivers call out to them in unison "Home Lads, We are bound for home, where fresh clover and barley have been cut for you and waits for your arrival." the horses seem to respond with whinny's but, you do not know what they seem to be saying.
(OCC: let me know who is riding with whom)
As you watch out the windows, the countryside passes by you. The countryside appears to be temperate woodlands with the occasional farmhouse and cleared lands in the distance. The horses are keeping a strong pace for the countryside to be moving by so quickly. The overcast does add a bit of a dreariness to the land but, you figure after a good rain, the clouds will pass and the sun will shine brightly and life the spirits of you, your companions, and this place as well.
It's many miles into the trip before all of you come upright in your seats. The realization of a detail crosses your minds almost in unison. When you entered the carriages and when you settled in, no person's were seen opening or closing the carriage doors.
(Options to roleplay and bit and any actions you wish to do)
I think Gillain and Dmitri will be last to board, and will just get on wherever there’s space left. Gillain might gravitate towards Tio (girls together) but isn’t too fussy.
((I think the party has spent the last few nights (maybe longer?) hunting the wolf-beast (is that right?) so we’re probably all pretty comfortable with one another))
I think Gillain and Dmitri will be last to board, and will just get on wherever there’s space left. Gillain might gravitate towards Tio (girls together) but isn’t too fussy.
((I think the party has spent the last few nights (maybe longer?) hunting the wolf-beast (is that right?) so we’re probably all pretty comfortable with one another))
Each of you started to develop a bit of familiarity with one another.
Tio nods and gracefully steps in the last carriage with Gillain and Dmitri. She keeps her hand on her lap and she watches out the window as the scenery changes. Still looking out she speaks out to the others“I did not sense the elf Rahadin was lying but we should be careful. Strange that we awake in a strange land and there’s already someone to fetch us.”
OOC:[The group would know Tio is always the last on the watch shift and the first to wake everyone. She has never been seen without her porcelain mask. She also never speaks loud or gets to emotional.]
You have been hired by the mayor of Daggerford to hunt down the monster that has been attacking travelers and farmers at night.
It's the 6th night you have been out in the darkness watching and waiting. The night air has a bit of a chill to it as a breeze flows past you, you pull your cloak up to keep warm. Your companions, all hired to do the same job, sit, stand, or lean around you, watching with you.
A scream breaks the night's silence around 3 am. It's that of a young woman, it sounds like Sharon, a local girl who lives on a farm only a few yards from you.
There is a crashing sound of wood splintering and screams of a man and woman.
You rush with your party from your hiding places and towards the farmhouse. About 60 yards away, on the hill above the farmhouse, you see a silhouette bathed in the light of a full moon. It's that of a humanoid wolf standing about 7 ft. high. Clutched in its clawed hands is what appears to be a human limb. The creature raises it's head and a deep howl rushed out from it, shattering the cool night air. As you move towards it, it turns its head towards you. You can't make out much of its features but you do see the eyes. Large, glowing and red, bore deep into you. The creature turns and, with amazing speed, it disappears into the nearby woods.
The farmer, dressed in his sleeping gown, and holding a pitchfork, rushes up the hill but stops short of the woods. Seeing your party he says "That's it, lads, it took my loves arm with it and I want it dead!" The farmer points to the woods.
There has to be a better way to make 20 gold, you think to yourself as the party rushes to the woods, following the creature. Your paces slows as you enter and you find the forest to be dark and quiet. Your senses seem acutely sharp in the darkness of the woods. As you travel forward you see a mist on the ground. At first, it is thin and spotty but as you go forward it grows thicker and denser. The mist starts to chill you even through your clothing. Suddenly you are afraid. Something is not right. This mist is unnatural and it appears to move of its own accord. Suddenly panic overcomes you. You have to get out! That is when the world goes dark.
You awaken at a forest edge. The party is around you, waking just as you do. Looking around you find the forest you are in is not the one you chased the creature into. Looking out you see what appears to be a dirt roadway about 30 ft. to the east of you, or what you believe is east and the sky has an overcast.
As each of you peers out, something catches your attention. You hear wheels coming in your direction along the road. After a few moments, you see 2, somewhat elaborate coach wagons pull up along the road. The wagons are pulled by 2 black horses with a driver at each of the reigns. As they stop a tall thin man with elven features exits one of the coaches and approaches your location. he is dressed in fine clothing, a small sheer jacket, pants that stop below the knee, and are met with white socks and hard looking fancy shoes. The man's appearance is emasculate and well-groomed. The man stops 20 ft. from the forest edge, all of you are occupying at this time and looks at you. he smiles then speaks:
"Hello Everyone," he says in a soft voice that seems to carry, "It's is so good to see you all. I trust everyone is unharmed and rested?" he asks.
He waits a moment then continues: "My Master, the Lord of these lands, has sent me to fetch you and instructed me to bring you to his very Castle so he may properly welcome you and meet each of you personally. My Master is a prudent man but, his patience is limited at times so do come along and meet him." The elf smiles warmly.
(OCC: For your first post please include a brief description for the other members of the part. "IT BEGINS!!!)
Dmitri Darkwood moves gracefully to the forefront of the group, his half-elven heritage is evident with his fine features, lithe build, and slightly pointed ears. His long black hair is tied back to keep his vision clear. His deep blue eyes dart about the vicinity of the party taking in the details of the strange land they have appeared in and the suspiciously convenient carriages arrival.
He is attired in supple leather breeches, a finely made white shirt, a deep green vest, and lambskin boots complete his outfit. He wears scale mail armor that has been treated to make it appear dull and minimize the reflection of light. In his left hand he carries a shield with the emblem of a raven in flight over a blazing sword. His right hand rests comfortably on the hilt of a longsword at his side. A brace of hand axes are tucked into his belt and he has two daggers strapped to his belt tucked in the small of his back. He completes his adventuring atire with a grey greatcloak with the hood cast back and the length of the cloak pushed back behind the scabbard of his blade.
Dmitri smiles confidently at the manservant as he says, "Greetings! Before we join you for the journey to meet your master, please tarry but a moment to answer a few questions. Who is your Master? Where are we? Are we still in the domain of Daggerford? We six were in service to that fair city and I fear our task is left undone."
Dmitri smiles and shifts into a comfortable stance as he awaits the elf's response to his inquiries.
Getting up, Tio dust of her robes and pants and mutters to herself softly “How strange for this to happen twice.” Tio is wearing a all blue cloak and robes with silver flower patterns with black pants. She wears black gloves over hands that’s reach up into her sleeves. Her hair is a pure black reaching pash her shoulders. She has a porcelain mask on which covers her face.
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAJames gets up in a sweat and puts his hand up in a defensive gesture before calming a few moments later. He stands up revealing more of his features, brown hair and pale skin. He wears armor, although he looks like he’s barely strong enough to walk around in it. His clothes are plain. His more notable feature is a slash of burned skin on his hands and forearms in a very distinct pattern.
Paladin - warforged - orange
As usual Bob Beezly is slow to rise, having planted himself firmly in the dirt by the road after their strange sojourn through the misty forest. He didn't like change as a rule and here they were, in a strange new land with strangers somehow finding them despite being hopelessly lost. He frowns, his weathered, leathery skin furrowing along deep laugh lines. He uses his staff to right himself, a long haft with a honey dipper on the end made of wood from a peach tree. He is short, even for a dwarf, and wide. The cooking utensils on his pack certainly weren't just for show. All over thick golden hair lays on his shoulder in a full mane and he has a beard to match, both festooned with twigs, leaves, flowers and quite possibly a bird's nest in there somewhere (he wasn't sure if there were still eggs in the nest or not). Occasionally one might catch a glimpse under his all-encompassing weather-beaten cloak and see leather armor that was like new and a flash of metal from an elven scimitar on his hip. He stays withdrawn, eschewing the social graces that Mr. Darkwood employed so well to simply shout, "An' who 're you s'posed t' be?"
Gillain wakes (more fretfully than the others so far), muttering as she does so between panting breaths: "...what?.. No.. uh?!........cold mists.... beast... I... where?....". Her boots scratch on the ground as she scrabbles to get up, looking around and trying to clear her head. She holds her shield and spear out before her as she turns this way and that, getting her bearings now and spotting the rest of her party...
Gillain stands ready in gleaming chain-mail armour. She's human, and not tall. She's relatively slight too, but has an athletic build, such that in full armour she still strikes an imposing presence. She has pale skin, and dark hair that is normally braided and tied back (but right now, much of it has fallen loose and is strung about her face).
As the coaches approach, she shakes her head... once, twice.... and as she looks up, a certain clarity seems to wash over her; her breathing still hitching and panicked, but now deep and slow too. She looks around with a penetrating stare that seems like it could pierce right into someone's soul.
((using divine sense she opens her senses to detect the forces of good and evil that might surround her after such an unusual event: sensing celestials, fiends, and undead within 60ft that are not behind full cover, and consecrated or desecrated ground and objects))
She stays on guard near the middle of the group depending on what her senses reveal...
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ermren Brawnanvil pulls himself up to his full height, barely five feet, straightens his rather plain burn scarred workman's outfit and casually adjust his clearly heavy pack, with what looks like a set of hammers and tongs strapped to the outside next to a small hand bellows, and starts towards the carriage using his iron bound staff to steady himself on the dirt path. As he nears he plants his feet for a moment and ensures the leather thongs holding his long red hair and beard together and out of the way before fixing his strangely silver eyes on the newcomer for a moment before shrugging and looking to the others, "Seems to me, he's here and knows where we are, which puts him one up on us, so why don't we go along and wait for this to make sense." Turning to move towards one of the carriages he clearly mutters, "Thautam, wasn't there anyone else? I was happy in the forge..."
The elf smiles a bit then continues:
"I am familiar with this Daggerford and you are far from it so, I assume your employment there has been terminated." he says "As for your other questions, I am forbidden to answer then, by the word of my Master and I will not break my oath to him. if it is any consolation I am to offer the Hospitality, by the Ancient Code. No harm will befall you under his protection." The elf says.
"As for who I am I am called Rahadin and I am my master's most loyal servant," Rahadin says. "So this way if you please." Rahadin motions towards the carriages then turns and walks towards them.
You get the sensation that he is finished with his introduction and only expects you to follow.
Bob shuffles forward, cloak dragging across the ground with a soft susurration not unlike a snake, and squints at the elegant man. He gives a long, hard dwarven squint, the kind of penetrating gaze coming from the beady depths of a face that's mostly beard that could cut through stone and see to the core of a mountain.
...Then he looked at the mist. It swirled menacingly. He had never thought mist to be menacing before. He usually rather liked the way the morning fog settled in the dells between the hills and clung in the form of dew drops to the grass. But this mist didn't cling so much as insinuate itself into your line of sight before dancing away as you try to get a good look. He found himself somehow more disturbed at the notion of trying to find his way home in the mists than facing the aberrant creature they were hired to hunt. He gulped.
"I-I agree with Ermren! Trust a dwarf to speak sense, after all. The carriage is bound t' be more comfortable than a night out here in this fog," he says, wrapping his cloak about his shoulders like an old crone warding off the winter chill with her shawl. He totters over to the nearest carriage as fast as his stout legs will carry him.
Tio will study the elven man as he says his piece.
Insight: 11
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiAGillain whirls on her heels on the spot, nodding distractedly at Bob and Ermren as they trek past her towards the coaches. She seems to look through the two dwarfs though. And through the mist and the trees, into the darkness they just came from. "Yes... yes... go.... Go on...", she whispers to everyone, gesturing towards the coaches...
She stands facing away from the vehicles, waiting for everyone to go past her. She casts furtive glances at the trees as if jumping at unseen shadows: shield raised, spear-tip following her eye-line...
Perception?: 18
((Just normal, visual perception though. I think divine sense has probably faded already?))
She'll wait until everyone is past her, before bringing up the rear. She'll get on board last, ever watching the treeline, spear poised...
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Dmitri nods at the unconventional wisdom displayed by the dwarves. They were leagues away from Daggerford. They had been spirited away by some eerie mist to a strange land. Perhaps Rahadin's employer could shed some light on their situation. Either way a carriage ride would be far more comfortable then traveling afoot. Dmitri turns to the two female members of their party to state some flippant remark; but sees Gillian looking on edge. He calmly walks to her location at the rear of the party. As he does so he whistles a common folk song about a lass riding horses and coming about a mountain. Dispite his outer calm, he was greatly distressed about this turn of events.
As he closes on Gillian he calmly says, "Gillian was it? I don't fancy walking about these woods. Perhaps the master of the castle can help us with our situation. The dwarves have the right of it. A carriage ride is better than walking. Shall we join the others? Hmm...", Dmitri holds out an arm to facilitate the warrior accompanying him to the carriages.
James is quiet, but follows. “We mustn’t linger. The only way through is forward.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
As Ermren settles into one of the carriages, he waves his hand over his clothing, using a simple trick to clean and dry them after the trek through the mist and woods, as well as warm them slightly to make himself more comfortable. (Prestidigitation)
“It’s ‘Gillain’...” Gillain says quietly without looking round as Dmitri approaches. “Gill-Lane... G’Lane... with a hard ‘G’... How many times?!...”. She says this with mock-annoyance and tries to frown, but has trouble hiding a smile instead. Dmitri always manages to push her buttons, but she can’t help liking the guy. “It’s better than ‘Squire!’... or ‘boy!’ at least!”, she teases.
She takes another look along the tree line. Maybe it was that little moment of normality between her and Dmitri, or having another warrior at her back, but Gillain relaxes (a little).
”I thought I saw something... or... not really ‘saw’...” she says quietly, backing up against Dmitri, still between him and the trees. She backs up another step, gently guiding the half-elf backwards towards the carriages with her shoulder, but also getting close enough to whisper, “I had that feeling you get when you’re being watched. Something in the woods. Maybe it’s nothing. Just... stay alert...”.
She eventually turns to Dmitri and stows her shield and spear. She sees his hand out to help her, and performs a little pretend curtsy, and allows him to take her arm and guide her the last few steps to the carriages.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Tio: You feel this elf is being genuine. You do not suspect any deceit on his part.
You make your way to the carriages. The doors open and Rahadin, who stands a bit off from you but when he speaks you can hear him clearly.
"Yes, rest your weary bones and find comfort. You are safe now and will be for the batter part of this day," he says with a comforting smile on his face. "Once you reach the Castle, My Masters servants will greet you and make you feel at ease until your audience with My Master.'
Rahadin turns to walk down the road a bit then turns back to you as you board the carriages. "One thing," he says to you all, "these carriages travel very fast I would not open the doors or hang any body part out of the windows as you travel. it could prove disastrous and I would not want My Master to meet your corpse and not you on this auspicious occasion."
With that Rahadin turns and walks away from you.
Once everyone is boarded, 3 to a carriage, and gear is stowed, and you settle in for your trip. The doors close and the carriages lurch forward. You can hear the grunt and whinny's of the tow horse teams pulling the carriages. The drivers call out to them in unison "Home Lads, We are bound for home, where fresh clover and barley have been cut for you and waits for your arrival." the horses seem to respond with whinny's but, you do not know what they seem to be saying.
(OCC: let me know who is riding with whom)
As you watch out the windows, the countryside passes by you. The countryside appears to be temperate woodlands with the occasional farmhouse and cleared lands in the distance. The horses are keeping a strong pace for the countryside to be moving by so quickly. The overcast does add a bit of a dreariness to the land but, you figure after a good rain, the clouds will pass and the sun will shine brightly and life the spirits of you, your companions, and this place as well.
It's many miles into the trip before all of you come upright in your seats. The realization of a detail crosses your minds almost in unison. When you entered the carriages and when you settled in, no person's were seen opening or closing the carriage doors.
(Options to roleplay and bit and any actions you wish to do)
Ermren would have entered the lead carriage first, so whoever wants to join him would be welcome.
I think Gillain and Dmitri will be last to board, and will just get on wherever there’s space left. Gillain might gravitate towards Tio (girls together) but isn’t too fussy.
((I think the party has spent the last few nights (maybe longer?) hunting the wolf-beast (is that right?) so we’re probably all pretty comfortable with one another))
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Each of you started to develop a bit of familiarity with one another.
Tio nods and gracefully steps in the last carriage with Gillain and Dmitri. She keeps her hand on her lap and she watches out the window as the scenery changes. Still looking out she speaks out to the others “I did not sense the elf Rahadin was lying but we should be careful. Strange that we awake in a strange land and there’s already someone to fetch us.”
OOC:[The group would know Tio is always the last on the watch shift and the first to wake everyone. She has never been seen without her porcelain mask. She also never speaks loud or gets to emotional.]
Felix Windfall(Human-V Lv.7 Rogue) killed in ToA, Vallan Houndstrider (Halfling Ghostwise Lv.1 Fighter) in DiA