Game Thread

[wizarddog]

The Raven returns to Ravi. The foliage makes it too difficult for it to see, as it is so thick it's canopy blocks even the sun. Despite that, the bird believes the cry came from ahead the east through some overgrowth. Oswyn and Slit concur.

[TheBlackDragon]

"I highly doubt it's a damsel in distress out here in this horrid bog. More likely a rouse to get us off the road. I suggest we keep our eyes open and more forward.

Nobody sticks their necks out for us"

Ravi scoffs at the unknown shriek in the distance.

"Master, anything crafty enough to try to lure us isn't a mindless beast of the swamp. It's a long road ahead, we could use some fresh supplies. Perhaps it might be worth it to find out what's there and take from it".

Ravi's Raven familiar speaks to her mind. Softly interjecting it's ideas to her own.

"On second thought, maybe we should check things out."

[JCD]

"You think so?" Silt's eyebrows rise, forming incredulous points before he glances in the direction of the noise. "Seems like it's a bit happy-go-lucky to go wandering off the beaten path." His eyes dart back and forth. "Don't trust this place as it is. One wrong step and you'll go sinking down, or get lost, or somesuch."

He sighs. "But. I suppose if you two are set on it, I can take a look."

[Vodka]

Quietly uttering an undecipherable stream of curses under his breath, Oswyn swung the head of his horse around to face the source of the noise. "I like the notion of staying on the road," he added, loud enough that the others could hear. Not that it helped- Oswyn's pessimistic outlook on things rarely were worth bothering or worrying over. Either option would have set him grumbling the rest of the way.

Oswyn urged his horse into the sludgy mire, placing himself in the front of the party. "Keep an eye out," he warned uselessly. Hopefully the terrain would be the greatest obstacle they would have to face.

[wizarddog]

The group moves through the brush and mud towards the cry. It is rough going with mounts and the brush scraps across your skin, tears cloaks, and moistens your brows.

The sound cries again and you adjust direction to it's source. You emerge into a small clearing in the thicket where the mist is tainted with the sickly-sweet smell of decay. A large, black owl, perched in a dead tree on the far side of the clearing, regards you for a moment with large, thoughtful eyes before flying off into the darkness with a final cry that sounds like "beware".

At the foot of the tree, dark opening leads into a thick mass of briars.

[TheBlackDragon]

"Well, not quite what I was hoping to find... less likely there's free loot through here.

What do the rest of you think?"

[Vodka]

Oswyn shot a sideways glance at Ravi, less than pleased with the situation. "I say we turn back to the road." he arched an eyebrow. "You said you didn't want to sleep in the swamp, after all. Chasing after birds and sticking our heads in dead trees won't make that goal an easy achievement."

[JCD]

"Well, I've never heard a bird talk to me before. I'd say it must be fairly important if one of them goes out of the way to give me advice." Silt's hand reaching to adjust his hat, tipping once in the direction the owl flew off to. "I'd say we get back to the path. I'd like to get out of here."

[TheBlackDragon]

The Raven flies just above the heads of the two others.

"I've never seen humans with such short memory. A bird was just talking to you to 5 minutes prior to that owl. If you ask me I think it's more likely we'll find treasure down here than hoping to simply pick up a vast fortune from a dead uncle Ravi's never met with no strings attached."

"Silence! You're not in charge here." Ravi telepathically scolds the bird.

"You didn't even know you had an uncle, do you really believe there's anything for you to inherit?

"I'd rather find out as soon as I can and move on with it. If you're so interested, fly down there yourself coward!"

"Some adventurer you are! I'd see more danger paired with a weak knee'd squire boy!"

To the others Ravi and the bird are just staring at one another, a frown getting deeper across her face.

"Remember this place then foolish bird, when I'm rich I'll hire a dozen squire boys and send them along with you when you go!" She yells this sentence aloud.

"Back to the road!!" Ravi hollers for no obvious reason.

[wizarddog]

The group, not wishing to investigate further, return to the marsh track and continue the long trek.

Ahead, upon the road, a weathered sign post is found. The direction you came from has been worn down but four other hamlets are listed. Cartleagh is 15 miles ahead while Near Delve is 20 miles. Far Delve is 23 miles, while Smidgin is also listed with no mileage. They all go in the same direction, less you leave the marsh track completely.

You are aware that Cartleagh is the town where you need to take a ferry to the island of Eylea; your destination.

The night falls fast and heavy in Ffenargh and you must decide to press on into the night to the hamlet or stop and setup camp. The darkness and thick mist reduce visibility considerably.

[TheBlackDragon]

"15 miles... that's another 5 hours at this pace. Oswyn, can your horse take Silt here and still keep a good speed? If so we can make it there in just under 4."

[JCD]

"The question is," Silt chimes, "What's Near Delve nearest too, and is it far for us, or far for whoever made it?" The question seems to amuse him for a moment, the man mumbling to himself before he's set on track again. "I say we walk," He decides, "Better than trying to camp out here again." He does, of course, give an odd look to Ravi now and then. He doesn't say anything about the bird, though.

[Vodka]

Oswyn frowned at the female as she waged a silent argument with her bird, but kept his mouth shut. Funny how used one got to these sorts of things. With her order to head back to the road, he nodded, swinging his mount's head to head back the direction from whence they came. He was admittedly slightly relieved to find the road as easily as they did. The eventual happening across the signpost and darkening gloom made for another stop.

"Far as I'm concerned, Near Delve isn't worth worrying about," he said as he leaned down to offer a hand to pull the rogue onto the back of his horse. "Might as well try and get as close to Cartleagh as we can before the mist makes this worse going than usual. It's miserable enough in the day; I'm not too eager to see how much fouler it gets in the night."

[wizarddog]

(DM EDIT to Include new players!)

The Path ahead is obscured by the thick mist. Your travel time is greatly slowed, trying to keep on the path. After seven miles of traveling east the path sharply turns south.

After following it (and swearing that is appears to be travel south west!) you travel another seven miles. Drenched from the mist and air you reach an 4 way intersection in the track. A signpost, rotted and depressing reads that directly south lies Cartleagh. To the east it says Near Delve and Far Delve. There is something that indicates what is west, but it is worn off. North (the way you came) simply states Mainland.

The mounts you ride begin stirring uncomfortably. A sweat sickly smell, similar to what you experienced outside the abbadon hamlet begins to fill your nostrils.

Silt notices that an unnatural rolling mist starts to approach the party from the North some 15 feet away. The mist is thicker here so he can actually see it.

(DM Silt and Rulktar may react before anyone else during the surprise round with a standard, move or minor action. They may spend a minor action to actively warn the others, thus eliminating the combat advantage the creature would get or they can try to strike it.)

Surprise round:
Silit
Rulktar
Creature

Initiative Rolls:
Creature 30
Ravi 27
Silt 25
Rulktar 18
SilverFox 16
Osywn 13
Zodd 12

[spider21b]

(okies when do we get started??)
--- Merged from Double Post ---
(silver fox uses wild shape into a panther and waits for enemy to attack)