Above & Below

Cadmael stealth: 10

Effort stealth: 16 + Guidance 1

Brask's extreme lack of stealth:  2

For adventurers with your experience and skill, there is an embarrassing abundance of noise as you approach the camp. Twigs snap under Kurama's feet, echoing between the trees, and Brask curses loudly as he trips and tumbles into the rocky ground. Effort, who had been carefully choosing her steps through the woods, sighs in defeat. You quickly hear the clang of weapons being drawn, and then complete silence. There were certainly a few people moving about, but you couldn't discern exactly how many.

"Announce yourselves," a voice calls out. "And your intentions. Now."

Effort grits her teeth and decides the best way to salvage the situation is to toss some big names around.  She stops moving and steps behind a tree trunk, hoping to avoid being seen while she speaks.

"We are pilgrims tasked on a mission by Lovila's Church of Lanthander to seek out and destroy an unholy threat to the people of this continent.  We have been beset at every turn by agents of darkness and evil.  If you are not agents of the demon Yeenoghu, then you have nothing to fear from us.  If you are, you should prepare to meet your end, for it will come swiftly.  So now I return the question to you.  Who are you, and what are your intentions, traveling through this wilderness as you are?"

Quietly, Effort casts guidance on herself, and then reaches out to her familiar.

Cadmael.  Fly overhead, and try to see how many there are.  Stay out of their range and do not cause trouble.

Cadmael Perception: 21

Holding his position, Kurama will attempt to see if he can determine how many people are in the opposing group and what type of people they are (whether travelers, adventurers or something else).

Perception:26 (And disadvantage if it's dark outside): 14

Brask just stands near Effort, scowling and looking vaguely threatening.  Maybe Intimidation?  24

There's a few moments of silence following Effort's proclamation. Positioning himself so that he can see their camp between the trees, the light from their fire allows Kurama to count five individuals. It is dark, and they're wearing furs and winter clothing, so he isn't able to make out all the details. The man speaking is wearing a long, heavy robe that looks to be lined with fur. Standing next to him is a tall human who appears to be a knight of some kind - or at least he's wearing proper armor and wielding a longsword. Three men stand behind those two on the opposite side of the fire. One wields a less impressive sword, while the other two are of smaller stature. You can't make out much more than that.

Brask positions himself in a gap between two large trees, allowing just a faint bit of light from their fire to illuminate his hulking silhouette. Two of the men in back seem to cower a bit. The robed figure finally speaks up. "We want no trouble," he turns to the rest of his party and then back in your direction. "We are humble mercenaries on our way back home from Green Fork. There is a mountain pass a bit to the west of here that saves us a week of travel time." The armored figure to his right nods in agreement. 

Effort considers if the speaker's tone seems honest or not.

Insight: 7 + Guidance 2

Deciding that it's too difficult to read anyone from behind a damned tree, Effort steps out from around the trunk.  "Then perhaps you would not mind sharing our camps for the evening?  The woods are cold and dangerous, and keeping company is one way to ensure our mutual safety from the dangers of the wilds.  I apologize for our rough introduction, but as you know, these are rough times."

Based on the direction we've been going, and the direction they are travelling towards this supposed mountain pass, does their story make sense?

Survival 4

Kurama will stay hidden for a moment longer attempting to discern the sincerity of the group before revealing himself.

Insight: 21

(We're not going with them, we're trying to camp overnight with them and split in the morning, in case Effort's suggestion wasn't clear.  Better than hiking back out in the dark to set up a camp a mile away)

The robed man doesn't hesitate in offering their camp. "Of course. Any weary travelers are welcome to join us as long as they mean no harm," he gestures to the other side of the fire. "Please, warm up." Effort, your gut tells you this man is telling the truth. There are plenty of travelers, adventurers, and mercenaries criss-crossing Oshait. It's not that strange that you would have met up with a group like this.

Brask tries to conjure a mental map and fails to do so, but he knows enough at least to figure out that they were traveling west to get to the mountains. If these guys said they were also traveling west to get to the mountain pass, and were heading from Green Fork, which is to the east, it checks out.

Kurama, you hear that part too and realize immediately that he's at least being truthful about the direction they're moving in. They didn't know you've seen their camp before, so it would be tough to lie about that. By the time you really think about their intent, though, the general vibe around the camp has changed as Effort and the others approach the fire and converse with them. Something doesn't sit right with you, but the situation seems fine at this point.

The armored man sits down on a log and nods toward a pair of wineskins. "Help yourselves," he offers. "They're both reds. Nothing fancy."

"Thank you kindly," Burik picks up a skin, takes a deep swig, and offers it up. "We should be out of your hair early in the morn." He finds a place to nestle himself against the trunk of a tree and closes his eyes. Pip, on the other hand, joins those sitting by the fire. He holds out his hands and warms them as a breeze rustles the pine needles above you.

"Thank you, but I would prefer not to.  Alcohol warms the spirit, but chills the body.  It is not wise to do that in this climate," Effort says, passing on the wine.

As Effort assists Brask with setting up the tent, she silently tells Cadmael, stay out of sight.  Keep an eye on things.  They seem friendly enough, but I trust almost no-one.  I need you to keep watch for me.

Cadmael settles on a branch in a tree near their camp, trying to remain silent, unobtrusive, and attempt to look like an ordinary bit of forest wildlife.

Crawling inside the tent, she turns around when out of view of the camp and quickly fires off a few messages to Burik, Pip, Brask, and Kurama.

There was a saying in our gang.  Trust is good, but control is better.  I believe we should still keep watch tonight.  Our own watch, separately from these travelers.  It will be more eyes on the forest while we rest if they are our allies, and it will be good to keep an eye on them if they attempt to steal from us.  Let me know which watch you wish to take by whispering back.  I shall hear your answer.  They shall not.

Effort then proceeds to silently coordinate the watch between the party, independently of their new camp companions.

(Effort will take any old watch that's needed to be filled)

First watch, whispers Brask back to Effort.  Brask doesn't make much effort to be friendly to the strangers, leaving that all up to Effort if she wishes.  He puts up their tent and prepares to stand watch.

Perception (with disadvantage for the dark):  5

(You don't have to roll for disadvantage, Effort still has a lantern which everybody can use)

Cool, thanks. :)  I'm never quite sure, so I like to roll two dice - unfortunately in this case, the low roll was the first, so the 10 still stands...

As Kurama was about to join the rest of the party at the campfire, he received Effort's message and responded with "I feel that I'm missing something with them though I cannot quite place what that might be.  I think I will stay out of sight of the camp tonight and keep and eye from afar.  If they hear or discover me, simply tell them that I prefer to sleep alone; falsehoods are not my forte."  With that he'll slowly move back as quietly as possible and make his camp a short distance away within eye/earshot.

Perception: 9

Stealth: 19 (That Stealth roll is unfortunate xD)

Effort‘s eye twitches as she stumbles to come up with an explanation for Kurama‘s particularly unsubtle exit from the camp.  Sending a warning glance to the other three, she casts guidance on herself before she chases out a few paces after Kurama‘s back and raises her voice and turns it particularly shrill.

“That‘s right! Sleep in the woods tonight, you unfaithful bastard! I saw you looking at her! Return to this camp before dawn and I‘ll eviscerate you! There‘s a reason they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! Allow me to teach it to you sometime, you absolute scumbag!  I don‘t know what I ever saw in your worthless hide!“

Deception: 24 + 2

(well come on dice roller LOL)

As Kurama fumbles in the darkness, the mercenaries shoot up and again grab for their weapons. They pause and calm a bit when Effort shouts out to Kurama, but are still on alert. The robed man raises an eyebrow. "I sincerely hope this isn't some kind of trick," he turns and makes sure that his companions are all at the ready. He gently raises a hand as if to signal them to hold off. "We don't have anything of value, if that's what you're after, and I assure you we're capable of handling ourselves should the need arise."

The armored man steps up next to him and grips his longsword tightly. He's an imposing figure, especially for a human. Tall, muscular, and donning worn but sturdy armor. "Keep to yourselves, and we'll split up at first light." The robed man and the others go back to their business of preparing for the night's sleep, but the knight stands and watches you all for awhile. Eventually he turns to the robed man and announces "I'll take first watch."

"Trick? Apparently I was the only one who played the fool," Effort says with a note of weariness in her voice, and technically, being completely honest in her appraisal of the situation.  

She tells the others of her intent to take second watch, and then crosses her arms and glares at the forest where Kurama made his exit.  

Cadmael.  Are they watching me? she asks.

No more than any of our other companions, comes her familiar's response.  Why did you shout after that man?

Because I'm annoyed, Effort replies with a wrinkle of her brow.  She points her middle finger in the direction of the forest and whispers a message to Kurama:

Take the third watch.  And stop acting so rashly, I am not sure how much more I can cover for your foolish games!