"I'm not looking to get killed. Our end goal is a cure to a strange disease, but first I guess we should gather information. Maybe let's not split up though, you guys ready to head in?"

Zeig starts his chocobo down towards the town, hoping for the best.

"Yeah...let's go not get killed, that sounds like a good idea." DAI nods, completely serious in the sense that not dying was a good idea.

The party rides closer. Now only a few hundred feet away and the setting sun casting long shadows, you're all certain you can't see any activity in town.

There are several streets in which you could enter, though one large one catches everyone's eye. It looks to run straight toward the bridge, and has a large wooden lattice or awning covering it most of the way.

You're all also able to tell that quite a bit of vegetation is starting to grow up the houses near the outskirts.

"Well, I guess it couldn't be THAT easy.  Looks like no one's home.  Care to setup camp away from here and explore in the morning?  Wandering through an abandoned village at night just seems...messed up."

Zeig runs a finger through his hair, remembering the last time he walked through an abandoned village at night.

"Looks abandoned..." DAI begins leading his chocobo down the main path.

Note: Time is now correct in the subject line.

DAI rides slightly ahead of ZEIG and SILI and peers down the main corridor. It very much so looks abandoned. The wind rushing through the alleyways makes it all the more eerie.

It's hard to see exactly, with the large awning, but it appears as if some of the doors are open. There are pieces of wood of various laying around in the street as well.

DAI shrugs, before going back, ready to set up camp. "I couldn't see anything, might be easier getting in then we thought."

Since it's currently not needed, Sili won't play his songs tonight. He sets up for the night, readying for bed.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Sun 04 Mar 2012.

SILI:

Yes it is. DAI has spent two MP for chocobos today, and he probably will again tomorrow. Also, Paeon is probably useful since it could convey some temporary hit points for the 'morrow. So yeah, play your songs and either roll or take 10 at your option.

The party camps in the swath of cut down trees about 400' away from the main corridor of the southern side of town. They find a few close-growing 5' tall saplings to bed down beneath in some sort of half-hearted attempt to conceal themselves.

SILI, an experienced bard, has small difficulty with the gusts of wind, playing his harp while sitting on the ground.

Just as the sun is setting, the party sees four halflings making their way to their camp from the tree line to the south. They are making no effort to hide themselves, though if it weren't for the high winds the grass would probably have made it nearly impossible to notice them until they were much closer.

They'll arrive in a little over four minutes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:45, Sun 04 Mar 2012.

DAI grumbles to himself, but then remembers the settlement...and decides to give them a chance to prove they aren't trustworthy. If any offer a handshake though, he'll respectfully decline.

"Do you think they're from the village we just left?"

Zeig stands up and hails the halflings, as they obviously see the camp.

"Hello! Are you lost?"

In the distance one returns the shout, "Oy! Apparent'y not," and they continue to walk toward the three of you. The accent is familiar.

Apart from one holding a 3' long walking stick, none of them are holding anything. They will arrive within comfortable speaking distance within the minute, and it's fairly easy to understanding the shouting back across at one another over the wind.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Sun 04 Mar 2012.

The halflings in the village never spoke to us in a way we could see their accent. Is this accent the same as theirs?

Zeig watches them approach warily and calls out again.

"Stop and identify yourselves. What do you need of us?"

Sili looks on in interest, trying to place the halflings.

SILI is sure that he's never seen these halflings, though a Knowledge (local) check would help to identify their accent or potentially even who they might be once he can get a look at what they look like, are doing, and how they act.

The halflings do not stop as the same one continues shouting back. "No need for 'at kind o' talk. You jollies alrea'y cut me in 'alf once; 'course I got no mind t' cross you 'gain. Where's 'at dwarf at, anyway?"

ZEIG and SILI might catch one (or maybe both) of DAI's hands clench into a fist.

Sili ignores the question. "Why were you looking for them, exactly?"

Zeig blankets the party in a familiar orange light (Protectra +2 MP: 49/53) and pulls out his quarter staff and places one end on the ground, fixing the halflings with a hard glare.

"You're right, we did. Now if you don't stop and explain yourselves you might find that position a bit more permanent."

15:18, Today: ZEIG rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Intimidate.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Mon 05 Mar 2012.

The halflings stop advancing. "O-kay, 'kay, no need for 'at kind o' language. 're jus' wan'in to converse a moment. All 'is yellin is giving me a headache."

DAI felt like ending all this yelling with a few well-placed spells, but he held his hand.

"So. Let's converse. A bit windy, eh?"

Zeig waits impatiently for the halflings to spit it out.

"Damn windy, yeah. 'ow about jus' me coming for'ard?"

It would be very easy to talk amongst yourselves without them hearing due to distance and wind (and of course the same goes for them).
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:29, Tue 06 Mar 2012.

Sili mutters to the others.

DAI shrugs.  He keeps his eyes and ears open, but is mostly ready to blast some halfling faces full of magic stone.

Zeig whispers to the others.

"Alright, come on then, so we can be about our business. Just you."