In the city of Neverwinter, a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker asked you to bring a wagonload of provisions to the rough-and-tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple of days’ travel southeast of the city. Gundren was clearly excited and more than a little secretive about his reasons for the trip, saying only that he and his brothers had found “something big,” and that he’d pay you ten gold pieces each for escorting his supplies safely to Barthen’s Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin. He then set out ahead of you on horse, along with a warrior escort named Sildar Hallwinter, claiming he needed to arrive early to “take care of business.”

You’ve spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and you’ve just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. You’ve encountered no trouble so far, but this territory can be dangerous. Bandits and outlaws have been known to lurk along the trail.

Take some time to introduce yourselves, feel free to post why and how you hooked up with Gundren, even if it was just hearing abount a group going to Phandalin you could get mutual protection with.

A human with messy, medium-length, black hair, wearing green clothes on top of leather armor. His skin is fairly pale, a streak of dark-yellow eyes across his face. His large crossbow dangling on his side and a longbow on the back.

He met with Gundren at a tavern where the marksmen contest was held. Flaysteir pierced the bullseye twice and was just shy of it the rest of the time. After,Gundren approached him and proposed a drink at which they discussed the future job. Flaysteir agreed and passed out in his room. The next day he went hunting with Gundren and they became good friends. Now he helps him to escort his supplies to Phandalin.

Kelsier sits in the back of the caravan, a tall and graceful figure clothed in fine robes and well tailored leather armor. He currently is reading a small book, one on political and governmental theory, longbow slung across his legs.

He took this job not for the small dwarven man that approached him, but for the human guard. Sildar Hallwinter is hoping to reform and civilize Phandalin, and Kelsier hopes to claim the little town for his House. Working together, the two men hope to revitalize Phandalin. 

The entire tavern fell silent when Hexody entered. She did not belong in a rough-and-tumble place such as this and they all knew it. She smiled and looked around the room, as if greeting each patron individually. Murmurs turned to excited discussion and then finally the rambunctious tenor of the tavern returned. She spotted Sildar Hallwinter and made no pretense upon approaching him.

"I am told you are heading south," she said.

Hallwinter eyed her. "Who told you that?"

"My guardian angel," Hexody said with a smile. "I am to join you."

He took a little convincing, but now she follows the caravan along the Triboar Trail, entertaining the others with her songs or those that they request. Seraphina has not visited her dreams the last few nights. Hexody takes that as a sign she is on the right road. Still, it is terrifying to be out in the world again, seemingly alone. The men with her seem good-hearted, though, and she is growing to trust them. They have not been tested yet, however, and neither has she.

One rainy night, as Gundren left the tavern, he took a wrong turn and walked directly into a wall. As he picked himself up from the floor and dusted himself down he realised the wall was looking back at him.

"Ha!" boomed a deep, earthy voice "Watch your step master dwarf..."

The tall goliath helped the dwarf to his feet and asked for advice on a decent inn and if he had heard of any work in the area. The excited dwarf quickly offered him a role in transporting his provisions to Phandalin. "A job offer so quickly!" Folari thought to himself, I did come to the right town.

Folari soon found himself walking a remote trail at the side of the cart, his large greataxe casually resting over his shoulder.

You’ve been on the Triboar Trail for about half a day. As you come around a bend, you spot two dead horses sprawled about fifty feet ahead of you, blocking the path. Each has several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The woods press close to the trail here, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side.

"Oh my," Hexody says, putting a hand on her bow. "Those poor horses." She attempts to recognize the arrows.

Kelsier, noting the end to the movement, sets down his book and moves to where he can see the others, bow at the ready. “Why are we stopping? Is there something amiss up ahead?”

Flaysteir examines horses from distance, trying to understand how long ago they died.  He also looks around in search of enemies or source of the arrows.

Medicine: 9 Perception: 14

"Careful now. Who knows what kind of filth lives in these woods. We must be on alert." , he says as he draws his crossbow.

Pearson Hawthorn finally removes his nose that was firmly stuck in a book detailing the history of the Troll Wars.  He is a youngish man in his late 20s, black hair in green robes with a large belt with many pockets that looked stuffed with odd bits of this and that.  His satchel is near full with different books covering many different topics.   A Calico Cat sits besides him, looking annoyed that Pearson has stopped petting her.

"Are we there already?" Noticing where everyone else was looking Pearson and sees the dead horses.  "Whoa."  Pearson takes in the sights of the horses and looks around the immediate area looking for anything out of place. He also clutches his spell components, being ready just in case what killed the horses is still around.

Investigation roll 13

Perception roll 23

The saddlebags appear to have been looted. Nearby lies a leather map case.

Ooc: did Hexody recognize the arrows?

Hearing everyone else move away, Kelsier sets down his book, climbs out of the cart, and joins the others with his longbow at the ready.

"Well," says Hexody nervously. "You all seem to be at the ready so I will see what we have here." She picks up the map case an inspects it.

The arrows are crude, black shafted arrows, you don't recognize the craftmanship.

You approach the horses, and you quickly realize these are Gundren and Sildar's horses.

Arrows fly out of the trees, whizzing by the party.  You can see 4 short ugly humanoids poking out of the trees.
Their second volley of arrows fails to hit any targets.  You can all take your actions.

The embankment (The rocky area between the path and the trees) is difficult terrain.

(OOC: Is a square 5 feet or 10?)

**OOC: Are we rolling initiative?**

Hexody yelps and pulls her lute around to play. She strums too quickly at first, then finds the rhythm for one of her more potent lullabies.

"When you dream / What do you dream about?..."

Hexody casts Sleep on I17 affecting 25 HP worth of creatures in a 20 foot radius.

Quote from Hydra1418 >>

**OOC: Are we rolling initiative?**

 (Ooc: I don't think so. I think it is us in any order and then them in any order)

Quote from Hydra1418 >>

**OOC: Are we rolling initiative?**

No. I rolled side based initiative , you lost, but they all missed.  Again.

5 ft. squares.