Shei looks like a female half elf with black hair in a braid going about half way down her back and somewhat tanned skin. Unlike Alhorn, her appearance is rather average, not someone that would normally stick out walking down the street. She’s wearing a dull green tunic made from wool, and a pair of linen pants dyed brown, and over that she’s wearing a longcoat made of leather with a fair number of pockets on it. She also wears a leather bracelet around her right wrist. All of her clothing besides the bracelet shows signs of wear and tear, having been worn for some time. When she notices the new group, she smiles and starts walking directly towards the other group. Whispered to the others: “If they’re locals, they’re likely to know more about the area then we do and can help us with our search, and if they’re hostile, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. We’re all competent enough spellcasters that a trio of bandits shouldn’t be that hard to fight…”
Germain Greyfollower is a tall, slightly built human man with a shaven bald head showing uthgardt tribal tattoos which stand out against his pale skin and match his dark eyes. He wears simple, unremarkable clothing with no apparent armor and carries a well-laden pack, he appears unarmed except for the two daggers next to the pouches on his belt and a strange set of goggles on his eyes. Noticing the newcomers, he raises his hands, palms out to show he's unarmed and speaks quietly to his two companions, "They don't look like our cultists, witnesses perhaps?"
"Only one way to find out." Naroth says as you see a hulking goliath start to march over towards the newcomers. He is wearing pieces of chain mail over his green tinted muscled slate body and as he gets closer you see that is is towering above most everyone, standing just over 8' tall. His red eyes seems to bore into you and then out of the corner of your eyes you see a ghostly shadow of the same creature appear behind you. Their hulking great swords draped across their shoulders not in a threatening manner, but in such a way that it can easily come crashing down on top of your heads. He stops within 15' of the newcomers, speaking in a hushed deep tone, "Friend of foe?" and grins.
“Merchant,” Alhorn says flipping his hand at the hulk. ”And this merchant has been tracking stolen product, leading HERE! So I think I’LL be the one asking: thief or customer?” He taps the brute in his chest.
Naroth towers over Alhorn and attempts to grab his tapping arm and lift him up. "Hunters. We hunting members of evil cult and planning to kill most of them, do not be associated with them."
Fletch fidgets a bit after hearing Naroth speak, and is ultimately unable to contain himself. You hear him speak from behind Alhorn.
"Begging thine pardon, but I believe you meant to say-" "Hunters. We are hunting members of an evil cult and are planning to kill most of them. I hope you are not associated with them."
Fletch instinctively flinches as the words pour out, and steps even further back to hide behind Shei.
Germain sighs and shakes his head, "Naroth, it sounds like they're pursuing the thieves the same way we started out pursuing them. Before we knew they were cultists."
Shei tilts her head, turning to face Germain. "Cultists? That sounds like something it'd be worth far more pursuing then some petty thieves, but they're actually the same group, meaning we'll get paid for hunting them down?! Tell me more." If Germain is standing a decent ways away from the party, Shei will walk towards him, but not before tapping Fletch on the head and turning him invisible with a Subtle Invisibility.
Germain would be toward the rear of his group, and at Shei’s response, he shrugs, “My associates can do that. If you came from that direction, obviously the cultists didn’t go that way. Perhaps this way?” And he’ll begin to look for tracks, presumably chests full of treasure would leave deep marks in the ground.
Naroth towers over Alhorn and attempts to grab his tapping arm and lift him up. "Hunters. We hunting members of evil cult and planning to kill most of them, do not be associated with them."
[OOC: I swear my crappy rolls ruin all my fun.]
Alhorn athletics 7
“Now listen here, you big ugly bully! Put me down, or you’ll wish you had!”
Anyone with a passive perception of 12 or better....
As you are talking with the strangers you hear snapping of twigs and some gutteral grunts coming from the forest nearby. You will not be surprised as combat starts.
Everyone As you are talking outside of the hunting lodge, and before Germain can start looking for more tracks, several forms rush out of the forest towards you. There are two trolls and 3 drakes...
Those with a passive perception of less than 12 are surprised and do not get to act the first round of combat.
Ulric stands near Naroth and looks over the new comers with the eyes of a man who's been in many fights and lived to speak of them.
Stubble is growing on his head showing signs it hasn't been shaved recently. His chain mail armor has clearly seen cleaner days but appears of good quality. Strapped across his back is his shield and on one side of his waist is a well used warhammer, the other sporting a small crossbow. His tunic shows signs of wear, like he's been traveling for many weeks. No visible tattoos but the face of a man used to being obeyed on the battlefield and off.
"No need to spark trouble. We've been following these cultists for some time. We don't know if this group has any treasure as the main party we were following split apart. We also are unsure how many are inside."
Ulric tilts his head to the side as if hearing something.
The Ambush Drakes will go first, but I want to give you guys a moment to look at the map. Any update to your positions? The forest is to the East, West, and South, with the Hunting Lodge to the North. The trail the new group came down, to reach the Hunting Lodge, is to the East, the portal stone, the original group came through, is to the South. I won't normally pause for a map review, but, as this is the first combat together, I wanted to give the chance this time.
Shei looks like a female half elf with black hair in a braid going about half way down her back and somewhat tanned skin. Unlike Alhorn, her appearance is rather average, not someone that would normally stick out walking down the street. She’s wearing a dull green tunic made from wool, and a pair of linen pants dyed brown, and over that she’s wearing a longcoat made of leather with a fair number of pockets on it. She also wears a leather bracelet around her right wrist. All of her clothing besides the bracelet shows signs of wear and tear, having been worn for some time. When she notices the new group, she smiles and starts walking directly towards the other group. Whispered to the others: “If they’re locals, they’re likely to know more about the area then we do and can help us with our search, and if they’re hostile, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. We’re all competent enough spellcasters that a trio of bandits shouldn’t be that hard to fight…”
Germain Greyfollower is a tall, slightly built human man with a shaven bald head showing uthgardt tribal tattoos which stand out against his pale skin and match his dark eyes. He wears simple, unremarkable clothing with no apparent armor and carries a well-laden pack, he appears unarmed except for the two daggers next to the pouches on his belt and a strange set of goggles on his eyes. Noticing the newcomers, he raises his hands, palms out to show he's unarmed and speaks quietly to his two companions, "They don't look like our cultists, witnesses perhaps?"
"Only one way to find out." Naroth says as you see a hulking goliath start to march over towards the newcomers. He is wearing pieces of chain mail over his green tinted muscled slate body and as he gets closer you see that is is towering above most everyone, standing just over 8' tall. His red eyes seems to bore into you and then out of the corner of your eyes you see a ghostly shadow of the same creature appear behind you. Their hulking great swords draped across their shoulders not in a threatening manner, but in such a way that it can easily come crashing down on top of your heads. He stops within 15' of the newcomers, speaking in a hushed deep tone, "Friend of foe?" and grins.
“Merchant,” Alhorn says flipping his hand at the hulk. ”And this merchant has been tracking stolen product, leading HERE! So I think I’LL be the one asking: thief or customer?” He taps the brute in his chest.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Grapple: 13
Naroth towers over Alhorn and attempts to grab his tapping arm and lift him up. "Hunters. We hunting members of evil cult and planning to kill most of them, do not be associated with them."
[OOC: I swear my crappy rolls ruin all my fun.]
Fletch fidgets a bit after hearing Naroth speak, and is ultimately unable to contain himself. You hear him speak from behind Alhorn.
"Begging thine pardon, but I believe you meant to say-" "Hunters. We are hunting members of an evil cult and are planning to kill most of them. I hope you are not associated with them."
Fletch instinctively flinches as the words pour out, and steps even further back to hide behind Shei.
Germain sighs and shakes his head, "Naroth, it sounds like they're pursuing the thieves the same way we started out pursuing them. Before we knew they were cultists."
Shei tilts her head, turning to face Germain. "Cultists? That sounds like something it'd be worth far more pursuing then some petty thieves, but they're actually the same group, meaning we'll get paid for hunting them down?! Tell me more." If Germain is standing a decent ways away from the party, Shei will walk towards him, but not before tapping Fletch on the head and turning him invisible with a Subtle Invisibility.
Germain would be toward the rear of his group, and at Shei’s response, he shrugs, “My associates can do that. If you came from that direction, obviously the cultists didn’t go that way. Perhaps this way?” And he’ll begin to look for tracks, presumably chests full of treasure would leave deep marks in the ground.
Investigation: 19
Alhorn athletics 7
“Now listen here, you big ugly bully! Put me down, or you’ll wish you had!”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Anyone with a passive perception of 12 or better....
As you are talking with the strangers you hear snapping of twigs and some gutteral grunts coming from the forest nearby. You will not be surprised as combat starts.
Everyone
As you are talking outside of the hunting lodge, and before Germain can start looking for more tracks, several forms rush out of the forest towards you. There are two trolls and 3 drakes...
Those with a passive perception of less than 12 are surprised and do not get to act the first round of combat.
Please roll initiative.
Fletch Initiative: 7
(Passive perception is 12 so not surprised.)
Ulric stands near Naroth and looks over the new comers with the eyes of a man who's been in many fights and lived to speak of them.
Stubble is growing on his head showing signs it hasn't been shaved recently. His chain mail armor has clearly seen cleaner days but appears of good quality. Strapped across his back is his shield and on one side of his waist is a well used warhammer, the other sporting a small crossbow. His tunic shows signs of wear, like he's been traveling for many weeks. No visible tattoos but the face of a man used to being obeyed on the battlefield and off.
"No need to spark trouble. We've been following these cultists for some time. We don't know if this group has any treasure as the main party we were following split apart. We also are unsure how many are inside."
Ulric tilts his head to the side as if hearing something.
Initiative: 16
Germain initiative: 18 (not surprised passive is 17)
Shei is too busy trying to tell if Germain is lying or not to notice the trolls and drakes. (Passive Perception: 11)
Insight: 9
Initiative: 15
Alhorn initiative 15
And his passive is 12
Paladin - warforged - orange
Rolled for Naroth in his sheet. He has a 19 initiative but an 11 passive perception, so he is surprised and cannot act this first round of combat.
Initiative order is...
drakes > Shei > Naroth > germain > Ulric > trolls > Fletch > Alhorn
The Ambush Drakes will go first, but I want to give you guys a moment to look at the map. Any update to your positions? The forest is to the East, West, and South, with the Hunting Lodge to the North. The trail the new group came down, to reach the Hunting Lodge, is to the East, the portal stone, the original group came through, is to the South.
I won't normally pause for a map review, but, as this is the first combat together, I wanted to give the chance this time.
Map
No changes from Fletch, he was trying to keep his distance from Naroth so that's about right.