Slove move back close to to group.  It clear the gnolls can't follow him so his attempt to draw them away from the other group is pointless.  He again fires arrows at gnolls.  He fires at same group he did last time either finishing of the one he hit before or any other wounded one first

OOC:
Slove is moving toward the gnolls (50ft) but think that means he still -2 for range.
08:20, Yesterday: Slove rolled 17 using 1d20+8. attack with bow.
08:20, Yesterday: Slove rolled 7 using 1d8+3. damage.
08:24, Yesterday: Slove rolled 15 using 1d20+8. attack with bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:32, Wed 19 Mar 2008.

Getting to his feet, Iodaem moved in front of Authiel, drawing his blade as he did so.

Lighting fast, Slove dashed forward and launched two arrows. One piercing the gnoll he'd struck before and knocking it flat. The other struck one of the charging gnolls in the arm.

With three of their number down for the count, two badly wounded and their lightning charge fizzled out, the gnoll's morale broke. Some hurled their weapons to the ground in a gesture of surrender, and scrambled back up the hill to rescue their fallen. They barked and yelped frantically.

Round 3:

Locations:

Gurgun - +5ft to left hill
Authiel -
Iodaem - +5ft in front of Authiel
Slove - -100ft
Jorn - -70ft

A - unconscious, +60ft up left hill
B - unconscious, +60ft up left hill
C - unconscious +60ft up left hill
D - unarmed, unharmed, +60ft up left hill, helping B
E - unconscious, +60ft up right hill
F - melee, unharmed +80ft up left hill
G - unarmed, severely wounded +60ft up left hill, helping E

Initiative:
19 - Gurgun
18 - Iodaem
17 - Authiel
11 - Slove
11 - Jorn
10 - Gnolls Right: E, F, G
 9 - Gnolls Left: A, B, C, D
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Mon 24 Mar 2008.

Just as she had done twice already, Authiel repeated the incantation for her spell and two more bolts of that lovely little purple energy sprang forward from her fingers and flew straight to yet another of the gnolls.

[Private to GM: C next, I suppose.
20:43, Today: Authiel Hannasiel rolled 11 using 2d4+5. MM. ]

Authiel blasted yet another gnoll into unconsciousness.


OOC: Gnoll C is downed. Three still standing.

Warmages. :(
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:14, Thu 20 Mar 2008.

Slove move closer again as clear the gnolls little of a problem and not going to jump on him.  He fires arrows at nearest wounded gnoll not in melee combat.


07:03, Today: Slove rolled 4 using 1d8+3. damage.
07:03, Today: Slove rolled 15 using 1d20+6. attack bow.
07:02, Today: Slove rolled 7 using 1d20+6. attack bow.

Gurgun lowers his sling at the sight of the retreating gnolls. They have surrendered, we should cease fire. He declares in a loud voice.
Moving back to the others he salutes the ranger and his companion.
We thank you, your warning came just in time.

Slove put an arrow in the leg of a already-wounded gnoll who was helping the fallen. It stumbled and yelped, and looked like it was planning to just make a run for it while it still could.

Jorn glanced back at Slove and held up a hand. "He's right.  We should let them go when they surrender."

Jorn turned to Gurgun and bowed as well as he could from the back of his pony, calling out, "We should thank you as well for your help in breaking their ambush. Either group of us alone would have been in danger.  Together we fared far better."

He waited to see if Slove would come up to join him, then trotted his pony toward the other group.

OOC: I'll stop there to see what Slove does, instead of assuming and jumping into introductions.

The gnolls, now that the harrying rain of arrows and spells had ceased, gathered up their injured and dying and stumbled off as fast they could from the fearsome adventurers. They soon trickled off into the wilderness.

As the duo approaches, the burly hobgoblin introduces himself:
I'm Gurgun Nightwhisper, a Child of the Passive Voice from the temple of Oghma in Deepingdale. I leave it to my companions to introduce themselves

Slove walks back to his dwarf friend.  He seem a little upset about letting the gnolls go.  When he gets to dwarf he speaks.
"They attack with no care for us.  They would killed us even if we surrendered.  If food or our items they wanted they butchered up what ever.  They will only do same again to some other travellers when there numbers are back up.  We should finish them off."
He then changes subject.
"I will leave you to do the talking as usual.  I not sad Coby has gone.  I leave it at that.  You talk to this group.  All I say is I must have word with Elven lady at some time if she talk to me."

"I really hope those things deserved getting slaughtered like that. . .  they never had a chance," Iodaem mumbled, and shook his head slowly.  Some years ago, he wouldn't have thought twice about killing potentially innocent beings, but now, he at least hoped his actions would be proven just.  Oh, well.

Turning towards the ones who approached from behind them, Iodaem made sure to place himself between them and Authiel, his curved blade still in his hands.  "I am Iodaem, of no land in particular, and this is Authiel Hannasiel.  I am her protector and guardian," he spoke,

Allessandra thanks Lathander that she was finally able to calm the horses as they came up on her on the trail. They were heading full tilt towards her and she was wasn't sure she was going to be able to stop them and settle their spirits.

She carefully leads them over the rise and comes across the remnants of the battle.

"I believe these are your horses?" she asks in her quiet singsong voice.

"I assume you are Authiel, Gurgun, and Iodaem, the temple informed me that I should be able to catch up with you in very little time. I was hoping to join you..."

She carefully hands the reins back to the group, insuring each person she hands reins to has a firm grasp on them and the horse can see both parties so as not to surprise the powerful beast.

You are correct. I am Gurgun Nightwhisper, thank you for calming the horses. I'm sure a servant of the Morninglord will be welcome on any journey such as this.

Gurgun takes a reins of his horse and gruffily pats the horse on the muzzle to reassure it.

Thank you, what happened here? Are any of you hurt? she asks quietly as she begins visually inspecting the group for wounds, moving around them looking for wounds that need tending.

They managed to shoot a few arrows at us. I was not hit and don't think anyone else was hurt.
Looking around the small group Gurgun suddenly remembers Authiel's request.
We should make camp. Perhaps not right here though.

The two adventuring parties began to move off, finding that they were heading in the same direction. That was convenient...

There was still an hour or two to go until sunset and the time to camp for night, so the party drifted onwards some more, silent and wary in case the gnolls returned for a rematch. The travellers could have kept going on to the Yuirwood's edge, which they would hit around sundown, but camping near that great green mass held its own dangers.

So whilst still out on the rolling fields, where they could see what was coming from a long way off, they picked a suitable high hill that rose above the damp, sheltered by a few lone trees. It would make a good campsite, and a defendable position. They would need to post watches should the gnolls come creeping back however...


OOC: Chat amongst yourselves and RP - ie, discuss your missions, realise that you're going the same way and join up.

Also decide on what you do about watches and other defenses.

Allessandra takes her bedroll from her horse and kneels down near the fire and removes several painful looking stones and uncomfortable sticks from the area and lays her bedroll out. Looking around and feeling satisfied this will be a warm spot, she stands back up, straightens her chainmail shirt slightly and says "well, I think that we should make some dinner and decide on watches."

After a short pause "Have you been friends a long time?"

As soon as they were at a place where they could rest, Authiel slipped off her horse with an audible moan.  She was sore and tired and couldn't wait for a warm meal and a night's rest.  Almost sinking to the ground, she didn't worry about her horse.  It had became Iodaem's way to take care of both their horses together, and it seemed to mean so much to him to do so that she no longer argued.  "Iodaem and I have been friends for a long time," she told the priestess.  "We met Gurgun not long ago, but have come to like and trust him," she added as she smiled wearily at both of the ones she had just named.

Taking care of his and Authiel's horses before letting himself rest, Iodaem walked over to the elven lady, wrapping an arm around her and holding her close to him.  He didn't feel like talking, but he was always a quiet man, rarely speaking unless he felt he absolutely had to.

Smiling softly at her dearest friend, Authiel laid her head tiredly against his shoulder as she cuddled closer to him.  The tiny elf was absolutely worn out.  If she had been a human girl she would have been asleep already, but Authiel was able to keep herself from slipping into reverie, wanting to eat first.

Gurgun appears unmoved by the elven ladies kind words, but a barely perceptible nod her way betrays him, after which the monk busies himself with the horse; releasing saddle and (whatever it's called in english that goes over the horses head).
He rejoins the group shortly. I have been sent by my order to investigate rumours of strange sightings in or near a stone circle in these woods. There is some lore attached to it, and we would like to know more. Ioadem and Authiel I met on the way as we listened to the same tales of horrors seen in this place. The ranger and the dwarf we saw behind us on the road. The ranger warned us of the ambush, and they helped us fight off the gnolls.
After the meal, Gurgun simply states. I can take any watch. The night holds no secrets to my kind.

He then gets up and goes through a series of complicated movements, almost like a dance. Some movements are slow and displays exquisite control of body and mind, while others are swift and powerful. Everything is done in complete silence, even the bounds, kicks, and strikes. You notice that despite the hobgoblins powerful frame he still moves with the ease and grace of a trained acrobat.
After his exercise the monk retreives a book bound in a rough leather cover. Something tells you he has done the binding himself.
Producing a quill and an ink bottle from the small desk he carries Gurgun starts scribbling done notes in the dark.

Slove really is indifferent to the other group.  He would like to have word with the elven lady but also he would clearly like to stay away from her as well.  He is in two minds to move on or to stay with the other group.  He was looking at his dwarven friend to decide what they going to do.
That all changes with Monks words.
Slove spins round and walks up to the Monk.
His hood drops back.  Slove looks hideous can be clearly seen.  It clear half of his face has been burnt by some very strong heat.  Some how it will not heal properly and elf face is a mess.  His voice is hard a rasping noise from the damage to his voice box from heat of what ever happened to him.
"The Ranger"Slove seems to like the title the Monk has given him.  Has a few question.  What do you know about this place and what is happening at it.  I like know how long these horrors have been going on at this place.  We have gotten ourselves involved with retrieving an item that may have been lost at stones.  He need to know more."
Slove also does something he never done before.  He puts his hand into top of his tunic and pulls out a leather necklace.  On it is a Sliver Arrow of fine elven craftsman.  It is clear this is an elven holy symbol and Slove for once in his life is make a clear claim to be a cleric.

Allesandra spends a few minutes listening to the others as she carefully brushes down her horse and removes the bit and bridle and takes off the saddle bags. She at last tethers her horse on a long line near the edge of the encampment where there is some grass. Nuzzles up to the gentle beast, feeds her a carrot as a treat and returns to the fire circle.

"As a servant of The Morninglord, I have been tasked with observing the events of The Yuirwood. It is speculated that this strange site we seek may be a source of great evil. The Dawnlord of Furthinghome has spent considerable time prying into the future of the Yuirwood and has seen powerful necromantic magics at work and undead roiling out of the wood and into the surrounding areas. I hope to bring back some clue as to what is behind this danger. All the church's attempts at scrying have been blocked by the powerful magics that permeate the Yuirwood.

I was told that these magics may be of ancient Elven descent, Authiel, perhaps you have some insight into them?"

[Private to Slove: At a private moment, Allessandra sits down next to Slove and quietly asks "I do not mean to pry, but does that horrible burn still cause you discomfort? Perhaps I can make a salve to unburden you from your discomfort."]