"Oh, look.  Backup," Rihala said, pointing to the other group.

     "Shall we introduce ourselves?" she asked.

Lureene and Rihala are still a way aways from the other group, since both groups are approaching the ruins from different ends.

However, it's clear that the other group has spotted you, and realize that you have spotted them.

It becomes clear at that point that while you were endeavoring to keep from being spotted by anyone ahead of you, that often left your flank and back exposed. In these kind of conditions, though, that can't always be avoided.

Just as you realize this, a Halfling half-stumbles into the edge of the thicket where you've been hiding.

Upon seeing the two others hiding in the thicket Frederich stumbled briefly and then stopped, one hand on his rapier hilt, one hand out.  "Peace friends - did not know this thicket was taken."

OOC:  Edited only to see if it changes to the portrait I settled on.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Mon 19 Jan 2015.

The lovely redheaded priestess regards the halfling with some surprise, then smiled. "Nonsense, methinks the thicket is well large enough for the lot of us. I am Lureene Raventree, a priestess of Sune Firehair. I take it you came with these folks?" She indicated the other group.

"I was with the caravan when we were attacked by goblins.  They left me for dead but I was only knocked out.  Caravan master is a friend of mine, I followed to see if I can help.  Was not expecting anyone else in the area.  Why are you here anyway?"

     Rihala raised an eyebrow at the halfling.  "Our purpose is our own business, little one.  But we are likely to face battle within yonder castle.  Come and be helpful or depart and seek safety.  It's your choice," she said.

Alas, Frederich's player is gone in 60 seconds due to a clash of playing styles.


"If the goblins have taken the caravan master into those ruins, then I shall endeavor to be helpful!" the Halfling replies. "How may I be of help then?"

"First I would like to make sure what we are dealing with..." The cleric paused. "Actually, methinks I would rather first know who these people are and what they intend. They weren't from your caravan, were they? I wonder what they came for, that they think they can obtain by parlay." She carefully examined the other group.

     "Any enemy of the Goblins is a friend of mine.  Shall we introduce ourselves?  Methinks they may already know we're here," Rihala suggested.

"I gather that you were not planning on assaulting yon castle ruins," Frederich responds. "Yet that is precisely what I must do, with or without your help. It would be far easier if those others did the same."

"Perhaps I can use a signal mirror to communicate with them. They've clearly seen us."

     "Brilliant idea, master halfling.  Signal away," Rihala agreed.

Frederich rummages in his backpack and pulls out an apparatus. Normally, you'd only need a mirror, but the apparatus has side shutters so that you can't accidentally send a reflection of in a direction you don't want it to go--like to the enemy.

"It's only brilliant if someone over there can read the signals. Hopefully they have a ranger in their party."

He hangs the apparatus's leather strap around his neck.

"Any suggestions on what to say? Can we sound neutral in case they aren't friendly? Or should we just declare out intentions?"

"Tell them we have come looking for something that the goblins hold. That is true enough yet does not imply that we'll seize it by force. It would be best to meet face-to-face to discuss details in any event; perhaps we should focus on setting that up?"

"Okay, I think I can get some of that across," Frederich replies to Lureene.

Even as he begins signalling, he sees the other group split up. Two of them stay behind in hiding, but the others seem to escort the goblins down to the ruins.

He signals: [Friends. Meet. Rescue. Ally. Captive. Ruins.]
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:17, Wed 11 Feb 2015.

Both parts of the other group seem to have caught the message. At one point, Frederich flashed it onto the back of a goblin in such a way that only the red-headed woman could see it. She nodded in acknowledgement, but seemed to be pulling a pied piper routine.

The two that didn't join her little parade also nod in acknowledgement, and the Elf indicates that they are circling around to the back of ruins and would like you to join them.

     "Sounds good.  Let's go," Rihala suggested.

You can go ahead and post now to New Kids on the Block thread. Everyone will merge in a few more posts.

Lureene, Rihala and Cunaar head over to Sister Garaele's house. Word gets around a small village rather quickly, so Garaele has already heard that you'd returned.

"It seems you've had quite an adventure! I hope your errand was as successful," Sister Garaele says to them when they enter.

"And you've made new friends!" she adds upon seeing Cunaar.

"Greetings Sister Garaele, I have heard well of you. My name is Cunaar Clothar, friend and traveling companion to Lureene and Rihala."
After making his introductions he politely steps back to allow the ladies to come forth and speak with Garaele. As well to present her with the book she had interest in. He did enjoy many forms of reading, it was the path to much knowledge that he himself sought out.
From behind the women he takes a position to one side so he might catch sight of what the book holds should she open it now.

Lureene smiled. "We've exceeded the strict wording of your request a tad", said the priestess. She pulled the book out of her pouch and held it up to Garaele. "And good that we did, it gave us cause to meet Cunaar and his friends, and do some good besides. But here's Bowgentle's grimoire, so now you know precisely where it is." She chucked.

For a good full minute, Garaele is speechless when Lureene hands over the book.

"I can't believe you actually recovered the book!" she finally exclaimed. "You have to tell me all about it!"

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you... Rhapsody and Windswift made it back to town all on their own... like you knew they would. Without riders or saddlebags, the goblins would have left them alone, and the horses are sensible enough to avoid most dangers... and can usually outrun the others."

Garaele takes the book and just stares at it for a few seconds before she peers at it more closely, turning it over and on end as she examines it.

"I must admit, I am curious as to what could be of such interest within these pages, though nearly all wizards' books have knowledge and secrets in them."

"One thing I do know: you can read through a wizard's book a hundred times and not find the secret only to have an apprentice open it and spot it right away! So I could read this book and not have a clue what is so significant about it. I'll leave that to the order."

She sets the book on a table, and picks up a small wooden box that was sitting there.

"I had intended to reward you for undertaking my little quest whether you were successful or not," she says, and hands the box to Rihala.

"Within the box are three Potions of Healing, though that seems such a trifle for actually retrieving the book. I can certainly do better than that. Alas, I do not amass gold as some folks do, so I hope that is not what you would like. Let's see now... Oh, yes, these will do nicely."

"Here, Rihala... I have a pair of Bracers of Defense for you."

"And for Lureene, I have a pair of Boots of Elvinkind."

With the delivery of the book gold is of little concern with rewards as such, all of use to aspiring adventurous types.
"You are most generous without the need of gold. Congratulations ladies."
When the pportunity to take his leave comes Cunaar will bid the ladies adeu and make his way over to the Inn. He would give the ladies time to catch up on other things as well......at the same time get him to his much needed drink.

"I'm glad the horses are safely back. It worried me a little", says the cleric.

She takes the boots reverently and examines them. "My, sister, you're most generous, even excessively so. I ought to protest, but I'm a Sunite through and through and these boots are much too fetching for me to resist." She grins at Graele. "You have my most heartfelt thanks. I shall wear them with thoughts of you, sister." She bows.

"The thanks are all mine," Garaele replies. "I am more than astonished at your initiative... even more so about your success. I shall pass that on to the Harpers. You've made me look good... not that I care much for the fame. I have a higher calling, but the Harpers protect nature, so we have mutual interests."

Lureene giggled. "My, you'll make me blush at this rate and that's no mean feat. Again I am glad we were able to do some good while retrieving it." She bowed slightly to Garaele. "I'll leave you to your report; I'll go see if I can acquaint myself better with our new friends. And I think Cunaar is eager to rejoin them, as well." She turns to the wizard and warlock. "Shall we?"

(Off to the tavern!)