After we finish scouting both sides of the road we should see about dragging the horses off the road since it could attract beasties. Might have to use the oxen to do it.
Can we tell what killed the horses?
By my very rough math, we are roughly 60-70 yards away from the horses.
It obviously feels like a trap. If we push farther up the tree line, we may flank or flush the perpetrators. Maybe proceed up one side until perpendicular with the horses. Searching for signs/tracks of the fiends. If no signs, head toward the horses for a more detailed look at the crime scene? Are there better ways of approaching with caution or should we send Leroy Jenkins?
Erbert stands beside the wagon, saying “I don’t like this one bit. Seems like an obvious trap to me. We need to be cautious, operate from cover. Go along the tree line, do not approach the horses!” He holds his staff upward and casts mage armor, sensing danger.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
(( Map scale is 5' per square. The wagon is around 100 feet from the horses. There is a ruler tool on the right to assist. Looks like a draftsman's triangle. ))
Remaining back next to the wagon. Awaiting word from the folks up front. Scanning the trees and treetops along both sides of the road. Occasionally, glancing to our rear.
Making a quiet little joke with the wizard to keep our morale up. This does seem like a trap. But you know, if these bandits do really wear red cloaks that would be good sports of them. Rather than ambushing while clad in green among these trees.
Hoid will take the Bull in the China Shop … I mean Chadwick, along the tree line to the right of the road, staying on the far side of the trees relative to the road. If there is nothing amiss, Hoid will continue a bit further beyond the horses before backtracking to investigate the horses.
From here the three scouts will circle clockwise through the woods looking for nasties. Chadwick will always be the farthest away at 55 feet from Erbert's position.
If the first cluster of trees are clear we'll proceed up to point A and sweep again. After clearing the woods closest to the wagon. Then Chadwick will check out the horses. Maybe they were killed by a beastie and we've just been paranoid.
If nothing has happened at that point we'll move the wagon to B and repeat the process.
You set up your search pattern and methodically move from tree/shrub grouping to the next. No danger is found so you continue in a clockwise pattern. Tracks are found in the dirt near the top of the map in the trees near the road. Gneuman confirms, goblins. You find more in the trees on the opposite side of the road as well. They all appear to head towards the bottom right of the map.
Chadwick investigates the horses. A broken off arrow is still in the chest of one horse. Slashing injuries are seen in multiple places. They were killed with weapons. Blood covers the ground around the horses. A blood trail leads towards the tracks to the bottom of the map.
to the group, when the scouting party reports back. “As much as I would like to track down these bandits and bring them to justice, we need to complete the task we are contracted for.” “Suggest Erbert document location and details, on the return journey, we can attempt to pick up the trail.”
By my very rough math, we are roughly 60-70 yards away from the horses.
Posing this question again with more clarity.
Do we continue to investigate the tree line(s) toward and up to the horses or proceed down the road toward the horses?
It obviously feels like a trap. If we push farther up the tree line, we may flank or flush the perpetrators. Maybe proceed up one side until perpendicular with the horses. Searching for signs/tracks of the fiends. If no signs, head toward the horses for a more detailed look at the crime scene? Are there better ways of approaching with caution or should we send Leroy Jenkins?
Erbert stands beside the wagon, saying “I don’t like this one bit. Seems like an obvious trap to me. We need to be cautious, operate from cover. Go along the tree line, do not approach the horses!” He holds his staff upward and casts mage armor, sensing danger.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
/looks for plan.....
(( Map scale is 5' per square. The wagon is around 100 feet from the horses. There is a ruler tool on the right to assist. Looks like a draftsman's triangle. ))
Trolkarl
Remaining back next to the wagon. Awaiting word from the folks up front. Scanning the trees and treetops along both sides of the road. Occasionally, glancing to our rear.
Making a quiet little joke with the wizard to keep our morale up. This does seem like a trap. But you know, if these bandits do really wear red cloaks that would be good sports of them. Rather than ambushing while clad in green among these trees.
Hoid will take the Bull in the China Shop … I mean Chadwick, along the tree line to the right of the road, staying on the far side of the trees relative to the road. If there is nothing amiss, Hoid will continue a bit further beyond the horses before backtracking to investigate the horses.
Gneuman: "I agree. It certainly seems like a trap. That being said, I'm willing to go investigate the horses, while the others stay with the wagon."
Ok, Gneuman instead of Chadwick.
Okay, make the moves on the map. I will then explain your characters’ gruesome deaths…..I mean, what happens
I made some comments on the OOC thread about a possible different strategy that didn't leave us so stretched out.
I’m ok with you moving characters according to your plan.
If nobody else replies by tomorrow I'll take your vote as census and move them accordingly.
Left a reply in the other string, good to go with plan posted, let’s get this party started!
/…
Positions updated.
From here the three scouts will circle clockwise through the woods looking for nasties. Chadwick will always be the farthest away at 55 feet from Erbert's position.
If the first cluster of trees are clear we'll proceed up to point A and sweep again. After clearing the woods closest to the wagon. Then Chadwick will check out the horses. Maybe they were killed by a beastie and we've just been paranoid.
If nothing has happened at that point we'll move the wagon to B and repeat the process.
You set up your search pattern and methodically move from tree/shrub grouping to the next. No danger is found so you continue in a clockwise pattern. Tracks are found in the dirt near the top of the map in the trees near the road. Gneuman confirms, goblins. You find more in the trees on the opposite side of the road as well. They all appear to head towards the bottom right of the map.
Chadwick investigates the horses. A broken off arrow is still in the chest of one horse. Slashing injuries are seen in multiple places. They were killed with weapons. Blood covers the ground around the horses. A blood trail leads towards the tracks to the bottom of the map.
(( Map updated. ))
to the group, when the scouting party reports back. “As much as I would like to track down these bandits and bring them to justice, we need to complete the task we are contracted for.” “Suggest Erbert document location and details, on the return journey, we can attempt to pick up the trail.”
Hoid is in agreement with Kragen.
Question for the powers that be: how far are we from our final destination?
(( You should be another full day of travel after today. So, day and a half from where you are. ))