In the fashion of a professor, that is favoring discourse over conversation, Harald looks towards Esther. "Yes I do believe you are right there in that these stories often veer towards hyperbole. Tales such as this are a research subject of mine, though I specialize in those of giants and not vampires. But none the less, I believe what we will be meeting shall be more mundane in nature. Though, there is the matter of Miss Kolyana's wound and affliction. A bite from a vampire is quite distinguishable and the affliction that follows might be hard to fake. Perhaps there is a vampire in service of this lord of Barovia, or at the very least, a skilled charlatan who is cashing in on the land's myths and fears. Perhaps to sow discord, or enact some sort of vengeance against Master Indirovich, or maybe....." Harald at this point has started pacing around, pipe in hand and is musing to himself under his breath, lost in thought...."..hmm theft? No no no no..."
Esther taps Harald on the shoulder to rouse him from his musings, smiling blithely. She silently gestures towards the road with her head, then jogs off after Wisp onto the road.
Making their way west, the cobbled pavement slowly began to give way to dirt as they started heading for the Svalich Woods. The road looks like it might have been well traveled over the years but hasn't been used as frequently in quite some time.
{If anyone wants to see if they can spot any fresh tracks along the road, roll Investigation or Survival.}
Estherwalks along near the front of the column nearby but on the opposite side of the road to Wisp, matching his silence. Now that they're outside the inn, much of the genteel manner she had been performing has evaporated. Instead, Esther has become a focused, stoney faced woman who at once seems far more serious and far more relaxed. She scans the ground and the treeline and the skies as she walks with subtle movements of her eyes, one hand supporting the strap of her pack, the other continuing to fidget.
Observing his companions, Len walks somehow in the last position of their eclectic group, scanning for possible threats that could come from the woods around them.
As you scan the area ahead you spot a two sets of tracks heading in the direction you're currently heading and three heading towards the town. The ones heading towards the forest are a horse and cart and another horse although the solo horse's prints are seven hours old. The ones heading towards the town are a set of paw prints that appear to belong to a badger that are closely followed by a set of boot prints and the final set is a set of hoofprints that belong to a horse, the latter looking to be several hours old. Near the treeline there looks to be a low mist that looks a little like the fog that had cloaked the town the previous evening. It almost looks as though it is motioning you to move closer but that would be impossible, right?
Harald-
As you search for tracks along the path you notice the unmistakable tracks of a horse and cart heading which seems to be heading towards the forest, they are rather fresh compared to the other tracks in the area, some looked to be a day or two old while others look like they'd been there for a week at least. The only other similar looking tracks heading in the same direction as you are a set of hoofprints from a horse that seem to have been made the previous evening, possibly by the messenger from the previous night at the tavern. You get the feeling that at one time this road that you and the rest of the group had found themselves on might have been part of a trade route back in the day.
Wisp -
As you check the road ahead for any signs of recent travel in the direction that you are headed you can see the tracks of a horse and either a cart or wagon of some sort, they look to be about an hour or so old. There is also another set of slightly older prints that were likely made yesterday evening, they were hoofprints from a horse and if you had to guess, the tracks probably belonged to the messenger from the previous night.
Len-
While scanning for possible threats you notice something out of the corner of your eye near the treeline of the forest. It looked almost as if something was motioning for you to enter but upon closer inspection the only thing there other than trees is a low mist that almost looks like the fog from the other night.
Esther has a rather high threshold for what she would consider to be impossible. She stops in the road and silently looks deeper into the fog.
Esther is friends with a fire. She knows it to be alive, and she knows it to be her ally. If heat and flame lives, why shouldn't the fog and cold and chill? And if the flame is her friend, then it stands to reason that the fog may well be her enemy.
She takes her wand from her pocket and points to the spot within the fog from which she saw the beckoning. She sucks her teeth, feeling a thrill rise up through her arms and chest that she knows isn't the rush of blood, but would be in anyone else. Then, with a practiced gesture that looks nothing like twitching in its proper context, she ushers a command.
"Reveal yourself."
A shimmering jet of many colored flame shoots from Esther's wand and descends upon the fog, immersing the area in an unnatural glow.
(Esther casts faerie fire. Her spells save DC is 14.)
Wisp notices some signs of traffic on the path but nothing out of the ordinary. That is until Esther stops in her tracks.
He keeps an eye on her as she looks into the woods at the side of the road, seeing where she focusses her gaze.
He watches as she takes out her wand and casts some sort of spell. Instinctively he grabs his bow and nocks an arrow. He knows if there was truly danger the magic within the bow would warn him, but Esther had obviously seen or heard something.
”What is it?”, he whispers to Esther as his eyes scan the fog.
Kosef followed the others down the trail, humming wordlessly. This close to the tavern, and the main road, he had not a care in the world, especially as the others peered so closely into the surrounding woods. He pulled up to a sudden stop as Esther gazes off into the forest, then pulls out her wand and unleashes arcane energy. His hand moves instinctively to his shortsword and he looks toward the fog, eyes scanning at once for threats and potential hiding spaces. Perception: 9.
"What do you see? You can't go off firing flames like that without warning, you scared me half to death!"
{ Okay let's see if our little 'friend' makes their save. 12 }
As Esther cast her spell into the fog there was a low cracking sound, almost like something had accidentally stepped on a twig and snapped it. As the many colored fire began to immerse the area in an unnatural glow there was a odd silence that seemed to fall over the area for a moment before a quick and rather surprised yip escaped the creature.
As the light outlines the creature in the fog it is revealed to be a young fox. Although it doesn't seem possible that the little beast was behind the strange movement of the fog, it is possible that the fog itself wasn't completely natural itself.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I'm apologize, I... That mist. I thought... Well, I don't quite know what I thought. For a moment it seemed that it was beckoning to me. But I suppose I must have been mistaken."
Esther shrugs at her companions, a bit embarrassed at her impulsive reaction. She puts her wand away in her pocket. She removes from another pocket a small bit of jerky, which she never had any intention of eating herself. She slowly begins to approach the young fox, the hand with the treat outstretched. She begins speaking to it in a soft, cooing voice.
"I'm sorry, little friend. I didn't mean to frighten you! My, aren't you lovely? What were you doing hiding in the mist like that?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Wisp watches the scene unfold, the fox lit up within the fog and Esther moving across to feed it. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but the way Esther explained the mist beckoning to her made him agitated.
He keeps a careful eye on Esther and the fog in her immediate vicinity as she approaches, the arrow still nocked but as yet not aimed or drawn.
The young fox whimpered a little as it heard her approaching where it had been. Up until it heard her voice and saw her with the small bit of jerky in her hand it had assumed that she was a threat. It hesitated a little bit before moving closer towards her even though it still wasn't entirely sure if she was a friend or a foe. As it got closer the fox seemed to calm down somewhat, it sniffed the treat in her hand once it was close enough but it didn't really seem all that interested in it.
Wisp -
As you keep an eye on the fog in Esther's vicinity you notice that it was moving in an unnatural manner, almost as if it had been beckoning for the group to come closer. As she gets closer towards it to calm down the young fox, you notice that the fog seems to move back a little and somehow get thicker than it had been. For a second you see what looks to be a figure in the fog but it disappears almost as soon as it had appeared.
Everyone -
Further back on the road where the group is, the sound of hooves, creaking of wagon wheels and the faint sound of two people holding a conversation can be heard.
In the fashion of a professor, that is favoring discourse over conversation, Harald looks towards Esther. "Yes I do believe you are right there in that these stories often veer towards hyperbole. Tales such as this are a research subject of mine, though I specialize in those of giants and not vampires. But none the less, I believe what we will be meeting shall be more mundane in nature. Though, there is the matter of Miss Kolyana's wound and affliction. A bite from a vampire is quite distinguishable and the affliction that follows might be hard to fake. Perhaps there is a vampire in service of this lord of Barovia, or at the very least, a skilled charlatan who is cashing in on the land's myths and fears. Perhaps to sow discord, or enact some sort of vengeance against Master Indirovich, or maybe....." Harald at this point has started pacing around, pipe in hand and is musing to himself under his breath, lost in thought...."..hmm theft? No no no no..."
“Best way to find out the truth is to go and see”, Wisp says impatiently. This is why he prefers to work alone.
”Time to go”, he says and starts heading west to the Svalich Woods.
Esther taps Harald on the shoulder to rouse him from his musings, smiling blithely. She silently gestures towards the road with her head, then jogs off after Wisp onto the road.
Lenn starts walking after Wisp in silence.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Making their way west, the cobbled pavement slowly began to give way to dirt as they started heading for the Svalich Woods. The road looks like it might have been well traveled over the years but hasn't been used as frequently in quite some time.
{If anyone wants to see if they can spot any fresh tracks along the road, roll Investigation or Survival.}
Wisp wanders quietly along the road, keeping an eye and ear out for anything out of the ordinary.
Used to being cautious, he also checks every so often to see what traffic had passed recently following the same route as the party.
Survival: 14
Esther walks along near the front of the column nearby but on the opposite side of the road to Wisp, matching his silence. Now that they're outside the inn, much of the genteel manner she had been performing has evaporated. Instead, Esther has become a focused, stoney faced woman who at once seems far more serious and far more relaxed. She scans the ground and the treeline and the skies as she walks with subtle movements of her eyes, one hand supporting the strap of her pack, the other continuing to fidget.
Survival: 21
Observing his companions, Len walks somehow in the last position of their eclectic group, scanning for possible threats that could come from the woods around them.
( Survival: 13 )
PbP Character: A few ;)
Harald will check along for tracks as well. Sticking towards the front and breathing in the deep history he perceives these woods to have.
Investigation: 18
Esther-
As you scan the area ahead you spot a two sets of tracks heading in the direction you're currently heading and three heading towards the town. The ones heading towards the forest are a horse and cart and another horse although the solo horse's prints are seven hours old. The ones heading towards the town are a set of paw prints that appear to belong to a badger that are closely followed by a set of boot prints and the final set is a set of hoofprints that belong to a horse, the latter looking to be several hours old. Near the treeline there looks to be a low mist that looks a little like the fog that had cloaked the town the previous evening. It almost looks as though it is motioning you to move closer but that would be impossible, right?
Harald-
As you search for tracks along the path you notice the unmistakable tracks of a horse and cart heading which seems to be heading towards the forest, they are rather fresh compared to the other tracks in the area, some looked to be a day or two old while others look like they'd been there for a week at least. The only other similar looking tracks heading in the same direction as you are a set of hoofprints from a horse that seem to have been made the previous evening, possibly by the messenger from the previous night at the tavern. You get the feeling that at one time this road that you and the rest of the group had found themselves on might have been part of a trade route back in the day.
Wisp -
As you check the road ahead for any signs of recent travel in the direction that you are headed you can see the tracks of a horse and either a cart or wagon of some sort, they look to be about an hour or so old. There is also another set of slightly older prints that were likely made yesterday evening, they were hoofprints from a horse and if you had to guess, the tracks probably belonged to the messenger from the previous night.
Len-
While scanning for possible threats you notice something out of the corner of your eye near the treeline of the forest. It looked almost as if something was motioning for you to enter but upon closer inspection the only thing there other than trees is a low mist that almost looks like the fog from the other night.
Esther has a rather high threshold for what she would consider to be impossible. She stops in the road and silently looks deeper into the fog.
Esther is friends with a fire. She knows it to be alive, and she knows it to be her ally. If heat and flame lives, why shouldn't the fog and cold and chill? And if the flame is her friend, then it stands to reason that the fog may well be her enemy.
She takes her wand from her pocket and points to the spot within the fog from which she saw the beckoning. She sucks her teeth, feeling a thrill rise up through her arms and chest that she knows isn't the rush of blood, but would be in anyone else. Then, with a practiced gesture that looks nothing like twitching in its proper context, she ushers a command.
"Reveal yourself."
A shimmering jet of many colored flame shoots from Esther's wand and descends upon the fog, immersing the area in an unnatural glow.
(Esther casts faerie fire. Her spells save DC is 14.)
Wisp notices some signs of traffic on the path but nothing out of the ordinary. That is until Esther stops in her tracks.
He keeps an eye on her as she looks into the woods at the side of the road, seeing where she focusses her gaze.
He watches as she takes out her wand and casts some sort of spell. Instinctively he grabs his bow and nocks an arrow. He knows if there was truly danger the magic within the bow would warn him, but Esther had obviously seen or heard something.
”What is it?”, he whispers to Esther as his eyes scan the fog.
Perception: 16
Kosef followed the others down the trail, humming wordlessly. This close to the tavern, and the main road, he had not a care in the world, especially as the others peered so closely into the surrounding woods. He pulled up to a sudden stop as Esther gazes off into the forest, then pulls out her wand and unleashes arcane energy. His hand moves instinctively to his shortsword and he looks toward the fog, eyes scanning at once for threats and potential hiding spaces. Perception: 9.
"What do you see? You can't go off firing flames like that without warning, you scared me half to death!"
{ Okay let's see if our little 'friend' makes their save. 12 }
As Esther cast her spell into the fog there was a low cracking sound, almost like something had accidentally stepped on a twig and snapped it. As the many colored fire began to immerse the area in an unnatural glow there was a odd silence that seemed to fall over the area for a moment before a quick and rather surprised yip escaped the creature.
{They did not...}
As the light outlines the creature in the fog it is revealed to be a young fox. Although it doesn't seem possible that the little beast was behind the strange movement of the fog, it is possible that the fog itself wasn't completely natural itself.
"I'm apologize, I... That mist. I thought... Well, I don't quite know what I thought. For a moment it seemed that it was beckoning to me. But I suppose I must have been mistaken."
Esther shrugs at her companions, a bit embarrassed at her impulsive reaction. She puts her wand away in her pocket. She removes from another pocket a small bit of jerky, which she never had any intention of eating herself. She slowly begins to approach the young fox, the hand with the treat outstretched. She begins speaking to it in a soft, cooing voice.
"I'm sorry, little friend. I didn't mean to frighten you! My, aren't you lovely? What were you doing hiding in the mist like that?"
Animal handling: 7
Wisp watches the scene unfold, the fox lit up within the fog and Esther moving across to feed it. He wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but the way Esther explained the mist beckoning to her made him agitated.
He keeps a careful eye on Esther and the fog in her immediate vicinity as she approaches, the arrow still nocked but as yet not aimed or drawn.
Perception: 21
The warrior keeps his eyes on Esther and the fox while she interacts with it. He even grabs his sword fearing an ambush, but he doesn't unseathes it.
"We should keep going" he simply says
PbP Character: A few ;)
Esther -
The young fox whimpered a little as it heard her approaching where it had been. Up until it heard her voice and saw her with the small bit of jerky in her hand it had assumed that she was a threat. It hesitated a little bit before moving closer towards her even though it still wasn't entirely sure if she was a friend or a foe. As it got closer the fox seemed to calm down somewhat, it sniffed the treat in her hand once it was close enough but it didn't really seem all that interested in it.
Wisp -
As you keep an eye on the fog in Esther's vicinity you notice that it was moving in an unnatural manner, almost as if it had been beckoning for the group to come closer. As she gets closer towards it to calm down the young fox, you notice that the fog seems to move back a little and somehow get thicker than it had been. For a second you see what looks to be a figure in the fog but it disappears almost as soon as it had appeared.
Everyone -
Further back on the road where the group is, the sound of hooves, creaking of wagon wheels and the faint sound of two people holding a conversation can be heard.
"We have company"
says Lenn in low voice, almost a whisper.
PbP Character: A few ;)