(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Leaving the Blacklash Mansion, you immediately found yourselves bombarded by the cold, yet again.  Instead of snow, you were in the middle of a turrential downpour, with lightning cracking and popping in the nearby distance.  Visibility was going to be harsh.

Already, several of the men at arms had retreated to barracades and covered positions, barking orders and shouting out to each other.  You swore, on your way out, that a pair of skeletons with shields and spears marched around one of the buildings towards a stationary position by the front door of the armory.  It was a good tactic to use the undead in situations like this, since their visibilty wasn't hampered by the weather.

In spite of the weather and lack of visibility, you made you way to the forest at a faster then usual pace.  However, once plunging into it's depths, you knew that things were going to have to slow down.  Besides, if Bruno was smart enough, he'd have somebody watching...
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:27, Sun 23 Apr 2006.

"I hate rain..." She muttered as she moved under the cover of the trees. "Any sign of a watcher?" She scanned the trees through narrowed eyes, putting a hand up to shield them from the rain as the action forced her to look up. [Private to DM Swamprose: Spot 11, not including weather mods.]

Elyonna took a quick moment to carefully scan the horizon and trees while waiting for 'big boy' to catch up with them.

09:47, Today: Elyonna Shadowright rolled 21 using 1d20+8. Spot.

   "Rain good, mean Kilgar not need bath for another month, maybe two." He smiled broadly. Though it was apparant the half-orced bathed regularly, though he definately had a musk now that he was getting wet, like stale blood and wet dog. He too looked around for anything, his Maul slipped out with a metallic noise. He kept moving though. "If someone out there, we should still keep moving. If we stand still they stand still and maybe aim with bows. We keep moving and then they keep moving, better chance at seeing them if they move." He nodded with finality and kept moving. "So, is it true? elves taste like chicken?"

Elyonna turned to look at Big Boy as he finally caught up with them.  She smirked, replying "If elves taste like chicken, then half-orcs taste like pig.  Let us proceed now that you have finally caught up to us, Big Boy."

    "Actually orc has it's own taste." He laughed, but his guard never went down... Kilgar seemed like he was joking, but he was continually scanning the forest for any signs of unusual movement. If something was out there he intended on lulling it into a false sense of security and forcing it's hand early, then he would crush it in close combat.

Satisfied she saw nothing, (ooc: please dm if I did...stop me...) Elyonna began to move forward, continuing on alert.

Pausing only momentarily to peer into the forest, the three try to make sure they aren't being followed, but the excess rain and darkness, combined with the ceaseless supply of noise in the form of an armored orc reveal nothing.  As the small group sets out again, the moments pass slowly, and the rain comes down even harder.  It was almost as if Tyr was cursing you with an inability to perform justice - or something similar.

And then to add to the confusion, the path ahead forks, each to the left, and to the right.  This was not something mentioned by the guildmaster...

[Private to Elyonna Shadowright; Kilgar Axeface; Michaela Lehava: I need you each to roll me a will save.]

Elyonna hesitates for a moment, certain that this was not mentioned in the instructions.  Forcing herself to carefully go over each and every thing the guildmaster had said, she became even more convinced she was correct.  She stared at each path, not quite certain what to do but certain that something was amiss.

19:46, Today: Elyonna Shadowright rolled 17 using 1d20+1. Will.

"THere's something.." She frowns, stopping to look at the two paths. [Private to DM Swamprose: 3 + 4 = 7. ><]  "Which way?"

 Kilgar stopped and scanned the area again, focusing on here Michaela was looking.

13:15, Today: Kilgar Axeface rolled 19 using 1d20+3.

No, no, this wasn't right.  There was no mention of a fork anywhere, and you were pretty sure the Guildmaster wouldn't give you false directions, or more specifically, he would've mentioned a fork in the road, especially when both directions it took seemed to lead deeper into the woods.

If one of the paths went Northeast and the other went Northwest.  Michaella was stumped, clearly, and the look on her face revealed it all, but the Guildmaster's instructions were to head northwest.

   "Northwest." He looked at the others. "Looks like we leave road here. If we come back to it, then we know which road to take." The half-orc's solution was simple, but presented problems with mobility as well as the chance they might miss a land mark somewhere, but he was right, if one of the roads went Northwest, they would find it again....

Elyonna nods in agreement.  She preferred to stay off of paths anyway.

"Um.. lead on, I guess." she shrugged, indicating she'd follow the other two.

Elyonna cuts her own path, heading northwest, while keeping the road in question in sight.  She moves swiftly though she does not bother to stay silent as she knows that would be impossible for Big Boy anyway.  She stays on alert, scanning the horizon and the skies feeling very uneasy although no one would know be her impassive expression.

Deciding to move along instead of inspect the discrepancy in the direction, the group wisely cuts to the northwest.  Travelling had become rather difficult, finding that both the ground and road were flooded.  It was so bad, that at several locations, even the light stepping elves had to jerk their feet out of the mud - and risk losing their boots.

Until finally, in spite of the hazards and hold-ups, the small group found the clearing they were looking for.  It was small, only about enough room for a handful of tents and a fire in the middle.

And no sooner then you arrive, a white quilled arrow lands in the ground directly in front of the orc.  A voice calls out.  "Hold!"  It was distinctly elven.

    The half-orc looked down at the arrow and frowned, lowering the mask on his helmet. Stupid meat. Always trying to shoot first. "Why elves always want war with Kilgar?" He stopped moving, but drew the maul and hefted his shield. The emblem of Tempus was emblazoned on the shield in large, conspicuous detail.   "Elf-girl, talk to your friends, Kilgar not like being shot at."

In her soft, low voice, Elyonna slowly speaks in Elven.  "What a greeting, my friend.  You missed," she said pointedly, knowing it had been on purpose but not willing to speak friendly yet with one she did not know, possible elf or not.

"Always friendly, cousins mine.." Michaela muttered in common, standing just behind Kilgar. She wasn't willing to reveal that she spoke Elven quite yet... but her comment had probably given her away. Charismatic and strong she may be, but Michaela certainly is not wise.

Seconds pass...

Minutes pass...

There was no response, just the steady pounding of rain thumping against wood, and the rustling of the leaves as drops of water ceaselessly splattered against them.

It was impossible to see anything of value under the current lighting, and even the orc's bright red eyes could pick up no trace of your mysterious assailant...


OOC - Everyone make a Concentration check to keep from lowering your guard... Axeface gets a +2 Bonus because he's a Fighter, and Follower of Tempus.  Lowering his guard is taboo.

Michaela stayed focussed... she didn't trust these elves any more than she trusted the law. Perhaps less... as she slipped her hands behind her under her cloak and through the straps of her weapons, keeping them hidden. [Private to DM Swamprose: Equipping both Claw Bracers.]

Trying to place the exact dialect of the elven words, Elyonna fails to pay as close attention as usual.

14:00, Today: Elyonna Shadowright rolled 8 using 1d20+2. Concentration.

    Kilgar sighed. Elves... Elves were flighty, small, and annoying...Kind of like gnats. He chuckled at the comparison, then he wondered if gnats tasted like chicken... After a second he did the only thing he could do, he hated stand offs. "Kilgar not here to kill elves! Kilgar kill other stuff! Let Kilgar and his rations through!" THAT should get someone to show himself. Worse comes to worse, the big angry half-orc figured a javelin through the leg would give him a hostage. Stupid gnats...

Kilgar, being a vetern of combat knew better then to drop his guard, and kept his vitals protected from frontal assault by sticking behind his shield.  His grip on the Maul was thick and unrelenting.

Michaela even felt the tingle, dropping to a crouch and extending the blades of her bracers.  She reminded everyone very much of a certain wolverine, except, only, she was a chick, and an elf.

But Elyonna...now she was a different story.  Unable to hear what she was listening for, she lowered her hands and tilted to the side, trying to hear harder.

And that's when the elf popped out. He just poofed right in front of Elyonna, and backhanded her with his gloved hand.  The strike didn't hurt, but it did sting, and it was rather surprising.

"You let your guard down." His words were a snide snicker of utter disdain in Ely's direction.  He stood upright, and folded his hands across his chest, practically daring somebody to attack him while he spoke. "You and I have a problem. About hours pace ahead of us..  Bounty Hunters have captured your priest.  You need him, and I need the information one of these men has."

He didn't move, but he did pause for a second or two.  You distinctly remember this is the elf the Guildmaster was speaking with as you arrived to receive your job. "I have already devised a plan." He let his words hang in the air.  If anybody was going to pipe in, now would probably be a good idea.

Elyonna smarted, anger shining brightly in her dark eyes.  But she wisely stayed silent.

   Kilgar still didn't lower his guard. Instead he inspected the arrival of this new guy and blinked. "Wait. Kilgar not sure he understand." The half-orc paused and then spoke again, "Someone took Priest we need, and those people just happen to be the same ones you need information from?" Kilgar wasn't the brightest guy in the world, but when you trained yourself to look at life like a battlefield you noticed things nobody else did. "This smells worse than elf-girl hair." He pointed the maul at the women. "Only thing that smell worse than elf-girl hair is trap." He grit his teeth. "Kilgar not like trap. Just because you talk to Guildmaster, how we know you trustable?" Kilgar was very skeptical. If he were in a situation like this man was, he and had ill will, he knew he could find a use for a few too-eager troops.

The elf who bitchsmacked Elly, just chuckled. "Now that doesn't make any sense at all, pigface.  Clearly, you've been knocked upside the head one too many times.  If I was attempting to lead you into a deathtrap, I wouldn't waste my time parlaying with any of you.  For that matter, if I wanted any of you dead, I'd do it myself.  I can, you know."

The fingers on his left hand twitched, the smirk on his face turned into a mock kiss that he blew right back at Elly.  "One of the bounty hunters knows the location of something I want.  I could care less if you accomplish your goals or not.  But since there is a chance you can make my job easier, why not take it, yes?"

   Honesty. That was all Kilgar wanted. He snorted approvingly. "Pig-face. Real original." He lowered his weapons. "What you plan then? Kilgar listening."

Michaela neither brought her hands into view nor slipped them from the straps on her bracers, simply watching the elf with narrow eyes. She didn't like people who disrespected others, and this man wasn't winning her trust very quickly. However, she nodded slowly, accepting his story. For now.

Elyonna stayed true to form, silently watching.  Her face gradually lapsed again into expressionless eyes staring straight ahead.  It is uncertain whether or not she is listening or cares one whit about this...elf.