Haazheel Thorn:
Haazheel shows up looking glad to be on his way; it's been a taxing few days...learning the Art is hard work. He volunteers to be a cook's helper even to serving ad cleaning up.
As for the watch, he suggests that, as possible, one who can see well in the dark be teamed with one less able. He'll want either the first or last watch since its best for him to have an uninterrupted eight hours.
Reetha is happy to have additional hands that want to do something to food other than eat it, though Haazheel does have to bend and stoop, as her kitchen wagon is made to her proportions.
Narthian Goldleaf:
Narthian shows up without his heavy hide armor. In its place is lighter leather armor. Much of his gear is with the pack animals. He retains only his armor, bow and quiver, a dagger, the pouch with his religious and spell components, and a waterskin. Both the waterskin and quiver are tied down so as to not bounce around while running. The proximity to Redhaven making the roads safer, Narthian has not put too much effort into his scouting just yet. But still, every so often he takes off at a run - at a 5-ish minute mile pace - down the road, Thunder loping along beside him. between half- and a mile or so in front of the caravan, he ducks into the weeds, fields, or wood on one side of the road or another, appearing some time later before (or occasional after) the caravan. This will be his standard traveling action, scouting for signs of trouble ahead (sometimes behind), and taking advantage of Thunder's Scent ability to note "weird things".
Narthian has just started his post lunch run forward when he spots the tree and halts. "It may or may not be a tree," Narthian replies to Master Deyna when the caravan catches up. "Stay here, I'll check it out." He signals his companions to spread out and keep eyeballs on the sides of the road. Narthian approaches to about 150', circles 45 degrees to the right (relative to the tree) and 45 degrees to the left as he studies the tree.
Knowledge Nature: 11:27, Today: Narthian Goldleaf rolled 20 using 1d20+9 ((11)).
Narthian will take the last watch, in the darkness before dawn.
Thunder will let Narthian know that there is a "bad smell" near the tree, even before Master Deyna's wagon gets to it. "Bad smells" are those of known enemies or threats, not "hunters", so this smell is no animal. When Narthian gets up closer to examine the tree, he can see that the tree was healthy, so it did not fall from rot or disease. It was not struck by lightning (certainly there has been no evidence of a storm recently). It looks more like it was partially chopped down, then pushed over. That would take a being, or beings, of tremendous physical strength.
The smell here is obvious even to Narthian, like something rank and unwashed, of untanned hides, poor hygiene, rotting meat, and body odor.
Dellas Nump:
Dellas was chewing on some honeyed biscuits he had purchased back in town and left honeybee tied to one of the wagons where he spent most of his time. "Looks like a tree... probably a trap to surprise, kill and rob us.. not necessarily in that order."
Dellas' familiar is not with him, he left Vish near his stored gear and honeybee together where he saw Luth and Keevak, he had spend most of the last day talking to this strange pair.
The Halfling takes a few steps forward and watches the left side of the caravan.
Vish is watching the equipment wagon, Dellas is watching the left side and leaves wood chopping to others.
Dellas would prefer to sleep... but takes the last watch
"
Probably not wrong," Sir Aberalyne said, moving up near him. She had her axe out and moves Valiant a few steps ahead of her brother.
Lantamori:
"There's munchkin's and green trees in the middle of a bloody road and sumthin's burnin!" shouted one of the halfling teamsters as he turned in his seat to relay the message to the back of the caravan. The man didn't seem overly concerned as he faced forward and began repacking his long pipe.
Lantamori couldn't see smoke up ahead or hear any shouts of alarm to back up the sincerity of the message. Perhaps something had been lost along the way.
Whatever the reason, she turned Cloud about to watch behind them. She wondered about the most recent coat of arms. Why would a fish bite a snake?
OOC How many watches and for how long is Aberlayne proposing? Lantamori will volunteer for 2nd watch.
Lantamori will generally trail the caravan with Cloud.
Wheeling Cloud about, Lantamori doesn't see any immediate threat. Farian will join her, standing in his stirrups to see if he can spy anything.
Haazheel Thorn:
Haazheel finds cover but looks out in one direction.
Shifting his mount off the road, Haazheel covers to the right as Lantamori and Dellas cover to the left.
Averdante:
Averdante ranges along the middle of the caravan as they travel, letting Preet roam in the trees off the shoulder of the road, or ride on his shoulders as it prefers. When word goes out about the tree across the road, he nocks and arrow to his bow.
Since others guard the front, he leaves the obstacle for them to investigate, but in case it is a deliberate tactic done to delay the caravan, he reins his horse off the road and nearer to the trees on the side where Preet is. Riding slowly toward the back of the caravan, watching and listening for any hint of ambushers, he silently queries Preet to learn if the stone cat can see anyone hiding, or if it's noticed evidence of any ambushers.
OOC: Averdante will be on first watch.
Going off the right side of the road, Averdante listens carefully, peering into the underbrush.
He can see two hulking forms further into the woods, and from Preet a moment later, an image of two humanoid figures nearly level with the lower tree branches Preet is hiding in. And they
stink.
Volsh and Bruenor move up closer to the front as the extent of the blockage (and possible danger) become clear.
Suddenly, from the woods, a loud voice thunders out, "
LEAVE HORSES, AND RUN AWAY! OR WE KILL YOU ALL!"
The voice seems to echo all around, making its exact place difficult to pinpoint. But a moment later there are some thudding footfalls. The huge tree trunk shudders and the branches shiver as a towering figure appears. Stinking horribly and clan in badly-tanned hides, the creature is ten feet tall, massively muscled, with scarred greenish skin, dark stringy hair, and huge malformed teeth protruding from a drooling mouth. It carries a huge club that is little more than a freshly ripped-off tree limb, and bumps it against the tree trunk, leaving behind a fresh scar.
The ogre roars at all of you, and then grins horribly.