The party, viewing the distant circling of the turkey vultures as the sun of Arret slips behind the Turgrad Mountains, elects to pick up their pace to approach whatever has drawn the carrion birds' attention.  The party rides along the dusty, ancient trail that spans a continent, moving through the high orchard grass and bluestem prairie grass on either side.  Aidrin sends his raven aloft, and Villhalas does the same with his owl, who now has bestirred herself from her day-long sleep.  Simultaneously but separately, the two birds take off towards the northeast as the party continues pushing their mounts.  Garryn is forced to trot along as best he can.


OOC:  The avian familiars allow for some idea of the terrain ahead.  A series of small knolls abut the caravan trail--hard by a cluster of cottonwood trees and a little lakeside marsh that surrounds a small, algae-filled lake.  See the new map on the website, under 'Caravan camp'.

Vil looks to Aidrin - "Sounds like we have a few gnolls up ahead - at the campsite..  Anything else your Raven was able to spot??"

V

"The same. Soh much for finding survivors," Aidrin says as lips tighten. Turning to the darkening sky, the wizard adds, "I would tha't we had more daylight."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Wed 29 June 2005.

Asher strains his senses in an attempt to see or hear anything; but, the Knoll is still too far distant.

"Shall we run ahead and disperse the dogs, or let them feed?"

22:04, Yesterday: Asher Willbourne rolled 10 using 1d20+6. Listen. Doh!
22:04, Yesterday: Asher Willbourne rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Spot check. Doh!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Wed 29 June 2005.

After a half hour's movement, at a relatively quick pace, the party has approached within a mile or so of the putative camp site.  A closer approach will put any who do so within spotting distance, assuming that any watchers are present.

OOC:  Moves?  You are located approximately 100 squares to the west of the map edge.  I'll need Hide checks for anyone who wants to approach closer.

Vil nods in quiet contemplation... After a moment, he looks up and addresses  the more experienced fighters in the group -"What do you think?  Skirt around, make our Approach from the South - using the trees and hills to conceal our approach..??"

V
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Thu 30 June 2005.

"Lets not waste too much sunlight getting closer, on the other hand we don't want to rush in a hornets nest. Using the tree line sounds useful to me. I should go first with Caylin half the distance between me and the rest of the party. He's good at hiding and can quickly and accurately attack anyone that attacks me, by the time anyone can get to him Asher and Tot can be there," Garryn suggests as he prepares to head out.

"Sí, ahora estamos pensando," mutters Perrato as he searches the surroundings for a likely place to tie up the horses, something perhaps with a bit of cover to conceal the mounts from aerial predators. "I am in favor of Garryn's and Villhalas's ideas. Might I suggest a marching order for the rest of our group? Señor Totmacher should be first, followed by me, with Señores Villhalas and Aidrin close behind."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:21, Thu 30 June 2005.

Hearing what sounds like a plan taking shape, Vil begins to tighten up his gear for the movement in.. "Agreed.  - I'll follow up with Aidrin - behind you, Tot and Asher then.."   Eyeing the Rogue while tightening up his rucksack straps, Vil adds with a mischievous smile "Be careful Garryn.  You'd hate to have Totmacher coming in there to save your ass.  You'd never hear the end of it.."

V
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Thu 30 June 2005.

"Lo siento, amigo," says Perrato as he looks in Asher's direction, "I did not intend to omit you. I am, perhaps, a bit preoccupied."

Since the others seem to be in agreement Garryn nods his head and begins to move off stopping briefly to speak with his small friend. "Don't take any chances out there, if you don't feel safe following me, give me the signal and I'll return to you...and please be careful with those arrows if anything goes awry, good luck," he says as he heads toward their target.

As the party prepares to creep through the shrubland, Aidrin loosens the ties of various pouches slung around his belt and robe and removes a small piece of leather.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Thu 30 June 2005.

"I took no offense. Shall we move in?" Asher draws his javelin as he responds.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:02, Thu 30 June 2005.

Horses and tack are secured at a small copse of hickory trees.  The trees should provide some cover--albeit limited--from potential aerial predators, and the forage in these rich grasslands is abundant.

Garryn moves first, heading out and essentially vanishing into the tall grass of the plains.  No sign of the human rogue is seen, as the evening light burns russet across the long sea of grass.  Caylin waits for a bit and moves next, likewise completely disappearing from view.  A slight breeze washes over the plains--and it is as if the human rogue and halfling archer had never existed.

The rest of the party prepares to follow.  Perrato trips on the tough, fibrous roots of the long grasses, going down in a clatter of metallic noise from his breastplate and weaponry.  A small flock of grouse explode from cover, a hundred yards away, warning cries and the drumbeats of their wings sounding a clarion call across the open spaces of the prairie.

A single long, drawn-out howl accompanies the disturbance, and then the warm, lazy evening silence descends again.

OOC:  What are your actions now?  Garryn and Caylin are lost from view and apparently moving with a great deal of stealth.  The rest of you as a group, however, are not.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:33, Thu 30 June 2005.

Asher drops to the ground at the sound of Perrato tripping. Hoping to have gone unnoticed, he hangs tight in the grass for now.

OOC: Kev, do I need a hide check for this action, or are you going to use one of the existing two?

Aidrin quickly crouches to the ground. "Perhaps you should tend to your horses," he hisses. "Though I imagine our new friends would rather eat us first."

His right ankle still wrapped up in the long grass, Perrato notices a certain discomfort in his backside. Apparently during the fall, after bouncing off his breastplate, the cleric's morningstar found its way to the ground just beneath his descending rump. "¡Ay, mis nalgas!" he exclaims, biting his lower lip to keep it as hushed as possible. Kicking his leg free with a rattle of armor and weaponry, he cautiously reaches underneath himself to remove the source of his distress. "Qué torpe...caramba," he mutters as he brushes himself off and focuses his attention carefully on the ground directly in front of him. Gathering his wits, he proceeds gingerly, one careful step at a time, whispering to the others, "Sorry..."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Fri 01 July 2005.

At the unexpected eruption, Totmacher looks over to his smaller sibling and lets loose an amused grunt.

Nodding in silent agreement at the Half-orc, Vil relays in muted tones to the rest of the party nearby "Let's Sit tight for a moment..."

V

From his crouched position - low in the grass, Villhalas let's Mal'ach loose..

"...To keep an eye on those two.."

Knowing that Totmacher will refuse to sit idle for long, Vil adds  "well.." -- But before he's able to continue, Totmacher completes the Sorcerer's thoughts - bluntly - "We need to move - before the rogue and gnome are overrun.."  With that, Totmacher drapes his spiked chain over his mammoth shoulders, plants his elbows into the earth, and begins a military-style high-crawl through the grass..

V
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Fri 01 July 2005.

Not to be outdone by the half-beast, Asher gives him a head start and then begins to creep forward, keeping low in the grass (crouch or crawl- not sure of the grass height) his javelin in hand, eyes and ears peeled.

14:22, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 13 using 1d20+7. Spot.
14:21, Today: Asher Willbourne rolled 15 using 1d12+6. Listen.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Fri 01 July 2005.

Aidrin grasps the leather in his hand before his mouth and utters the words for arcane protection, then turns to follow Asher.

[Aidrin casts mage armor on himself]