With both oxen in position at the front of the cart, the halfling begins to secure them into their harnesses.  She gives a delighted laugh.  "There was me thinking you folks knew each other."  She shoots Syldharice another sour look.  "Explains a lot."  Turning to the rest of the party there's mischief on her face.  "How'd you all get involved with Gundren then?  He's not usually one for taking on hired help, or for spending money."  She puts her hand over her mouth and giggles.  "Eep! Please don't tell him I said that, he'll get real grumpy!"

Finishing with the cart she goes to unlock the gate, lifting the heavy wooden bar with practiced ease. Pulling back doors they glide open silently and she peers out into the growing light.  "Aw.  Going to be a glorious day! Sometimes I wish I could travel like you folks."  She sighs. "Buuuut, I'm not the venturesome type, so I look after the shop instead."

"Well.  That's everything's good to go.  These two," she pats the oxen as she puts feed bags over their noses, "won't give you any bother.  Just point 'em in the right direction and off they'll go." 

Sylharice although saw her sour look pretends he didnt noticed. He thought' U did again Sylharice giving the wrong impression,now everyone wil think u are a p..ck.lets hope my father wont learn about it otherwise i am gonna clean the whole tower for a month! I better have to behave myself otherwise next time i wont be so lucky'. 

Jordar helps Rowan get the oxen and the cart in position, "Ah, you know... You're looking to make some coin, you mouth your thoughts some night in a tavern, then you hear of a friend of someone's friend who needs a job done, and there you go. All of a sudden you're halfway across the Sword Coast dodging goblin arrows." Jordar takes position at the side of the cart, checking his gear to see if everything is in order and waving goodbye to Rowan, eventually looking at the others "On to the road, then?" 

Being used to sleeping on the ground Norwin was still asleep. He wakes up with the smell of fresh bread in his nose: "Ah, that smells delicious. Sorry for sleeping in." He starts to help with preparing the cart as well. "My name is Norwin by the way, forgive my manners for not introducing myself earlier to the lot of you. I am a follower of Kelemvor and have to go to Phandalin to perform the last rites for some poor fellow that left this life alone. Might as well help someone out on the way there, so, here I am!"

"On the road indeed. Let's go!"

Mulligan inspects her gear to make sure everything is secure, and takes her place on the left rear side of the cart.

Breakfast eaten and the cart prepared, the party leaves the warehouse behind.  It's still early as you head towards the nearest gate that will take you out onto the High Road.  Being the market quarter there are a few people around at the early hour, the odd bakery and business owners opening up their shops, but no one that gives you cause for concern.  As you trundle through the gate, a sergeant of the watch waves you through, but you do notice him narrow his eyes a little as you pass.  Both Mulligan and Graeme try to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible.

Days 2 and 3

It's around 50 miles to the Triboar Trail, and the oxen are not going to win any prizes for speed.  There's a sense of relief as you leave the city behind, and it's a beautiful day for travelling.  As the journey progresses it's easy going, and you take turns at resting and driving the cart;  which is easy enough as the oxen happily plod on without complaint.  There's light traffic on the road and occasionally you have to make way for another cart or mounted patrols of men. .  Your camps are undisturbed apart from the usual night noises, though you do hear the faint howling of wolves in the distance on the second night.  All in all, it is a very pleasant journey with little incident.

Day 4

After breaking camp, you travel travel an hour or so before turning off onto the Triboar Trail and the last leg of the journey to Phandalin.  With an early start you think you could make the town by nightfall, though the going immediately becomes a little rougher and the road not as well maintained.  The trail is quite overgrown and seldom used, but it's still passable for the cart and the oxen plod on quite happily.  It reaches around lunch time, and as you turn a bend in the trail you spot two horses lying unmoving on the trail around 50feet ahead of you.  Even at that distance it's easy to spot the black arrows sticking out of them.

 The woods press close to the trail here, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side.

"Oi!, Hold!" Graeme calls out at the sight of the dead horses. (Perception Check: 20).  Graeme examines the surroundings for signs of combatants.

"I think we may be surrounded,  everyone be sharp. We're innit noe." 

The cart stops and an eerie silence surrounds the party as you all look at the horses and scan your surroundings.  What do you do?

Graeme lowers his voice to just the group... "Here, I'm gonna' heed around to the right an' then up an' across tha' ridge to see if we hae any unwelcome guests. Be ready in case I come tearin' back wi' me arse on fire!"

With that, Graeme attempts to stealth south to make his way to the top of the ridge. (Stealth = 5).

Mulligan draws her bow and nocks an arrow, pointing it at the thicket where she saw movement. "We've got company. Show yourself!"

Jordar had been walking rather eagerly, hoping to be able to reach a suitable spot for a lunch spot soon, though his hunger is all gone when the gruesome sight comes into view. His instincts kick in and his hand jumps to the pommel of the sword at his belt, his eyes darting to the woods nearby, his other hand with a finger over his lips demanding silence from his nearby allies.

As Graeme tries to creep to the south of the cart, the party hears a loud "Yark!" and two Goblins come bursting out of the thicket quite close to him.  A second later, two arrows thrum towards the cart from the north side of the road, one burying itself into the wood of the cart.

<<Roll Initiative>>

With the cry of the Goblins close at had, Graeme attempts to mimic their voice in the hope of confusing the attacking creatures.  His attempt is panicked as the sound of two of the goblins thrash through the thicket towards him.  His "Yark," sounds more akin to a cow than a goblin.  The oxen turn their heads towards him in curiosity.

Norwin jumps off the cart "It's an ambush!" he runs towards the north where he saw movement. "They are on both sides, who's with me?" As soon as he sees the ambushers: "Ah Goblins..." And then he switches to goblin: "Well, it's your funeral guys" And casts Toll the Dead (wis save 13 or 2 damage).

As Norwin rushes up onto the northern bank, he spies two Goblins in the bushes.  One, further away shakes his head, shrugging off the sound of the clerics magical bell.  He gives an angry shriek and looses an arrow at Norwin.  The projectile slams into the cleric, the goblin barely able to miss at this short range (7 piercing damage).  The second Goblin isn't quite as composed.  As Norwin approaches it panics and sends a shot skittering past the cleric deep into the thicket.  The two goblins turn and melt back into the thicket, attempting to conceal themselves.

From the south, another two goblins burst out the thicket and make a beeline for Graeme, attacking as a pair.  With a loud "Yaaaark" the first slashes at the fighter with it's scimitar,   The attack is a wild one, the blade just cutting through thin air as Graeme deftly squirms out the way, then the Goblin turns and runs back into the thicket. vanishing like a ghost.  The second Goblin is a little more composed.  As Graeme avoids the first blow, he's not nearly quick enough to evade the second and the blade slashes painfully through a gap in his armour. (5 slashing damage).  With another "Yark" of triumph, the goblin turns and melts back into the undergrowth.

<<Sylharice is surprised and can't act this turn.  Mulligan, you're up>>

Mulligan takes a shot at the goblin she can see in the brush. Attack: 18 Damage: 10

Mulligan's arrow makes a loud clattering sound as it passes through the brush, but the goblin is well enough covered to avoid the shaft as it buries itself in the bark of a tree.

<<Graeme you're up>>

As Graeme watches the goblin that cut him seem to vanish into thin air, he shouts "You wee bastard! Is tha' all ye got?? Come have another go at me you..." You can hear Graeme utter unintelligibly as he  makes his way to the area where Mulligans arrow went, occasionally swiping at the grass in frustration.  His words come and go as he makes his way, "The next time you pop your .... head .... take this sword an'...." 

Although Graeme is making quite a ruckus, he holds his weapon at the ready in case a goblin attempts another attack.