There's a couple moments of silent tension before Jake calls out.

"Uh... we know you're there."

Nothing.

"We're armed with weapons and magic."

Still nothing.

"And we're broke."

Now snickers can be heard.  Sounds goblin for anyone who's ever heard what goblin snickering sounds like.

  Hoal refrains from Heavy Sigh.  "I will not claim to know the exact reason they do not take you seriously."  After all, even as a child Jake is as tall or taller than a Goblin.  "Though I am certain why I can not take them seriously."

  Hoal calmly approaches the likely hiding spot, then stops a comfortable (for Goblins) distance away drawing his longsword.  "Even outnumbering us, they still hide."  He tosses his sword a few dozen feet down the road, and draws a dagger.  "Perhaps now, they will feel safe attacking a lone man and child, if they will not allow us to continue on peacefully."

OOC Style: getting Initiative out of the way.  16, not bad for a guy with +0 Mod.

Various angry murmurs and whispers can be heard, and eventually fall silent for a moment.

"Wreckless!" a voice calls out, "You want us to kill you!  Well we won't!  Even if you showed us gold!  Go find someone else to kill you!"

More silence.  Jake lowers his blade and exhales.

"I can hear them retreating," he says, "Three of them.  From the sound of it, one of them has a quiver of javelins, one has a staff, and one a sword.  Probably goblins.  Wow.  How'd you know reverse psychology would work on them?"

This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Mon 24 Oct 2011.

  Kyle and Fletch elsethread hiss and burn like Dracula in sunlight at seeing a Crossbow wielding Artificer without Crossbow caster.

 Hoal waits for the whole 'retreat' thing to get more distance.  "I knew no such thing, I merely spoke the truth from a certain point of view." Obligatory Jedi reference now that his player has realized they kind of are one.  He sheaths his sword.  You know, the one he had just thrown off into the distance.

  "They would feel safer attacking while I held a dagger.  This does not mean I would use it.  A simple trick for a Swordmage, reason enough not to announce your art to enemies. Though a trick I do not use often, for reasons more instinctual than logical."

  He turns to Jake, and asks "Shall we continue?", Hoal will do so if the boy is agreeable.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Sun 23 Oct 2011.

"Interesting," Jake says, fascinated with the demonstration of the swordbond, "Yes, yes!  Continue."

He resumes travel with Hoal.

"So recovering your sword is an arcane ability.  Simple for a swordmage.  I wonder if an artificer could pick up on the technique.  Earlier I was considering carrying a huge intimidating weapon to discourage ambushes, but now I wonder if yours is a better tactic.  So how do you do that if I may ask?"

  "A simple end result, but a time consuming one.  We can not just do so with any weapon we pick up, we must first attune ourselves to a blade."   Fortunately, any weapon you pick up off the ground functions for the implement requirement.  "An artificer would seem to be the most likely to pick up that skill, of other Arcane practitioners.  Some hold the capability, others do not.  If you seek to pursue it, we shall discover where that places you."

  Kyle and Fletch, could totally pick up the Swordmage Implement+Swordbond MC... Jake, not so much.  That one's Int 13+Con 13.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Tue 25 Oct 2011.

"Interesting," Jake says, "I suppose learning can be had in the attempt, so may as well try."

He fills the travel time with questions about swordmage features and spells, pausing occasionally to listen for ambushes.  About an hour later, the two come upon an elf man laying unconscious on the side of the road.  He looks beaten, stabbed, and arrowed, but the bleeding has apparently stopped.  Jake uses his healing infusion and the elf wakes up as the arrows fall out.

"Thank you," he says slowy.

"What happened?" Jake asks.

"Goblin ambush.  Took everything but my pants from the look of it."

  "Unless these were particularly violent Goblins, I assume you attempted to defend yourself?  No condemnations implied, I would likely have attempted the same had I met three goblins alone.  That they left you alive out of mercy or laziness remains to be seen."

  Perhaps 'your money or your life' has a hard line, literal edge to it for some bandits?  'Ah man, we killed them!  now we can't loot the body!'

"Attempted, yes," the Elf answers, "Only got one shot off before they overwhelmed me.  And I'm certain there were four.  Two armed with swords, the other two with bows.  Probably left me alive on purpose.  'Bring more gold next time,' they said, 'Or there won't be a third.'"

"Must be a different group from the one Hoal and I encountered earlier," Jake concludes, "So watch out if you're headed back that way."

He points back the way the and Hoal came.

"My name is is Jake.  Is there anything else we can do for you?  Food?  Water?"

He offers a canteen and some rations.  The Elf accepts the offer and takes a sip.

"Thanks again.  I'm afraid I don't have anything to offer in return other than to strongly encourage you to turn back.  As dangerous as this road has turned out to be, your destination is more so.  A small army of Dwarves that attack anything that gets too close is back that way.  I was fortunate they didn't notice me."

  "Either those Goblins are not able to count or this is not the first time these goblins have victimized you."   He considers the direction of their intended destination.  "While you may have avoided them, you are still aware of their actions.  Do you know their reason for attacking others?  Even a small army must have a significant reason for their presence."

Jake counts on his fingers.  First time, beat him for not having enough money.  Bring more money 2nd time, or else he won't survive to have a third encounter.  Makes sense to him.  But who is he to contradict his elders?

The Elf considers his answer for a few moments.  "I do know the reason.  But I wish not to tell you.  Because in telling you, I fear I may put you at risk."

"I intend to go find out myself anyway," Jake says, "So you may as well say."

The Elf shakes his head.

"I'm sorry you do not heed my warning, but at least my conscious is clear that I did the best I could to help you who helped me.  I suppose we part ways, now, then."

He stands and dusts himself off.

"Thanks again.  My people will hear of your kindness."

  Alas, wording.  'They left me alive, said there wont be a third time without money'. So, NOT left alive a second time then?  How could that not have been obvious.

  'It seems it is true they have nothing to offer us but encouragement to turn back then.  For his sake I hope they do not ever meet those offering nothing will offend more than the goblins.'

  Of course, saying such out loud to them would only make the elf claim 'These guys made fun of me after I was viciously assaulted when I didn't even tell about the dangers ahead! They were dicks! I did my best not telling them anything!'... Okay, so maybe the wouldn't use such self incriminating wording.

  "Many are the vague and nondescript warnings.  There are sayings claiming people fear the unknown, but it can be so much harder to fear it instead."

"If captured and questioned," the Elf answers, "You will be able to answer honestly that you don't know what they're up to.  Feel free to mention that I refused to tell you to add credibility to your story.  Where I'm going, they'll never find me even if they tried.  Fairwell, friends.  Be safe."

He begins to head east.  Jake looks up at Hoal.

"Wild guess, whatever caused the disturbance is what's got the Dwarves literally up in arms.  And while I'm thinking out loud, I'll be that whatever it is is very large and very valuable.  It's possible the elf is a scout for one of the many tribes of the Great Dale.  Likely the Dwarves don't want word getting out about their find.  If he continues his tight lipped policy, the Dwarves may get their wish.  Speaking of which... If I were them, I'd send a detachment to watch the road.  Unless...   Unless to avoid provoking a war response from the surrounding areas they decided to use the goblins as a cat's paw.  Or they simply don't have the spare men."

  "If you are correct in your assumptions, then it would likely be just our luck that what the Dwarves find worth safeguarding even the knowledge of with violence is the same disturbance you seek.  Some roadside scavengers is one thing, but an organized and funded effort is another entirely.  Do you still intend to seek this out?"

Jake grins and nods.  "Yup!  Sure do!  You?"

  Hoal Nods.

  ...

  ...Okay so we won't get into the 'shortest post' competition.  "My own curiosity in this matter has been raised as well.  I find myself wondering, should your accusations be true, if they know for a fact there is something of value they act for.  Or merely hoping it will be without understanding it's nature."

"Now wouldn't that be ironic," Jake chuckles.

After a while of more travel, the pair reaches the zenith of a hill that has a clear view of the land beyond.  The road winds through rugged, rocky foothills spotted with thorn bushes which gradually give way to acres upon acres of grasslands.  The occasional herd of grazers can be seen scattered across the landscape.

Several miles in the distance, an ancient forest has grown up along the banks of an equally ancient river - The Icelace.  But there is something missing.  Namely, a huge chunk of the forest about a mile wide along with the very earth that would have been below it is gone!  The river is cascading into the apparently bottomless pit, and the mist from the falls is creating a rainbow.

"Now there's something you don't see every day," Jake says, staring.

---

DC Hard Perc to spot dwarfs among the trees.

  "While I have the common supply of climbing gear, I suspect it will not be nearly enough without benevolent rock formations should what we seek be within.  Any attempt to hide something like this is an act of futility, such devastation would be visible from high ground for quite a ways beyond the troubles of local roadside criminals."

  OOC Style: 12 on the Perc check, so no go on Hard.

Jake shades his eyes and peers carefully at the landscape.

"Not a single Dwarf, much less an army.  Granted, there's lots of places they could hide.  That grass looks tall enough to hide an army for starters.  So it should be tall enough to hide us, especially if we stick to the road so we're not trampling the grass."

He continues to travel on.

---

Perc check: 11.

  When you don't have a Dex mod and your perc is generic, one must resign themselves to always being ambushed and always acting after the enemy even when not.  That or have a nervous breakdown.  Nevermind those Goblins.

  "Would you have stopped even if any were in clear view?  Or would a more direct confrontation of events been to your liking?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Wed 09 Nov 2011.

"Yeah," Jake answers, "I woulda stopped to see if the Elf's story was exaggerated or accurate.  But apparently they're too far to spot, so I'll have to get closer to find out."

  Hoal nods, as he follows along.  "The reputation of Dwarves as skilled miners, even if true may not extend to depths flooded by a river's passage.  Any who intends to search the depths of this will need to act swiftly and carefully, if they wish to return with any knowledge of value."

"You said it," Jake agrees, "Though it makes me wonder what sorts of clever devices folks use to mine underwater effectively.  Already several ideas come to mind.  Would you happen to be able to breathe underwater?  Even if not, between my ideas and your talents, I'm thinking we have a chance at taking down Dwarven aggression should they mistake us as a threat."

  "While there are certain Genasi capable of such, my own particular manifestation is not one."   Of course in different threads, his sister can.  "As for aggression, I would expect the amount of it we are faced with would be the deciding factor."  Okay, what's the aggression value difference between five angry dwarves and three really angry dwarves?

Jake nods and falls silent, his eyes focused on the road ahead.  After a few moments he begins to detail his ideas on how to mine underwater and the inherent technical difficulties with each.  He falls silent again, watching and listening for signs of the Dwarves, then picks up where he left off.  Time passes, and the pair are approaching the tree line by nightfall.  The closest tree is still at least a 30 minute walk away.

"Still no sign of any Dwarf army," Jake says in a low tone, "I suppose we should set camp in the grass."