She sat there, clutching the pack, thoughts whirling about at what the goggles signified. Was it a sign that Sam was alive? If he was...why hasn't he come back? She frowned, taking several deep breaths to try and remain calm. What in the Hells, Sam..., she thought bitterly.

When Dream hears from Halie that the pack is hers and he recognizes the goggles as Sam's, he is almost flabbergasted! He thinks it all over: is Sam still alive and near? Has he his own reasons to stay hidden? Is their invisible attacker playing pranks with their minds? As he can't come to a conclusion yet, he walks along the cart, praying to his patron goddess Sarenrae for any guidance, insight and wisdom, not only to solve this riddle, but also to find a way to help Halie, who seems traumatized.

Nulgaz walked up towards the others. In quiet tones she stated, ”Maybe one of you should check on her. I know you all lost someone but it seems to be hitting her harder. I feel sad for the situation but she doesn’t know me from a log in the woods; I don’t think I would be the welcome sight as some of you might be.”

With that she backed off and took a proper scan around of the environment. Someone must have left these here. A reverse rust monster?

OOC Perception Check- 7
This message was last edited by the player at 22:12, Mon 11 Mar.

"And it should probably be one of you two, who know her the longest," he says, pointing at Ty and Dream, not wanting to sound as if he's trying to get out of it but really believing they're the right people for the task. "By the way, did those goggles I saw her taking seem similar to the pair Sam had, or is that just my imagination?" he asked them.

Tyrael was not shy about yawning in front of the others, so she did.  She stepped over to Dream and patted him on the shoulder.  "That would be you, handsome."  she said, rubbing her eyes.  "Hailie seems to respond to you better than to me.  'sides, I'd probably just curl up beside her and fall asleep."

"I wouldn't worry about Sam.  He's probably prowling out there in the woods, scowling at us all and planning to knife us in our sleep."  The Half-Elf said half-jokingly.  Sure Sam could be a pain in the ass with his suspicious and confrontational attitude but Tyrael had seen the man in action and had a healthy respect for him, even if she didn't come right out and say it.  "I mean, who leaves a backpack in the middle of the road for us to find.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  Besides, Sam is tough and resourceful, he'll be fine and will rejoin us once he's through playing whatever game he is playing right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Wed 13 Mar.

Nulgaz questioned, "So then you think we shouldn’t go look for who left these here? I guess we get ready to head on after he talks to her then?"

She hadn’t seen anything herself but the others knew this Sam better than she did. Maybe it was best if Hallie cried it out. She would have suggested tracking, there had to be some evidence, but that was not something of which she had event the fainted clue.

Tyrael thought for a long moment.  From what she had seen of Sam, he didn't seem the sort to just leave stuff around.  Maybe he was making a special case for Hailie, but there was always a chance that it wasn't the rogue playing games.  "You have a good point there, Nuls.  I guess we can take a little look around while Dream goes to talk with Hailie.  Care to join me?  I might need someone to hold my hand in these scary woods.  Gordo?  You feel like joining in?  We haven't really had a chance to talk and I just love meeting new people.  Even better if I don't have to slay them."

Tyrael walked back to where the pack was and started looking around for any indication of how the pack ended up there.  Surely there must be tracks, given the falling snow there should be something visible.

OOC:
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 27 for Perception.
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 17 for Survival to look for tracks.

Gordo managed to note a slight look of worry in Ty's eyes, which made his concern rise ever so slightly. "I am definitely in," he replied to Ty, joining in beside him, and looking around cautiously. "It is true, we haven't had much time before I left to look for Halie, it's nice to finally make your acquaintance properly."

OOC:
Gordo Vet rolled 30 for Perception.

While Tyrael, Gordo and Nulgaz look for any signs how the pack had come to its place on the road, Dreamljocht enters the cart, looking for Halie. "How can I help you, Halie?" he asks, concerned about the wellbeing of the ranger. "Can you tell me more about what happened when you were abducted?" Dreamljocht tries to console Halie, but doesn't know where to start and hopes to get some ideas from Halie.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Sun 17 Mar.

Nulgaz joins the others in searching the area. She knew she would be little help but she could still be company and provide protection. She pulled her cloak around her and listened as the other two talked. She had yet to truly get know either of them but knew the least about the tortle.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:27, Sun 17 Mar.

Nothing was visible. Not a single track due to the snow the previous night and morning. Or anything else. Just the woodlands covered in the snow and the road. Its hard to tell who put the backpack out here and why. Maybe it was Sam or the one who took Haile. Perhaps someone else. It just seems very strange. Dream starts the cart moving at a slow paces as the others check the area. Haile sits up next to him but she is eerily silent. Probably due to a horrible night and probably doesn't want to talk about it immediatly. The cub sits in her arms covered with a blanket. Its cold out but it stopped snowing.

For now. And the sun is out, a sign of relief. Not a single cloud out.

Tyrael had been rather pre-occupied with looking for tracks around the backpack that she wasn't much for conversation.  That changed once the wagon started moving again.  She looked up and it seemed that the time had come to leave.

"What brought you out this way, Gordo?"  Tyri asked, turning her attention from the mysterious pack to her mysterious companion.  "I have to say that I'm not that familiar with your people."

"Oh, I was hired by the king to go search for you guys and for Wintermist," he replied. "Actually, this hasn't come up so far, but the king did say all contact with you was lost, I wonder if we can send him a message somehow without abandoning our quest, it was a long way going from the city...". When Tyri asks him about his "people", he responds: "I come from a small village in the area of the great swamplands down south. We're mostly Tortles in that village. Simple people, fishers, farmers, growing vegetables... Most are really nice," he says, reminiscing, with a longing look. After a short while, he understands that he's a bit impolite by not asking back, so he also asks: "How about you? What's your story?". It does seem, though, that although the question didn't come to him immediately, it's not because he isn't interested in hearing the answer.

Tyrael nodded and grinned back at Gordo.  "Then we're the same, sort of.  I'm originally from a small town...well not sure where it is from here.  It's been a while since I was forced...well...had to leave.  Been making my way swinging sword and shield since. Not much else to say.  Just big, dumb, fighter here."

"I heard about this Wintermist quest and it sounded like a nice change of pace, and the money was good.  So here I am."

Nulgaz added, "Big strong mage here, but otherwise mostly the same. I didn’t fit in well at home and took to liking travelling. This quest seemed like an opportunity to travel and actually accomplish something at the same time."

Nulgaz took out her book and perused the mages as she talked. She was considering a change for tomorrow but she wasn’t sure yet. It really depended on what challenges lay ahead. Would it be environmental or should be ready a more combative arsenal? Either way she wanted to get moving but she didn’t want to interrupt the conversations. She looked furtively at the wagon and decided it was better to know with whom she traveled than make a few feet of travel.

"Well met. Much better knowing who is fighting alongside you." Gordo looks around some more, with a small smile on his face, although it might not be so obvious if you haven't been with Tortles a lot and don't know what it looks like when they smile.

When Dream came into the cart and spoke to Halie, she just shook her head. Her abduction wasn’t what bothered her but she also just didn’t want to speak about Sam. The grief...it hurt too much. But there was some solace in Dream’s presence even if she was still a bit trepidatious, that fear of abandonment quelling any full on attachment. Even as Dream finally admits defeat and goes to get the wagon moving again, she moves to sit beside him, quiet yet calmed by his presence. With a slight shiver, Halie nuzzled the cubling, trying to pull herself from the spiral that she had descended.

Nulgaz turned an ear towards the cart and raised an eyebrow. She turned at looked at the two sitting up front.

She said, "Unless you detect something I think that is our cue to move on." She nodded towards the cart to accent what she was saying. She awaited a response and was ready to follow the others if they agreed.

"Let's go then," Gordo replied, walking along the side of the road and trying to keep about 20' ahead of the cart.

Dreamljocht gave up on helping Halie right away, settling for calming the ranger by his presence, as he notices the peace that seems to come upon her while she sits besides him, when he moves the cart again. He is glad the others walk next to the cart: at last there seems some resemblance to normal travel, as only superficial. When Halie seems to relax, he gives Gordo, Nulgaz and Tyarel a sign that all is as good as possible for the moment.

He keeps his attention on the road and especially at possible places where they could be ambushed, as their unknown attacker is still on the prowl.

Tyrael walked beside the wagon, alongside the lead horse, letting Gordo walk on ahead.  She was watching Gordo as much as the forest to the side of the wagon.  A Tortle was not something that she had come across before, and she had to admit to being curious about the Monk.  He seemed like a decent enough fellow.  Would he be upset to learn that Tyrael had enjoyed a meal of tortoise before?

Probably best not to mention that.

Once everyone is set, Dream gets the horses moving. There is no sign of Sam or the kidnapper. It may be good or bad. Little happens as they travel. Not a single person is seen, but they do see several animals. Fox. Birds. Even a doe. It seems like they keep travelling on and it starts to get dark. They can see maybe a days travel the start of a mountain range. Haile seems focus on the map with her cubling asleep on her lap. Woods, woods and more woods. Darkness begins to come and there is a small area to possibly park the wagon. The weather seemed decent at least. No snow but it is getting cold.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Fri 05 Apr.

"What do you think?" she asked. She gestured ahead of them. "Do we continue on until we reach the mountains or do we make camp? I can put up a weather and temperature dome and an Alarm for us."

Her nose twitched as she sniffed at the air. She listened careful and scanned the area ahead for any signs it was clear of predators and hazards.

 14:07, Today: Nulgaz Fallen Ash rolled 6 using 1d20 ((6))
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 05 Apr.

When they reach the small clearing at the end of the day, Dreamljocht holds the horses and the cart comes to a stop. He hears Nulgaz's porposal about the protecting dome and the alarm and reacts: "A good plan. Darkness is not good for us to travel. We have done beter today than I expected this morning. Let's make camp. We can make a small fire under cover of the cart not to draw more attention for the night. Halie and Tyreal, could you scout out the immediate surroundings against predators of any kind, and perhaps find us some wood for the fire?"

"You heard the man, Hailie."  Tyrael said cheerfully.  "Let's go for a stroll and see what we can find."

She walked to the back of the wagon, climbed up and began to search through the supplies.  "I thought that there was an....oh wait, found it."  Tyrael hopped off the wagon holding a hand axe.  "Gonna get me some wood."

OOC:
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 18 for Survival.