Five travelers met on the road and had been getting to know each other, when black-feathered arrows whistled out of the forest, rudely interrupting.
Rowan dove into the cover of the forest while looking for the attackers. One of the arrows unluckily seared Katherine’s side.
Cail fired an arrow into the forest, then rushed back – even at a run his next shot hit with deadly accuracy. A high-pitched wail and curse turned quickly into a gurgle, and the thump of something falling in the bushes. Cail recognized the curse being in Goblin tongue.
"Trust me..." Kathrine called to Alarion and Silver. A pulse of energy flowed from her hands and enveloped them both with new awareness of how to work as a team.
Alarion shot a small bead of yellow with a fiery comet-tail from his wand, just before an arrow grazed his outstretched arm.
The ball of light briefly lit up a terrified goblin just before goblin bits splattered nearby trees.
Silver had been sneaking up on the goblin but found little left of it. He searched the surroundings, looked for any remaining goblins, living, or dead. He heard the sounds of a creature scurrying away, but then Katherine’s warning brought him running back to the group.
Rowan attempted to reach the wagon hurtling downhill out of control, but Alarion’s magic missiles smashed into the back wheels before he reached it.
The wagon’s back end became an anchor to slow its decent, but the exhausted horses, still tethered, stumbled to keep up.
One of the wagon’s guards had managed to leap on the back before it began to roll too fast. He clambered over the roof and down to the empty stagecoach seat. His blade cleaved through the leather harnesses of the horses, freeing them.
The wagon finally came to a halt at the bottom of the hill. The guard leapt down and introduced himself as Gabriel, Paladin of Torm.
A women bellowed angrily from inside the covered wagon. Gabriel winked and said, "That's Shake-a-spear's wife". Then he headed back up the hill to see what became of Shake-a-spear and the other guard.
…The other travelers keep a wary eye on their surroundings and attempt to mollify the angry lady inside the wagon.
Shadows deepen all around as dusk has turned to twilight.
Katherine’s words cause a rectangular peep hole to slide open in the door. A pair of frantic eyes darts from the cleric’s face to the holy symbol on her armor and back again.
“If what you say be true… where’s me Tom then? That fool being called Shake-a-spear nowadays? Some commotion raised me from my nap… and the wagon was suddenly goin’ fearful fast, and explosions – “
Alarion steps into view.
The woman’s eyes widen and then the peep hole slams shut. “How many of yous are there, and whaddya be wanting with a poor band o’ players, we’ve nothing worth robbing. And we have a fierce guard dog that’ll rip yer throat out!”
“Ow!” a young male voice says from inside the wagon, then “Woof woof. Grrrr…” in the same voice.
Silver slinks towards the wagon. He surveys the surrounding and no longer perceives any immediate threat. A glance to the top of the hill shows him that Gabriel has made it to the top of the hill - then stops short for a moment before rushing forward.
Gabriel crests the top of the hill and finds…
A man lies unmoving on the road – it’s Shake-a-Spear, or Tom, as his wife calls him. But where is the other Knight who helped guard the waggoneers?
Not changing her tone at all, Kathrine patiently continues speaking. "As for what happened, some goblins attacked you, and us, on the road. It seems likely that your husband tried to outrun them, and sent the wagon into a fairly dangerous flight down a steep hillside." She pauses as she lets that sink in. "As I said before, we had to damage the wagon to keep it from being completely destroyed. We are not here to rob you or any such, but will aid you as we can."
(OOC: I trust that the 27 insight check I made before is likely to give Kathrine some insights on what is likely to aid in calming this woman down, and in smoothing things over. Let me know if you need another persuasion check.)
At Rowan's shout, the 'barking and growling' inside the wagon stops. Another "Ow!" is heard and then the woman's voice seems to be muttering a volley of curses, something to do with terrible actors.
Katherine continues to patiently reason with the door of the wagon. The peep hole slowly slides open again. The woman's eyes glance back and forth. "If you're truly willing to aid us, then tell me - what happened to m'dear foolish husband!?"
Cail did not find any rotten tomatoes in his bag, but did find a half-eaten sandwich. Seeing that his companions were looking after slowing down the wagon, and after finding no mold on the sandwich, he decided to finish it. After wiping breadcrumbs from his fingers, he approaches the wagon, a bit worried now, and overhears the conversation.
Gabriel is out of sight of the others having just run over the top of the hill…
Gabriel goes to his knees to check the man’s pulse and breathing – he is alive. Tom begins to move his head and winces in pain, eyes still closed.
The woman silhouetted in the lamp light from inside the wagon is imposing.
She's tall, strong, and stout, with a mass of auburn hair. Her body appears cinched at the waist of her emerald dress, overflowing with curves above and below, modestly more or less covered with the green silk of her dress.
She pulls up her skirts and jumps out of the wagon screaming "Tom!"
Gabriel:
You can hear her cry from a mile away. Tom is not heavy, you may choose to pick him up and carry him.
Silver maintains his distance and watches from afar. This all seems hinky and strange. Something just doesn’t smell right- it could be the rotten fruit that tends to accompany bad acting but he doesn’t think so.
Picking Tom up Gabriel carries him back down the hill toward the wagon. "Be calm my lady, he is fine, as far as I can tell, he just got a bump on his head from the fall from the wagon."
Keeping a eye on the woods still. "We should try and make a camp for the night. I believe we will see some action with goblins before the sun rises again."
(replies, recap and more to come later today... :)
The story so far…
Five travelers met on the road and had been getting to know each other, when black-feathered arrows whistled out of the forest, rudely interrupting.
Rowan dove into the cover of the forest while looking for the attackers. One of the arrows unluckily seared Katherine’s side.
Cail fired an arrow into the forest, then rushed back – even at a run his next shot hit with deadly accuracy. A high-pitched wail and curse turned quickly into a gurgle, and the thump of something falling in the bushes. Cail recognized the curse being in Goblin tongue.
"Trust me..." Kathrine called to Alarion and Silver. A pulse of energy flowed from her hands and enveloped them both with new awareness of how to work as a team.
Alarion shot a small bead of yellow with a fiery comet-tail from his wand, just before an arrow grazed his outstretched arm.
The ball of light briefly lit up a terrified goblin just before goblin bits splattered nearby trees.
Silver had been sneaking up on the goblin but found little left of it. He searched the surroundings, looked for any remaining goblins, living, or dead. He heard the sounds of a creature scurrying away, but then Katherine’s warning brought him running back to the group.
Rowan attempted to reach the wagon hurtling downhill out of control, but Alarion’s magic missiles smashed into the back wheels before he reached it.
The wagon’s back end became an anchor to slow its decent, but the exhausted horses, still tethered, stumbled to keep up.
One of the wagon’s guards had managed to leap on the back before it began to roll too fast. He clambered over the roof and down to the empty stagecoach seat. His blade cleaved through the leather harnesses of the horses, freeing them.
The wagon finally came to a halt at the bottom of the hill. The guard leapt down and introduced himself as Gabriel, Paladin of Torm.
A women bellowed angrily from inside the covered wagon. Gabriel winked and said, "That's Shake-a-spear's wife". Then he headed back up the hill to see what became of Shake-a-spear and the other guard.
…The other travelers keep a wary eye on their surroundings and attempt to mollify the angry lady inside the wagon.
Shadows deepen all around as dusk has turned to twilight.
TBC
So, does Kathrine manage to calm her down (with no help at all from me...oops)?
Makeing it to the top of hill Gabriel will look around in the dim light for any sign Shake-a-spear, or the guard. Calling out to them.
"Shake-a-spears! Tom!"
Katherine’s words cause a rectangular peep hole to slide open in the door. A pair of frantic eyes darts from the cleric’s face to the holy symbol on her armor and back again.
“If what you say be true… where’s me Tom then? That fool being called Shake-a-spear nowadays? Some commotion raised me from my nap… and the wagon was suddenly goin’ fearful fast, and explosions – “
Alarion steps into view.
The woman’s eyes widen and then the peep hole slams shut. “How many of yous are there, and whaddya be wanting with a poor band o’ players, we’ve nothing worth robbing. And we have a fierce guard dog that’ll rip yer throat out!”
“Ow!” a young male voice says from inside the wagon, then “Woof woof. Grrrr…” in the same voice.
Silver slinks towards the wagon. He surveys the surrounding and no longer perceives any immediate threat. A glance to the top of the hill shows him that Gabriel has made it to the top of the hill - then stops short for a moment before rushing forward.
Gabriel crests the top of the hill and finds…
A man lies unmoving on the road – it’s Shake-a-Spear, or Tom, as his wife calls him. But where is the other Knight who helped guard the waggoneers?
Rowen raises as eyebrow and says under his breath "Friggin theater people". He then shouts to the wagon "Oh yes, very frightening indeed!"
Not changing her tone at all, Kathrine patiently continues speaking. "As for what happened, some goblins attacked you, and us, on the road. It seems likely that your husband tried to outrun them, and sent the wagon into a fairly dangerous flight down a steep hillside." She pauses as she lets that sink in. "As I said before, we had to damage the wagon to keep it from being completely destroyed. We are not here to rob you or any such, but will aid you as we can."
(OOC: I trust that the 27 insight check I made before is likely to give Kathrine some insights on what is likely to aid in calming this woman down, and in smoothing things over. Let me know if you need another persuasion check.)
"Damn!" Gabriel swears under his breath and rushs to the still form of Tom Shake-a-spear. Checking the body, is he alive?
"I hate Shake-a-spear's plays, but I still hope he's alright." Cail walks over and watches the others.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
At Rowan's shout, the 'barking and growling' inside the wagon stops. Another "Ow!" is heard and then the woman's voice seems to be muttering a volley of curses, something to do with terrible actors.
Katherine continues to patiently reason with the door of the wagon. The peep hole slowly slides open again. The woman's eyes glance back and forth. "If you're truly willing to aid us, then tell me - what happened to m'dear foolish husband!?"
Cail did not find any rotten tomatoes in his bag, but did find a half-eaten sandwich. Seeing that his companions were looking after slowing down the wagon, and after finding no mold on the sandwich, he decided to finish it. After wiping breadcrumbs from his fingers, he approaches the wagon, a bit worried now, and overhears the conversation.
Gabriel is out of sight of the others having just run over the top of the hill…
Gabriel goes to his knees to check the man’s pulse and breathing – he is alive. Tom begins to move his head and winces in pain, eyes still closed.
Gabriel's hands begin to glow with a faint light, as he channels the dive healing it Torm. (Lay on hands 2 hp to Tom.)
"That should ease the pain Tom."
"Hopefully we will have news of your husband shortly." Kathrine assures the woman. "Someone has gone up the hill to check on him."
For Gabriel:
Tom's eyes open, suddenly wide.. he tries to speak. Then his head lolls sideways. He tries again "Take me... wife." he manages.
The door flies open, and Katherine gets banged by it, but no damage taken.
"Up the hill? What do ya bloody mean the hill? My Tom!" she wails.
The woman silhouetted in the lamp light from inside the wagon is imposing.
She's tall, strong, and stout, with a mass of auburn hair. Her body appears cinched at the waist of her emerald dress, overflowing with curves above and below, modestly more or less covered with the green silk of her dress.
She pulls up her skirts and jumps out of the wagon screaming "Tom!"
Gabriel:
You can hear her cry from a mile away. Tom is not heavy, you may choose to pick him up and carry him.
Silver maintains his distance and watches from afar. This all seems hinky and strange. Something just doesn’t smell right- it could be the rotten fruit that tends to accompany bad acting but he doesn’t think so.
Picking Tom up Gabriel carries him back down the hill toward the wagon. "Be calm my lady, he is fine, as far as I can tell, he just got a bump on his head from the fall from the wagon."
Keeping a eye on the woods still. "We should try and make a camp for the night. I believe we will see some action with goblins before the sun rises again."
Rowen takes Silver's lead and steps away to observe the goings on, watching for anything nefarious
Perception: 22
"Tom!" the lady rushes forward as she sees him carried down the hill.
"Tom you nefarious ass-hat, I swear you'll be the death of a one like me!"
She helps guide the unconscious body into the wagon. Those who help will see the inside of the wagon.
a very scared looking boy and a humanoid covered in tawny fur look at you from the far corner of the wagon.