The dark-haired man nods in agreement as Vazo'yn points out there are likely more people hiding over by the raft, possibly just to avoid them but possibly they were just about to ambush them. "No, but Lily sent herself." He answers the drow with a small good-natured smile and a wink. "Hopefully we will know more in a moment."He says with a hint of excitement in his voice. His focus still on his blonde companion and the witch eye he barely notices the fellowship dispersing before they have information to make a unified effort, the dwarf and the rabbit girl heading over to the river while the grim ranger disappears in the direction of the raft. Oh well, as long as there was no unnecessary bloodshed he thought and returned his full focus to Lily and the eye, hoping they would have reached the hiding people soon.
Jack Lily flutters ahead on delicate, filigree wings, but she is only able to rely on her hearing in the black of night and is only able to hear whispering off in the distance. She knows she is very clever and quiet, but she also knows that the sounds of her wings and the disturbances they cause in the air could alert those with especially acute senses, so she maintains her distance and is unable to hear what is being discussed.
Jack’s Arcane Eye floats along shortly after, invisible and silent as it moves ahead. It spots five creatures, people, crouching together discussing something of deep import. Next to them are four people who are not part of the discussion. Four, huddled against the cold of night and comforting each other. He can see they are speaking but is not able to sense what they are saying.
Ylis Your ears are rivaled by few, both in length and power, yet at this distance, they are unable to pick up anything outside the odd fish surfacing to swallow a bug. Kichu’s keen eyes also observe no dangers within the bright light of your Light cantrip, nor does he detect anything in the 20ft beyond the limits of the spell.
Riven Riven glides across the earth silently. As everyone’s feet crunch and clop on the riverbank, Riven practically floats over it as he moves beyond the Ylis’ Light cantrip. The moment he steps 40ft away from Ylis however, it is as if it slides behind an invisible wall of nothingness. Those of you with Darkvision might be stunned by seeing him move up to the end of the light, and, despite you being able to see to varying degrees beyond this light, he quite literally vanishes before your eyes, a wraith in the void.
As Riven exists as a shadow in the darkness, he is easily able to creep up to the group enough to observe and hear them.
“Seven… Well, six horses and one small one. A pony, by the look of it. I dared not get too close. They seem every bit as capable as we are now.” A gruff voice says.
“And they outnumber us. What was it they were saying as they approached the river?” A feminine voice asks.
“Nothing worth listening to.” whispers the gruff voice.
“Why are they traveling toward the Withering Wind? Do you think they are the cause?” Asks another with a nasally voice.
“Perhaps.”
“I… feel like I can do things now. We all can. If they are responsible, we should stop them before it happens again.” This voice is young, unsure, but also eager.
“Not all of us can do things now.”
There is a pause in the discussion as they look to those who sit apart. Two are soaked to the bone and look deeply fatigued. Riven can deduce that not everyone could fit on the raft, causing some to cling to it as the frigid waters pulled against them.
They turn back to each other and continue the discussion. “So… the horses?”
They all nod to each other.
“And if they resist?”
“We will wait for them to sleep to cross in daylight." A powerful voice whispers, "But if they resist… you will have to do things now, for them.”
There is a pause again as they all process exactly what they are proposing. One of them stands, bolt upright. “Wait. Something is watching us.”
The figure points to empty air. “This is a private discussion.” the figure says as they snap their fingers.
Jack can no longer see what is happening as his Arcane Eye is dispelled.
Riven moves through the shadows like a phantom, the air around him thickening with stillness.Five distinct voices, low and intent, filter through the trees, their words falling into a dangerous rhythm.
He pauses, a ripple of tension flowing through him as he listens. They intend to take our horses. Perhaps more.
His mind works quickly, already several steps ahead. The opportunity lies in the window of surprise, his party knows of them, but they don’t know they’ve been discovered. A brief but potent advantage.
With the whisper of a breath, Riven pivots. He melts into the shadows once more, with a practiced fluidity. Every step, a silent glide.
Then, he returns.
There is no noise of his footfalls, no rustling of his cloak, just the sudden presence of him standing there, his pale eyes staring at the group assembled around the horses.
Riven’s voice is a soft thread in the night, but it carries the gravity of what may be about to unfold.
“They intend to take our horses. Five of them at least. They believe us unaware, but now we know.”
A pause, just long enough for his words to settle, before his gaze flicks to the others, calculating. “I suggest we strike, we hold an advantage. I can help you remain undetected on our approach.”
The suggestion is simple, and he waits for the others to respond.
Stealth roll to move back to the group (Luck point advantage): Nat 20+12 32
With the information passed, Riven turns without waiting for debate. He moves to Hollow, standing unnaturally still at the river’s edge.
Riven crouches beside him, a hand placed lightly on the thick, neck. He draws a circle in the air with his free hand, old motions, careful and practiced. The silent ritual begins, and the magic settles slowly, between them.
Low murmurs pass from Riven to Hollow in a tongue not meant for people. There’s an exchange, more movement than sound. A warning. A plan.
“If two-legs come, run, not far, take other four-legs with you", he says in soft clicks and huffs, words shaped to be understood by beast. “Hear horn, follow.”
He finishes with a long, deliberate breath.
Then he does something that might strike the others as strange.
He rests his forehead gently to Hollow’s and lingers for half a heartbeat, just long enough for the contact to mean something.
Then, the mask slips back into place. He turns and stares out into the darkness towards the other groups encampment, the hunt already beginning in his mind.
Giles returns from walking on the rivers surface. He comes to Joy and takes his horses reigns, "Thank you, just wanted to make sure" he says with a smile. "I can watch your horse if you have anything you want to do?"
Then Riven returns with news of what was heard.
"Can we trade them our horses for their boat? Could it be that simple? No one needs to die. We need to cross the river, we can't do it with horses anyways, in less one of you have some powerful magics to bring them?"
"No." Ylis says firmly "We are NOT NOT giving up the horses. We can change them into something more portable like mice or something."
"If they think they're going to steal Gust, It'll be over my dead body." she finishes vehemently. "We can go there and have a conversation or we can wait for them and have the same conversation."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
As the witch eye is dispelled another one is soon there to take it's place. ;-)
"I can go and speak to them..."The dark-haired man says after a moment of hesitation. "...I mean I know it might seem foolish but I think we might make a mistake fighting them even if they want our horses." He continues, nodding in agreement Giles and Randa. "I'm sure we can reach some kind of agreement where you can hold on to Gust." He adds, looking at Ylis with a warm smile.
Joy turns from the river, eyes settling on Jack with a thoughtful expression. “I’ll go with you,” she says gently, her voice calm but resolute. “If there’s a way to resolve this without drawing blades, we should try it.”
She glances back toward the horses, then gives a soft chuckle. “They can have Milton if they truly have need. He’s a good soul, but I think he’s tired of hauling my armor around.”Her hand briefly touches the holy symbol at her neck. “I can call another steed if it comes to that."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep| Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia| Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren| Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron| Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault| Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
"We may need the horses on the other side," Vazo'yn says after taking in everything he's heard. "And I may have a way to get them across." Though the way he says it, it's clear he's not entirely certain.
"In any case, we should approach them together or let them come to us. If they are willing to steal our horses then who knows what else they might do if a handful of us are separated from the others."
Vazo'yn is determined to keep the Fellowship together. They had come too far to lose anyone to the brashness of a horse bandit.
"Thanks, I don't deny I would appreciate the company and all, but you should know that if things go south I usually just disappear, and I wouldn't want you standing there by your own with your pants...well you know what I mean." Jack says to the hexblood with a mix of gratitude and concern in his emerald eyes.
"And thanks for the concern Vazo'yn, but if there's one thing you can trust me to do it is to get out of places when needed. I would prefer if at least most of us guarded the horses and stayed ready if things actually do go south with the negotiations." He says with a friendly smile to the considerate drow. "If we can't reach consensus I suggest we put it to a quick majority vote." He adds, looking around at the others. "Let's be quick about it though, they may be approaching as we speak."
"Many people have died, and more will die soon if we don't stop whatever it is we are heading towards. If this group tries to stop or delay us, then they will suffer the consequences. The stakes here are too high. That's my vote" the dwarf says.
Joy thinks for a moment. "Maybe if they know they can't sneak up on any of us, they'll be more apt to settle things peacefully. I can bathe this area in the Morninglord's light for over 100 ft (daylight) if you all think it might help discourage them."
Joy's eyebrows raise as Riven, Ylis, and Giles seem willing to resort straight to combat. Her Oath is to protect light and life...She has to do all she can to avoid battle, but without giving her allies a disadvantage either.
"Oh, Dawnfather, let your eternal radiance guide our path. Dispel thoughts of evil as you would shadows!" Laying a hand over the emblem on her chest, she focuses on her divine connection. Golden light outlines her form as she reaches to point in the direction of the unseen people. 60 feet in their direction an orb appears, bathing true sunlight around it brightly in a 60 ft radius and dim light for another 60 ft.
Action: cast daylight at a point 60 ft towards the other group.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jack does not quite hear anyone objecting to an attempt for negotiation to hopefully prevent unnecessary bloodshed so as Joy let's the light of the morninglord shine over the hidden group he steps closer with peaceful intent, calling out to the other group. "Greeting travellers, we come in peace and want to talk peacefully. If you are interested in horses we might negotiate a mutually beneficial deal."
The dark-haired man nods in agreement as Vazo'yn points out there are likely more people hiding over by the raft, possibly just to avoid them but possibly they were just about to ambush them. "No, but Lily sent herself." He answers the drow with a small good-natured smile and a wink. "Hopefully we will know more in a moment." He says with a hint of excitement in his voice. His focus still on his blonde companion and the witch eye he barely notices the fellowship dispersing before they have information to make a unified effort, the dwarf and the rabbit girl heading over to the river while the grim ranger disappears in the direction of the raft. Oh well, as long as there was no unnecessary bloodshed he thought and returned his full focus to Lily and the eye, hoping they would have reached the hiding people soon.
Jack
Lily flutters ahead on delicate, filigree wings, but she is only able to rely on her hearing in the black of night and is only able to hear whispering off in the distance. She knows she is very clever and quiet, but she also knows that the sounds of her wings and the disturbances they cause in the air could alert those with especially acute senses, so she maintains her distance and is unable to hear what is being discussed.
Jack’s Arcane Eye floats along shortly after, invisible and silent as it moves ahead. It spots five creatures, people, crouching together discussing something of deep import. Next to them are four people who are not part of the discussion. Four, huddled against the cold of night and comforting each other. He can see they are speaking but is not able to sense what they are saying.
Ylis
Your ears are rivaled by few, both in length and power, yet at this distance, they are unable to pick up anything outside the odd fish surfacing to swallow a bug. Kichu’s keen eyes also observe no dangers within the bright light of your Light cantrip, nor does he detect anything in the 20ft beyond the limits of the spell.
Riven
Riven glides across the earth silently. As everyone’s feet crunch and clop on the riverbank, Riven practically floats over it as he moves beyond the Ylis’ Light cantrip. The moment he steps 40ft away from Ylis however, it is as if it slides behind an invisible wall of nothingness. Those of you with Darkvision might be stunned by seeing him move up to the end of the light, and, despite you being able to see to varying degrees beyond this light, he quite literally vanishes before your eyes, a wraith in the void.
As Riven exists as a shadow in the darkness, he is easily able to creep up to the group enough to observe and hear them.
“Seven… Well, six horses and one small one. A pony, by the look of it. I dared not get too close. They seem every bit as capable as we are now.” A gruff voice says.
“And they outnumber us. What was it they were saying as they approached the river?” A feminine voice asks.
“Nothing worth listening to.” whispers the gruff voice.
“Why are they traveling toward the Withering Wind? Do you think they are the cause?” Asks another with a nasally voice.
“Perhaps.”
“I… feel like I can do things now. We all can. If they are responsible, we should stop them before it happens again.” This voice is young, unsure, but also eager.
“Not all of us can do things now.”
There is a pause in the discussion as they look to those who sit apart. Two are soaked to the bone and look deeply fatigued. Riven can deduce that not everyone could fit on the raft, causing some to cling to it as the frigid waters pulled against them.
They turn back to each other and continue the discussion. “So… the horses?”
They all nod to each other.
“And if they resist?”
“We will wait for them to sleep to cross in daylight." A powerful voice whispers, "But if they resist… you will have to do things now, for them.”
There is a pause again as they all process exactly what they are proposing. One of them stands, bolt upright. “Wait. Something is watching us.”
The figure points to empty air. “This is a private discussion.” the figure says as they snap their fingers.
Jack can no longer see what is happening as his Arcane Eye is dispelled.
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Riven moves through the shadows like a phantom, the air around him thickening with stillness.Five distinct voices, low and intent, filter through the trees, their words falling into a dangerous rhythm.
He pauses, a ripple of tension flowing through him as he listens. They intend to take our horses. Perhaps more.
His mind works quickly, already several steps ahead. The opportunity lies in the window of surprise, his party knows of them, but they don’t know they’ve been discovered. A brief but potent advantage.
With the whisper of a breath, Riven pivots. He melts into the shadows once more, with a practiced fluidity. Every step, a silent glide.
Then, he returns.
There is no noise of his footfalls, no rustling of his cloak, just the sudden presence of him standing there, his pale eyes staring at the group assembled around the horses.
Riven’s voice is a soft thread in the night, but it carries the gravity of what may be about to unfold.
“They intend to take our horses. Five of them at least. They believe us unaware, but now we know.”
A pause, just long enough for his words to settle, before his gaze flicks to the others, calculating. “I suggest we strike, we hold an advantage. I can help you remain undetected on our approach.”
The suggestion is simple, and he waits for the others to respond.
Stealth roll to move back to the group (Luck point advantage): Nat 20+12 32
Joy pauses at the news, looking at the horse she is holding the reins of. "To want that...they're people then? What are they doing out here?"
| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
With the information passed, Riven turns without waiting for debate. He moves to Hollow, standing unnaturally still at the river’s edge.
Riven crouches beside him, a hand placed lightly on the thick, neck. He draws a circle in the air with his free hand, old motions, careful and practiced. The silent ritual begins, and the magic settles slowly, between them.
Low murmurs pass from Riven to Hollow in a tongue not meant for people. There’s an exchange, more movement than sound. A warning. A plan.
“If two-legs come, run, not far, take other four-legs with you", he says in soft clicks and huffs, words shaped to be understood by beast. “Hear horn, follow.”
He finishes with a long, deliberate breath.
Then he does something that might strike the others as strange.
He rests his forehead gently to Hollow’s and lingers for half a heartbeat, just long enough for the contact to mean something.
Then, the mask slips back into place. He turns and stares out into the darkness towards the other groups encampment, the hunt already beginning in his mind.
Giles returns from walking on the rivers surface. He comes to Joy and takes his horses reigns, "Thank you, just wanted to make sure" he says with a smile. "I can watch your horse if you have anything you want to do?"
Then Riven returns with news of what was heard.
"Can we trade them our horses for their boat? Could it be that simple? No one needs to die. We need to cross the river, we can't do it with horses anyways, in less one of you have some powerful magics to bring them?"
Randa smiled slightly at Giles suggestion, " Yes, Please. I'd rather not kill anyone unnecessarily."
She did not however lower her bow keeping her shaft pointed out into the dark in wary readiness.
"No." Ylis says firmly "We are NOT NOT giving up the horses. We can change them into something more portable like mice or something."
"If they think they're going to steal Gust, It'll be over my dead body." she finishes vehemently. "We can go there and have a conversation or we can wait for them and have the same conversation."
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Randa was a little taken aback, she looked at her mount now approaching the latter part of its years....was she supposed to have named it?
As the witch eye is dispelled another one is soon there to take it's place. ;-)
"I can go and speak to them..." The dark-haired man says after a moment of hesitation. "...I mean I know it might seem foolish but I think we might make a mistake fighting them even if they want our horses." He continues, nodding in agreement Giles and Randa. "I'm sure we can reach some kind of agreement where you can hold on to Gust." He adds, looking at Ylis with a warm smile.
Joy turns from the river, eyes settling on Jack with a thoughtful expression. “I’ll go with you,” she says gently, her voice calm but resolute. “If there’s a way to resolve this without drawing blades, we should try it.”
She glances back toward the horses, then gives a soft chuckle. “They can have Milton if they truly have need. He’s a good soul, but I think he’s tired of hauling my armor around.” Her hand briefly touches the holy symbol at her neck. “I can call another steed if it comes to that."
| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
"We may need the horses on the other side," Vazo'yn says after taking in everything he's heard. "And I may have a way to get them across." Though the way he says it, it's clear he's not entirely certain.
"In any case, we should approach them together or let them come to us. If they are willing to steal our horses then who knows what else they might do if a handful of us are separated from the others."
Vazo'yn is determined to keep the Fellowship together. They had come too far to lose anyone to the brashness of a horse bandit.
"Thanks, I don't deny I would appreciate the company and all, but you should know that if things go south I usually just disappear, and I wouldn't want you standing there by your own with your pants...well you know what I mean." Jack says to the hexblood with a mix of gratitude and concern in his emerald eyes.
"And thanks for the concern Vazo'yn, but if there's one thing you can trust me to do it is to get out of places when needed. I would prefer if at least most of us guarded the horses and stayed ready if things actually do go south with the negotiations." He says with a friendly smile to the considerate drow. "If we can't reach consensus I suggest we put it to a quick majority vote." He adds, looking around at the others. "Let's be quick about it though, they may be approaching as we speak."
"Many people have died, and more will die soon if we don't stop whatever it is we are heading towards. If this group tries to stop or delay us, then they will suffer the consequences. The stakes here are too high. That's my vote" the dwarf says.
Joy thinks for a moment. "Maybe if they know they can't sneak up on any of us, they'll be more apt to settle things peacefully. I can bathe this area in the Morninglord's light for over 100 ft (daylight) if you all think it might help discourage them."
| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
Riven exhales slowly, not with frustration, but calculation.
His voice, when it comes, is quiet. Precise. Unhurried.
“No one here is discussing how to take the raft from them.”
He glances across the group, pale eyes steady.
“They are.”
He doesn’t raise his voice. Doesn’t need to.
“They are planning. Speaking. We are waiting. Deliberating. Time is a knife, and we are holding the wrong end.”
"Oh no, I have a perfectly clear idea how to get the boat." Ylis taps her club and it begins to glow with a green vine-like pattern.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Joy's eyebrows raise as Riven, Ylis, and Giles seem willing to resort straight to combat. Her Oath is to protect light and life...She has to do all she can to avoid battle, but without giving her allies a disadvantage either.
"Oh, Dawnfather, let your eternal radiance guide our path. Dispel thoughts of evil as you would shadows!" Laying a hand over the emblem on her chest, she focuses on her divine connection. Golden light outlines her form as she reaches to point in the direction of the unseen people. 60 feet in their direction an orb appears, bathing true sunlight around it brightly in a 60 ft radius and dim light for another 60 ft.
Action: cast daylight at a point 60 ft towards the other group.
| Kaelen - Shadar-kai Gloom Stalker Ranger - Old Keep | Lira - Half-elf Thief Rogue/Druid - Allansia | Teryn - High Elf Archfey Warlock - Runewarren | Zoveldra - Kalashtar Open Hand Monk - Eberron | Mavilius - Tiefling Eloquence Bard - Golden Vault | Vannithos - Shadar-kai Astral Self Monk - Von Nichts | Cassian - Human Paladin - Dragonlance |
Jack does not quite hear anyone objecting to an attempt for negotiation to hopefully prevent unnecessary bloodshed so as Joy let's the light of the morninglord shine over the hidden group he steps closer with peaceful intent, calling out to the other group. "Greeting travellers, we come in peace and want to talk peacefully. If you are interested in horses we might negotiate a mutually beneficial deal."
Lucky persuasion: 22
Randa moved up behind Jack with her bow aimed at the now clearly visible others....