Feng hands the guard their contract. He smiles and says Yes ma'am we are here to escort a wagon to Barthen's Provisions in Phandalin. Can you point us in the right direction?

She takes the contract and reads through it quickly, then gestures for you to follow her to a counter-like structure in the central arch, where she pulls out a ledger and spends a few seconds checking it, then she shouts behind her, “Hal! Bring out wagon 42!” Then she passes the contract back to Feng, “Here you go, Hal will be out with the wagon in just a minute. Say,” she gives you all a quick look, “Don’t think I’ve seen you all before, you new to the Blades?”

Feng nods and smiles in pride. Yes we are. This is actually our first mission for the guild. Do you have any advice for things we should be keeping an eye out for on the road?

She thinks for a moment, “Well... caravans travelling from the south have reported an increased amount of bandits and goblin attacks. The roads are definitely not the safest right now. But,” she smiles and waves a hand at you all, “That’s why guilds like the Blades have been springing up to meet the need.”

As she finishes speaking, a large grizzled looking male orc, who you assume to be Hal, leads a pair of oxen pulling a laden wagon out from one of the other archways. “Wagon 42,“ He calls over to you in a bored sounding voice. The woman gives you all a customer-service-smile, “Have a successful trip.”

Morg looks at Hal, grabbing the Oxen's harness to lead them, and thanks him in Orc Aka'magosh. Morg is glad to see the Oxen, they are much easier to keep up with on foot than a team of horses, but they are slower to get away from an attack or ambush. Morg begins looking at the cargo making sure it is secured and nothing is going to fall.

Talen is happy to be under way and walks ahead of the wagon. He will walk perhaps 300 feet ahead if the visibility is good, like a flat land where we can see far ahead.

Otherwise he will walk within eyesight of the wagon.

Goblin not scary, they are mostly scared of Orc and only try attack with numbers, but after a few go down they run away. Not smart but smart enough to know when they have no chance. Bandits another story. Like to be sneaky like Koda, like shooting arrow before see them. Not fight fair, Morg not let them run away, they always come back.

Morg will let the wagon go past him and take position in the rear. Ever vigilant and relaxed in town he will be on full alert once outside the gates. His usual awkward lumbering is replaced with that of a creature on a mission like an arrow on a drawn bow, ready to spring into action.

Feng takes a seat on the passenger seat like Morg suggested. Why am I the one up here again? I feel really awkward and bad while everyone else is walk... 

He looks around sheepishly as the others walk spaced around the wagon easily keeping up with the pace of the oxen.

The wagon is full of sacks of flour, ropes, picks, barrels of oil, lanterns, enough stuff to set up a small mine from the looks of it.

(@Xun: the road follows the coast, for the most part, so it is neither straight nor flat, though attempts have been made to minimise the hills and bends for easier travel, and it is bounded on at least one side by forest for much of the path.)

(Thanks for the positions already guys :), can I get everyone else’s position and who is driving (no proficiency required for driving the wagon, the oxen are pretty docile). I’ll also need perception checks from at least three people who are keeping a close eye out (in spoilers please).)

 [occ] had issues with the spoiler tag, didn't see it on the toolbar.[/occ]

Feng ride on top to scare from distance. More scary big Orc on wagon than little halfl'n - no 'fence Lyle.

(Figured there was already a driver lol, I can do the driving if anyone else wants to be up top, Bobdur?)

Perception:16 Passive perception: 13

(Charmine will be walking beside Talen or around the immediate vicinity of him no more than 30 ft away)

"None taken, Morg. I know I don't cut an exactly imposing figure." Lyle will walk beside the cart, and will try keeping an eye out for threats while picking up stones on the road as he walks.

Talen is happy for Carmines company as they both scout out ahead. 

Lyle manages to find some stones that he can use for his sling (roll a d10 and add 2).

The road itself is fairly well kept, tamped down small chunks of rock and pebble. On the right side, for the first few hours of walking, you are able to see the ocean as the path follows the coast, but it soon turns inland and the view becomes more of forests and long grass fields. Three hours in to the journey, Feng, Charmine and Kyshana begin to notice odd rustlings in the undergrowth of the trees on the left, almost like something is keeping pace with you all, but within the forest.

Feng turns his head to the left and almost swears he sees something. Not sure if his eyes are tricking him he calls out in an almost snarl (Intimidation check against what might be in the brush: 22, Anyone else seeing anything off to the left?

Feng's question brings Morg back to the moment having been transfixed by the sea and the gradual change to the forest. He is upset with himself for not paying better attention and for keeping his eyes on the same side of the road.

Morg starts scanning the left side of the brush trying to get a view of what Feng and Kyshana have spotted. He grips his javelin ready to remove the leather cap and let loose if needed.