Nikita is still reserved, but seems ready to leave. "I am doing fine, m'lord. Thank you."

"You know, ma'am," Oloven says. "I should mention, I'm not actually a lord. None of us are, except Ace over there I think. Until last week, I was a monk. Now I'm well... A farmer, I suppose. A deputy sheriff? A stay-at-home uncle? I'm not quite sure yet what to call myself, but I sure ain't a nobleman. You can just call me Oloven if you'd like. Or Mr. Skabor if it makes you more comfortable." 

After the short conversation with Nikita is over, he hands over Daisy to her care and heads off. He hops up onto Brother Siegfried's cart and asks "What'd ya find out?" 

(Sorry, edited part of the post and it decided I was trying to mess with the roll, doesn't normally do that. Let's try again...)

(Oh right, watching.)

Perception: 9

Tor spent some time between breakfast as hitting the road on sharpening his longsword and axe with a whetstone.

shk, shk it went down the blade.

This was supposed to be a straight shot to Leilon with a bunch of merchants, he thought. Now where are we... 

shk, shk

Assassination attempts. A monk who can disappear a little too easily. A cleric with enough power to banish powerful genies. A lordling with a complex, who was admittedly an exceptional fighter. And a damn psychic mage.

shk, shk

What's His Lordship playing at, gathering this lot together... And now we're all heading to Phandalin, not Leilon. Wonderful.

shk, shk

Wasn't there a dragon roosting in those parts not so long ago? Well, we won't be staying long enough to find out if it's still there.

shk, shk

Once they are on the road, he tries to put all these thoughts to one side and focus on watching their way.

Perception 5

Brother Sigi smiles and nods to Oloven.  "I learned little, outside of confirmation they received my sending.  I alerted the temple.  That way, they can offer corroboration of the prior messages we had already sent to Lord Neverember.  I also suggested they send a knight or brother down Phandalin way to keep an eye on Miss Nikita.  I'm sure the church won't want to get mixed up in any politics... but if she is in danger, and we know about it, I see a duty to do something about it."  He shrugs as he leads Barley away.  "Perhaps they can farm the job out to the Church of Helm or some knightly order that is more inclined to daring and damsel rescuing."  He laughs.  Of all Brother Sigi's mannerisms, his deep, rumbling laugh is perhaps the most 'dwarfish' thing about him.  

He will watch the fields and country roads as they head south, his eyes watchful for danger... but equally so for the telltale sign of new growth woods and ruined fieldstone walls to show where long lost farms and fields has once been.  Perception: 13

"That was right wise of ya," Oloven replies. "I'm sure my former order would be inclined to help out in such a way were they to get word. Ya know, sendin's a handy trick. Wish I could do it. All the magic I know is so specialized. 'Cept the small stuff I suppose. I know a few tricks to entertain the little ones." 

Oloven casts minor illusion, summoning up the sounds of various farm animals; cows mooing, goats bleating, roosters cawing. Oloven moves his mouth along with the sounds in an animated display to make it seem as though they're coming from his own mouth. 

As the day progresses, Brother Sigi spots the signs of many farms that have laid fallow for several years. These farmlands are as fertile as they come in the Sword Coast, but the lack of safety has led to them being abandoned for years.

The day passes without event, the sun has just dropped below the horizon and the sky is turning dark as the party comes over a gentle rolling hill and the Wayside Inn comes into view a hundred feet ahead. It's an oddly shaped building that sits at the juncture of the Triboar Trail and the High Road. Two entrances into the building are apparent from the party's approach: a smaller one at the northern corner, and a larger one, suitable for beasts of burden and wagons, near the first. 

Right now, both sets of doors are under attack by humanoid figures. They have already breached the smaller door, and they are starting to make cracks in the larger.

Please roll initiative.

Initiative 6

(Oh dang! Things just ain't ever easy! Would you describe the light right now as dim light?)

Initiative: 19

Tor seems to have been in his own head for much of the journey, which is unlike him, as far as you can tell from the couple of days you've been traveling together. However he chips into Oloven and Sigi's conversation as it turns to discussion of spells.

"Magic is a double-edged sword. Illusion can create pretty sounds and colours, or visions of horrors. Sending spells are useful, but are also an invasion of the mind. As for the ability to summon the elements... We all saw yesterday what control over fire can do. Or it can cook your food. I steer clear of magic, unless I know exactly what I'm getting." It's the most he's spoken all day.

----

As the party comes in close enough to see the assault on the inn, Tor simply draws his axe and says "Let's go."

Initiative 21

I would call it dim light, yes.

Initiative: 18

"I hope Backus & Martisha are ok."

"We ought to approach carefully," Oloven quietly advises Tor. "We don't know which side is which. They could be bandits attacking the inn, or they could be soldiers tryin' to get to hostages trapped inside. We won't know 'til we get closer. Heck, maybe BOTH sides are bandits!" 

Tor shrugs. "Then let's go ask them."

He continues to walk towards the inn, muttering to himself "Why is nothing ever simple..."

M1 initiative: 13

M2 initiative: 14

Everyone who got above 14 can go. M2 is not doing anything this round.

You're about a hundred feet away. From this distance, due to the light, all you can make out is some vaguely human-looking silhouettes.

Tor will just continue to walk towards the figures. He has his axe in hand in case they turn on him. He is making no attempt to be stealthy or sneak up on them, but he is also not deliberately making himself known. 

As he is so far out he takes the Dodge action this round, prepared for any incoming projectiles.

Ace, scared for the people he known's safety, starts galloping towards the Inn. (Fast enough to make haste, but not fast enough for the bandits to think of it as an attack.

(Tor, are you on your horse?)