The Forgotten Wish

"The longer we wait on them, the longer we're just sitting here.", Breldo muses.

((Can he see where the trunk/stump toppled over from where he is? To see if it looks natural vs sabotage.))

Nuria watches from a safe distance, gauging the merchant and his assistant once again. Watching those nervous glances of theirs, and then paying attention how one has gripped their weapon tight - It must be a ruse! They're probably going to attack Breldo any second now!

Behind Breldo in the meantime, seeming to have a mostly friendly conversation with the nervous duo, does the group at large proceed, at different paces. Distance is rapidly closing now and Sylvera, wanting to get this over with, even strides a bit further ahead, while Slick is seen showing off his crossbow. For some reason, the merchants almost don't even take note of what Breldo is saying before the merchant snaps in Breldo's direction.

"Look, just, take what you want as long as you don't hurt us! We've got some money, you probably don't even want to bother with the goods-" he says hurriedly, raising his hands before glancing back up front, his tone lower as if trying to address just him. "Are there more ahead or is it just you? I'll toss you the money if you let us make a break for it?"

Someone trying to sneak toward them from behind, a heavily armed cart approaching from the same direction, empty, brandishing weapons... One must wonder where this misconception could have possibly originated. 

Perception: 7

(How far is Pallen's group from Breldo?)

( I'd say probably about 60 feet by this point?)

(And also because I missed it originally - Breldo, you are about twenty feet from the first few trees where the "forest" starts, and the fallen log is about 100 feet in. It does look too straight on the road to be an accident.)

((So the stump is out of view, hidden behind trees/undergrowth...hmmm))

"Oh shut up, we're not here to hurt you, though you telling me not to bother with the goods suggests you're maybe smuggling something.", Breldo dismisses them, eyes scanning ahead, looking for likely ambush sites near the tree.

Nuria starts to fidget nervously. This is a trap. This is a trap and Breldo is walking strait into it. What should she do? Attack them? No, that would be stupid she'd get them both killed if she did that. She grips her right dagger. She needs to calm down. Think. How many of them are there? If she can get an idea of what they are up against before a fight breaks out, it will give her group an advantage.

With this in mind, she examines the wagon trying to count how many merchants there are. She also figures there are probably some hiding in the trees as well.

Perception: 4 (sigh)

Nuria, panicking, fails to really focus and catch how many ambushers they are even dealing with. She sees two on the front of the cart at least, but maybe there's more people hidden in the cart? And who knows how many in the forest! The latter something Breldo thinks about too, even as the merchant stammers for a long moment. By the time he starts talking properly again, Sylvera has caught up, with the rest not far behind. And noting that he had apparently indeed misjudged the situation (he must not have a lot of experience with adventurer groups), almost whispers a simple statement with still slightly trembling hands.

"...My apologies."

Looking ahead at the road again, while the road itself may be clear, there is plenty of forest and bushes on either side. But even this close, no one seems to notice where they'd be hiding, if there is anyone.

"...Maybe they ran off seeing such a big group?" the merchant suggests, more hopeful than anything.

"Well, this is nothing so far.  If there are bandits they are patient and we have to eventually move the tree.   You stay here with Pallen" he says to Slick.

"I'm going up and see if how we can move that tree enough to get by and I see if these bandits appear from the forest or if we were worrying about nothing." he says looking at Pallen.   "And move back away if something bad does break out."      "You better watch for him, " he says into Ricks eyes bofore he walks towards the downed tree.

"Rick will protect boss Pallen, no problem! Rick suggests fire, burn the woods! Rick is confident that will encourage everyone out!"

Rick yells loudly.

Breldo will move to the side of the road, making for the underbrush.

Now at the edge of the forest, it is about time the group moves into action. The merchants appear a bit worried at first still, but do seem to relax when the group at large pointedly ignores them and focuses more on what's ahead, some going into the actual woods, while others stay behind. It is Oren who's the only one brave enough to actually approach the tree itself, though- And as he approaches...

Nothing happens. If there are any would-be bandits in waiting, just Oren alone walking up isn't enough to stir them. The tree itself isn't massive to the point that it shouldn't be possible to push it off the road by hand, at least to a point the road is no longer blocked, though maybe not without some help.

((Breldo will be circling around to the stump side, to see if it coming down was natural, or intentional.))

Stealth: 13

"Who's willing to come here and help me drag this enough so we can all get by?   Who's got the muscle?"

Sylvera looks down her nose at the group who’d mistaken them for bandits, and would have said something had the merchant not apologized upon her arrival. Perhaps he recognized her as royalty and that’s what changed his mind…or something the others said before she got there…either way at least they aren’t causing problems anymore. 

“Yes, they likely are at least second guessing whether or not to attack us, but the longer we sit around the more likely they are to change their minds, let’s get moving.” She eyes the log, nodding as one of the commoners asks someone to help him move the log. She won’t help, of course, but there should be at least one of the others who’s capable doing the work. If nothing else they could just have the horseman pull it out of the way. 

((Ponyman ;) ))

"My people are built well for pushing and pulling heavy loads, but if I were to do so it would leave the cart unattended..."

At least this time Breldo seems to keep to the foliage better than before, going around one side... It's pretty evident that this tree was cut down, at least. The breaking point doesn't seem natural, or rotten, but cut. No sign of whoever is responsible, however, as Oren remains stuck at the tree with no one to help, for now.

((Cut with an axe? From the wetness of the cut wood, presence of sap, etc, he'd like to estimate how long ago it was brought down. Investigation or Nature? 10. or if Survival, an additional +3 to the roll (+5 mod instead of +2).))

((Must have been beavers.))