Night came and went with all the peaceful sleep of a military fortress under constant vigilance.  As planned the group met, ready to get under way.  Final supplies were gathered (GM: Just let me know what you feel like purchasing.) and the group passed through the massive stone gates of Bargal Dulg.

For a while it was difficult to tell where exactly Unbular lands ended and Midrath Koar began.  The swampy lowlands that surround the fortress already make for slow going, but eventually dry ground begins to rise up out of the swamp like some massive ocean beast breaching.  Dark, twisted trees, most more than a millenia old, thicken to a point where the sky can no longer be seen.  They make for a great hand hold as the land becomes even steeper.

Not more than seventy five feet above the lowlands, the ground levels out.  Bargal Dulg cannot be seen trough the growth.  All is quiet.  The air is thick, cloying even.  Except for the gnarled trees, it is as if nothing lives within the forest.  Only the fact that the humans can see the faint, humidity-laden haze indicates that it is day time.  Keeping track of time will be nearly impossible by simply looking at the sun.

The group stops a moment to take stock of their new surroundings and to consider a marching order.

She looks around at everyone, then at her surroundings to get her bearings.

"We should really get an order on things, just in case something happens.  I don't mind scouting ahead but I need to know which way we are going.  These trees make for a good surprise situation."

She unlimbers her bow and nocks an arrow.

"Is there anyone else that has any suggestions?"

she then looks around the group waiting for a reply.

 Taking the long view at the distant group of trees ahead, he has to frown at the possiblity of an ambush already.

 Lady i trust your skills in these wild lands and place my faith that few can surprise you.  As for order i will place myself at the groups desire and will ride where it will best serve all.

 Shifting a buckle slightly he glances to the others before looking back at Genovia, Why not just follow the road for now until we reach our campsite for the night, then we might fine tune our search down a bit?.

"So.  All you visionaries.  Anyone know what direction we should be heading in?  We should probably determine that before we decide what order we are going to die in."  He guffaws roughly at his own joke.  "Besides, I'm the likely choice to lead since I can take hit better'n any of you."

"Don't write the rest of us off so soon, Grondor," Kiro chuckled, as he took up a place at the back as rear guard. He could hold his own in a fight, but he doubted he could best Grondor.

He only knew the general area of the bones - enough to get them close. He waited to see if the visionaries knew anything better.

After about fifteen minutes of conversation, the group pieces together clues from rumors, visions, and local gossip from Bargal Dulg.  A few Unbular had actually seen the skeleton from afar, but could not say for certain if it was bones or just a strange assortment of rocks.  The information culminates in the conclusion that the cave is somewhere relatively close to the edge of the wildlands.  Closer to the center of the Koar is too dangerous for even the most battle-hardened warrior.  After some consideration, it is Vertium's dream of Addiyr that suggests taking the northern route around the edge is the more likely choice over the southern route.

Marching Order
Grondor
Genovia
Vertium
Tyler
Kiro

GM:  If I need to change this order for any reason, please PM me.

The trees remain thick but only above.  There is plenty of room for two or three to pass between the trunks.  It is still eerily quiet and still.  Only a few bugs crawl through the dirt among the roots.

Then there is a faint yipping sound from up ahead.  None can see through the trees to what it may be but the sound is far enough away that time can be taken to scout it out for any who have the skill and the will.

Genovia disappears into the trees to scout.  When she returns she shakes her head.  "It's not good.  There are nearly twenty of these small, reptilian creatures ahead.  They aren't more than three and half or four feet tall.  There armor is primitive leather and their weapons are simple spears and other wooden impliments."  The girl plops down on a fallen limb and lays her wicked black bow over her legs.  She looks each member of the group in the eye as she continues.  "They have a fire built, a cooking fire, and they have a prisoner.  An Anthros.  He looks young, but I can't say for sure.  I've only ever met two other of that race."

Grondor emits a low growl.  It almost sounds like he is irritated rather than concerned.  "They are called kobolds.  Vermin.  They are as likely as not to eat that Anthros."  He looks around at the group as if taking their measure.  "We can easily take that many with surprise on our side.  Kill enough of them quickly and the rest will run."

 He was not a man of war and had not training in that field of knowledge so he would leave that to those who had trained in combat and such things.

 Umm, any chance to free the prisoner before combat begins?, they have enough there to perhaps kill the prisoner before we could fight our way thru to him or her as it may be. If someone could free the prisoner while some of us created a distraction?.

Vertium is curious about their situation. He tries to determine the best solution to their problem. Vertium also tries to remember what he knew about Kobolts.

" This is an interesting situation we have... I would agree that we do not want the prisoner to come to harm. However, can we be sure that the Anthros did not commit a crime to warrant an arrest?"

He wispers something to Grondor.

[Private to Grondor Swordstorm: "You should know that we are being followed. I am telling you, since you have the most experience within the group. So, you are the one who is best suited to decide what should be done about the situation. Whoever it is, he or she is very good at what they do.

OoC: I take 10 on the wisper spell. I also take 10 on relevent knowledge(Kobolts) making it a total of 21.]

"Kobolds do not have the social structure to take a criminal captive.  If they caught the Anthros stealing or murdering they would either try to kill him or flee.  He is undoubtedly in need of rescue, and soon."  The fighter looks around then heads into the trees.

The group moves forward toward the kobold camp.  Grondor turns and looks at Vertium but only nods and smiles.  [Private to Vertium Thrusius: [Insight]It is likely he has noticed as well and does not consider her a threat.]

When the group is almost in position there is a sudden roar in the midst of the camp and a squeal of terror from more than twenty kobold throats.

[Private to Frostskin: From your vantage point you see an Ettin giant appear at the edge of the camp and roar.  It moves toward the center of camp and the Anthros prisoner.  The Invar sneaking in does not seem surprised and uses the distraction to try and get closer to the prisoner.]

[Private to Flynn Darktreader; Kahmaul Quddus: Flynn moves into position.  Kahmaul uses the card at the edge of camp and the Ettin illusion rumbles into the midst of the camp.  Kobolds scatter everywhere screaming and Flynn has a direct line to the prisoner.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:41, Wed 16 Dec 2009.

looks to the group in surprise
"What was that?  Maybe we had better hurry up and check it out."

 Fearing that they may be too late to rescue the victium for being killed or that the victium has broken free and is in the process of paying the kobalds back.

 Breaking into a run forward so as not to risk the horse, he slips his mace into his hand on the off chance they would have to fight.

As a group you break into a run, darting through the trees as quickly as possible.  At the edge of a clearing where the kobolds are camped you all pull up short greeted by a very strange scene indeed.

An Ettin giant has stumbled into the kobold camp and is tromping around, roaring and generally scaring all of the kobolds.  The little reptiles are screaming and fleeing from the massive form without thought of fighting back.  A good number of them are fleeing right for you.  They draw weapons, so mad to escape they would rather face you than head back toward the giant.

There is no time at the moment to determine the location of the prisoner.

[Private to Kahmaul Quddus: You see the others enter the clearing from the other side just before you {Kahmaul} step out if that is what you intend to do.  Flynn might need the help if the kobolds ever realize its an illusion and you would be more effective beside him than where you are now.

Post your actions in this thread as you are tentatively attached to the group now and they can see what you will do in the clearing.]

[Private to Frostskin: You see the others arrive, but they don't seem to see you.  Feel free to take out as many kobolds as you want from hiding. :)

There is also a large Anthros hiding at the fringe watching all the commotion.  He looks like he is with the Invar helping with the rescue.]

"FOR THE GLORY OF QINAH!" Grondor roars and starts mowing down kobolds.  Two die in the first swing, cloven in half by the great sword.

Another kobold goes down further into the camp a little bit to the west of the group.  The way it stumbled backward it looks like some kind of missile hit it.

[Private to Vertium Thrusius: [Insight] Your shadowing friend is perhaps helping out?]

[Private to Frostskin: This is you.]

Vertium decided to summon a Celestial Giant Fire Beatle to protect his allies from the Kobolts' attacks. Once it was summoned, he sent it forwards to attack the Kobolts.

Vertium hoped that the creature would act as a decoy and that their lizard-like opponents would charge the creature rather than himself and the rest of the party.

Kiro froze for a moment. His mind had gone over images of battle- real battle - so many times...but seeing it now...it was nothing like he imagined.

In a haze, he removed the piece of leather protecting the tip of his spear. His body moved of it's own accord, thrusting the point towards one of the kobolds that slipped past the Fire Bug. His grip was solid and his aim true.

He was expecting the jolt to be solid, like a hammer on an anvil. Instead, it was more like pushing his hand through a gelatin. His stomach wanted to heave, but he kept his breakfast down.

[Private to GM: I suppose it's freeformish battle now. I expect that when diced time comes around you'll tell us.]

 With a grunt he knocked one of the kobalds down with his shield more interested in keeping himself alive then stopping the creatures from leaving the large creature.

Emerging from the brush from what seems like nowhere a slender Invar slips his dagger into the gut of one of the fleeing Kobolds. He pushes the Druid back in the hopes the young Anthros would get the hint to flee while they had the chance.

Flynn cursed at the sudden emergence of people upon the well made plan. Instead of causing the kobolds to flee, these idiots were causing the little creatures to remain and fight, and soon they would see through the illusion. Having freed the druid Flynn calls forward across the camp, "Kahmaul... The plan seems to be misfiring!"

[Private to GM: Attack: 18 vs. Flat footed (can't take ten to save his life)
7 damage all together]

A lumbering Anthros emerges from the shrubbery across the clearing, from where the ettin first appeared, his fists sparking as he crushes the first kobold on his path. He slams through the throng towards his ally calling out, "Change of plans... I think we have reinforcements! Flynn retreat back and protect the Druid. I'll help these ones put these creatures down."

From behind the new Anthros out of the trees an arrow zips out and takes another kobald in the gut.  The creature falls to the ground dying a slow, painful death that is inexorable.

[Private to Frostskin: You are able to see from your vantage point a small slender figure in the shadows, a bow in hand.  There is too much commotion and to little light to make out details, but something seems familiar in the confident stance and graceful move to draw the next arrow.]