"Well," says Spira, looking around, "we certainly do have some hills to check here!  I'd suggest we start by going to the one closest to us and working around it, then working in a straight line towards the other, paralleling the road, so we can see what lies farther to the west.  I'm no tactician, so I'll not even try to suggest what order we should march in.  I will say, for the benefit of whoever does plan that, that I have seen my fair share of rough and tumble on the Watch, and later as a priestess of Angharrad.  I can do well on the front lines, or in the middle providing healing support."

After a final goodbye to Mallie, Roxana leaves The Gilded Horseshoe behind. She leads the group, walking about 15 minutes until they finally see a sturdy fence surrounding a barren field covered in patches of snow.  Beyond is a rather small house, looking just a little bit run down, with a small bit of smoke coming from the chimney. Just beyond the house is a small barn as well.  The group doesn't make it far down the path that led through a gate in the fence before someone emerges from the house. "Roxy! Hey, Roxy!" the young girl of about 16 calls out. She's nearly the same height as Roxana, but a much more athletic build, dressed in leather armor and carrying a sword in a scabbard at her side. Swiftly she closes the distance to the group, coming up to Roxana. "What's going on?  Who are these folks?" 

Roxana quickly greets the blonde-haired girl and quickly points out the members of the party, mentioning their name. "And everyone, this is my little sister Olivia. She's hoping to join the town guard one of these days, but still helps out on the farm most the time."  Olivia has the same green eyes like Roxana and freckles across the bridge of her nose. "Where's Quinn?" she asks her sister. 

"He, mom, and dad took the cart up north. They're hoping to sell off some grain for supplies to fix up a few things around here. Means just me to watch the winter crops." She sighs dramatically, as though it's a great burden but the smile on her face makes it clear it's just a jest.  "You didn't say why you're all here though."  

"Ah, well, we're trying to help out Martha. There wasn't much work for me at the Horseshoe, so I guess I volunteered to help.  We've got to head about 4 miles south of here and find some... well, not sure exactly. It's a passage going underground in one of the hills out there."  Roxana stops just a moment before adding, "I should be gone maybe a day or so. Then be right back. You'll let everyone know, right?" 

"Off to some underground place out of town? That sounds exciting!" Olivia says eagerly. "Let me come!" She pauses a moment, "Wait, what sort of help does Martha need?" 

"You know you can't come with me, you've got things to do here." Roxana turns to the group. "Let me just grab a few things and I'll be right back. Just a minute."  She and Olivia continue quickly into the house.  A few moments later Roxana is back as promised.  She has a full pack with her.  And she's changed out of her dress and is now wearing a simple pale colored tunic with a leather breastplate beneath her drab green cloak.  At her waist is a rapier in its scabbard. "All set and ready to go," she says. "Sorry for all the delay."  

Finally, the group heads back along the path, to head out through the gate beyond the Raincrest farm's border. Roxana gives a quick wave back towards the house and Olivia. "See you in a couple days!"  Her sister yells back, "You better tell me all about it when you're back!" 

Now over an hour later, the group finds itself having made it four miles south of Longsaddle. "I'd hoped we'd just see the place we are looking for. But I suppose the forest might obscure it. We'll have to go check I think. Maybe Obadiah and Aidwyn should lead the way?"  

(OOC - I'd suggest fighting folks up front, as said in the post. Rash definitely in the back with Roxana. And that puts Spira in between. Did we have one other with us?) 

Quote from Culuril >>

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Now over an hour later, the group finds itself having made it four miles south of Longsaddle. "I'd hoped we'd just see the place we are looking for. But I suppose the forest might obscure it. We'll have to go check I think. Maybe Obadiah and Aidwyn should lead the way?"  

 

 Spira nods.  "Yes, that seems to make the most sense.  And traditionally wizards and scholars tend to prefer to remain far enough back to get a full view of the situation and direct things strategically.  As I've said, I think I'd be best placed in the second rank where I could move forward or fall back as needed.

You're also right that we'll probably have to go check.  The divination said that this arch was in one of these hills facing west, and that the arch itself is in the south side of the hill ... 'allows access to the underground from the south', was how it was worded.  Seems to me to make most sense to work our way south along the range of hills from this first one at the four mile mark, ' she points at the northernmost of the two hills that are visible, "checking the south side of each hill we come to and making sure we don't miss any behind the trees to the west of us as we go."

Quote from Culuril >>

(OOC - I'd suggest fighting folks up front, as said in the post. Rash definitely in the back with Roxana. And that puts Spira in between. Did we have one other with us?) 

(OOC: there should have been a 6th player  but he went missing from the start already... so no, just the 5 of you

OK, 

Marching order should then be:

Aidwyn Obadiah
Spira  
Rash   Roxana

If someone does not agree, feel free to object, of course; we'll rediscuss

And I have an idea of where you are heading now. Let's see how this develops...)

The intelligence and wisdom of Rash and Spira, combined, convince Obadiah and Aidwyn for the moment of how it is appropriate for them to act as meat shields the first bulwark and so, in close ranks, our heroes begin the exploration, choosing to dedicate themselves to it methodically, examining the various south sides of the various hills. Starting with the closest one to the north.

After about a quarter of an hour of walking in which the most noteworthy event is a Woodpecker who suddenly takes off, frightened by your arrival, you arrive at the point where I have moved the P.

No marble arches, for now...

As you can see, you have reached the southernmost part of this particular hill. Do you want to keep going around it (therefore bending slightly to the north)? Or do you leave this hill and head south to the next one?

Not aware if anything helpful came out of the visit to the Harpell mansion, the white-haired warrior seems relieved to finally leave the strange place of magics, even more relieved when he has crossed the underbridge again, making himself a promise to never return to this place of strange magics.

Obadiah lets out a small displeased grunt as the red-haired girl with them explains she needs to visit home before continuing south. He moves about impatienly as the team waits for Roxana to make necessary preparations for their mission, watching the farm and the blonde sister, painfully reminding him of the life that he lost. Was there hope yet? He wanted to believe that, more than anything giving the blonde sister a polite smile as they turn to leave. He nods appreciatively at Roxana as they head on, armed for adventure with a rapier seemingly in good condition, seeing she is apparently more than a tavern wench.

As they journey south, the white-haired warrior takes point, walking in a brisk pace south along the Triboar road, making notes of his surroundings as he walks in silence. When they reach the hills the divination mentioned he veers off towards the them, leading the team swiftly through the snowy terrain to find the arch.

Perception: 7
Survival: 5
(Also has the Wanderer feature or what it's worth.)

For Obadiah:

"Be wary, this is goblin territory." The white-haired warrior says grimly without turning, his yellow predatory eyes watching for possible ambush sites as he moves along, trying to lead the team around them whenever possible. He knew goblins first hand, only small raiding parties the the woodsmen dealt with easily back home, but they could be sneaky buggers and quite dangerous too if underestimated.

"Great... goblins. This might suck," Rash sighs.

He takes a moment to cast mage armor, just in case of an ambush.

'in that case,'. says Spira grimly, "we'd better be wary.  Let's go around the hill and check the other side, since the countryside there seems more open.  The hillside also looks like it heads pretty straight north, so in that open country we'll be able to see quite a stretch of it without needing to get entangled in more ambush prone country.  then we can make our way south to the next hill by the most open route we see.'  As she speaks, she unslings her crossbow from where it had been hanging and takes a bolt out of its case, ready to be loaded.  Then she scans the immediate area for subtle signs and clues that might indicate either danger or something unusual that bears further investigation, paying particular attention to the area she's mentioned but not heading that way on her own if the group decides not to take her advice.

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OOC; because Spira is looking around for clues, think this one might fall under Investigation, but I'll drop in both and let you decide;

Investigation (trained): 10

- or -

Perception (natural): 3

“Goblins…” says Aidwyn “For strange that this may sound… perhaps they know where the marble arch is located I’d they know this hills… how we could reason with them… that I do not know… I only know goblins at the dangerous part of my sword…” 

"I'd hate to find this was the hill with the marble arch and we turned away too soon," Roxana says. "I say we continue a little bit along this hill just to make sure. Then we can continue south like Spira said."

She glances over to Aidwyn after her comment. "Have you ever tried speaking with a goblin? I guess, I've not really ever heard of someone doing that." Granted, her knowledge of goblins was limited. "How would we convince them not to attack us?"

As she continues on in whatever direction the party chooses, she keeps a close eye out. (Perception: 9)

“I honestly have no idea. The only time I encountered those vermin was already attacking my village… they, at least, understood the common language… for they laughed at me at first when I tried to spook them away but… at the end it was the fight and the death of their raiding leader which made the deal.”

"I guess we could beat whatever they know out of 'em," rash says. "But that would be kind of, ya know, evil unless they attack us first to earn our wrath. So I'm of the opinion that we should leave well enough alone in that regard as long as the goblins do the same."

The white-haired warrior would not join the discussion. There was no harm in asking any goblins they came across, he even knew some of their strange guttural language, but for now he kept moving, leading the team over the current hill and then on to the next as soon as he felt fairly confident there was no marble arches to be found on this one.

“I agree. If we found any we could try to ask… but my experience says that it would probably end in a fight” 

After having chosen how to continue the exploration, in just under a quarter of an hour you arrive at the point where I have now moved the P.

The blue lines are small streams - not a problem, to cross and if you need water, theirs is probably drinkable.

As Obadiah expected, still no marble arches...

For Spira:

 However, from the fairly open position you have reached, several other hills offer themselves to your view. Now…unless you want to reevaluate the idea of going to talk to goblins on purpose… Which other hill would you like to head towards? I've numbered them for you (from 1? to 5?) so maybe it's easier for us to refer to them.

Seeing further hills to the west, Roxana says, "I say we try to keep closer to the road, at least for now. It really seemed to me like the divination suggested something just west of the road."  (OOC - I think heading for hill 4 first would be her recommendation.) 

Quote from Culuril >>

Seeing further hills to the west, Roxana says, "I say we try to keep closer to the road, at least for now. It really seemed to me like the divination suggested something just west of the road."  (OOC - I think heading for hill 4 first would be her recommendation.) 

 

 Spira nods and lowers her voice to be audible to all three ranks of the group, but not much farther.  "I agree, for two reasons.  First, we're in the general area the divination indicated, so we can always work our way farther west if the ones by the road don't pan out."

"And second, I think someone might be keeping an eye on us from the ridge there on the northeast side of this hill."  She points.  "The creature was small and quick, so I couldn't be certain it was a goblin, but the size was right; and the wariness about being seen certainly fits.  If so, remember the old saying, 'Better one dragon than five thousand goblins.'  We don't know this tribe's numbers. or the power of their shamans, but if it comes down to a fight its a good bet they'll try to swarm us."  She loads a bolt into her crossbow and starts a pattern of scanning from side to side of the party's line of travel, glancing back occasionally after she completes one of these sweeps in the hopes of catching the observer on the northeast peak by surprise.

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OOC she is varying the frequency she looks back, perhaps glancing back after five sweeps one time and then turning quickly after two the next; that's what I mean about trying to catch the observer by surprise