"Aww, really, you sure boss? I was just about ready to show you my grand charade skills in full course." Cat says somewhat disappointed but snaps her finger in a jovial manner,"But your words are absolute, I'll do my best to follow... Now Amorette was it, the names Catrina of Clan GreySky, great to meet you. And also this is Manfred, my fine steed for this trip." she says, already named the donkey.

In reply to Sora (msg # 115):

Amorette takes in the masked woman's jovial miming, and breaths a sigh of relief at Sora's words. "That's good. This one's got me stumped, although she seems to be in a good mood. Well met... Purr Cloud? Oh, Catrina! I get it" She laughs.

"As far as my magic, I'm not much of a powder keg. I'd say I'm more of a... helper. I can heal a bit, make enemies flee, or spew such a nasty insult that it leaves them reeling until next Tuesday. I can deal a bit of damage, but the damage is... limited."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Sora nods at the halfling, then looks at her. "Don't underestimate your magic Amorette....even the simplest spell can make the difference." She smiled as she rode forward. "I once saw a magic user use a simple illusion spell disguise a bear trap by putting a shrub over it. The orc walked straight into it without realizing. Damn...once i saw a gnome hide in her own illusion of a barrel"

She nodded at the woman. "I have some magic, but though limited in number, mine is more....damaging"

Sora's words about a rear guard linger in Hargrin's mind, and as darkness falls he contributes increasingly less to the conversation in favor of scanning the gathering darkness around the party with his sharp dwarven eyes.

Unfortunately, the chatter is *very* distracting.

20:59, Today: Hargrin Bitterbrew rolled 4 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

Cat, with her orcish blood in her veins, can see shades of grey all around them, a sign that her darkvision is working. She then tries to find any sort of dangerous opponent, she was laser focused, well she was until Manfred tries biting off her mask,"Gah, bad Manfred, the mask is off limits. You can bite at me anywhere but not the mask. I need to keep my identity hidden after all." she says as she readjust her mask, completely forgetting about what she was doing.


10:18, Today: Catrina GreySky rolled 10 using 1d20-2.  Perception

As the conversation begins to ebb, Amorette moves toward the front of the group to scout the path. While she could usually see fairly far, even at night, the rain and mist makes the road ahead murky. Her chest begins to tighten as she realizes dark vision may not be as helpful as she thought, and she just placed herself on the front line. Perhaps I shouldn't have spoken so highly of myself. It's like trying to peer through a tub of potato stew.

21:27, Today: Amorette Springspell rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Sora rode along on silence, hearing all the people chatters frowns as she looks around. She was no expert at tracking, but her elven blood gave her some advantage, if only a small amount.

...still, the talking was distracting.

---

<OOC: Sorarolled 10 using 1d20+2 - Perception check >

Antru rides slightly in front of the group. He listened to the conversations as he kept his eyes scanning the area around and in front of them.


19:41, Today: Antru Mistseeker rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Perception.

Antru peers through the rain and mist. The wind howls. You all hear a whistle, followed by a familiar hiss, as bolts zip through the rain. Three bolts find their marks. Antru feels one pierce his shoulder. Catrina's arm is grazed and Amorette is struck in her thigh. Antru sees four kobolds retreat into the mist. They scatter into the darkness.

ooc: Antru takes 7 damage, Amorette takes 4, Catrina takes 3

From a different direction you hear a kobald shout "Go back!, death awaits you!"

Antru hunts in pain and suppresses a louder cry as the bold his his shoulder. On hearing the Kobold, Antru turns his horse around. [Language unknown: Elsan waio.] The bolt in his shoulder clearly causing him pain. He moves his horse so as to force the others back.

"Tsk!" Cat exclaims as a bolt grazes her arm, it wasn't a big wound but she's still rather fatigued to continue on a fight. However she's really aching for one, though she looks at Sora before she does anything,"Hmm, got any orders boss. Want to go for a retreat or shall we pick the fun option." she says, cracking her knuckles.

Bross, attempting to cover their retreat, prepares a sling (from horseback).

[OOC: It's dark, but he's gonna try to aim in the direction of the kobolds. any mods?]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Damn. This wasn't going well. Hargrin nudged his mule to put himself between Amorette and the direction the arrows had come from, hoping his more solid profile and armor would give her a bit of cover from any more volleys.

Still, it seemed odd that the kobolds were taking the trouble to warn them away instead of just killing them. Perhaps it signaled the enemy party lacked the strength to be certain of taking them. If they could just pin the pests down...

"We saw your strength in the village." Hargrin calls back, "We wished to join you, and serve that strength as well." The lie itched his tongue, but he hoped it would lure them closer to talk.

07:55, Today: Hargrin Bitterbrew rolled 20 using 1d20.  Deception.

Amorette gasps a little and her leg throbs around the bolt wound. Don't touch it don't touch it don't touch it…. You're supposed to leave it in, right? You're supposed to just sit there with a stick in your leg, right?! Or else you bleed out? Me and my damn mouth.

Her panic ebbs as Hargrin moves to her aid. She gives him a small smile and moves back a bit, appreciating the cover. Listening to his plan, she fights to prevent the smile from turning into a smirk. A dwarf with a gift for subterfuge, eh?

She considers giving a hearty shout of "Praise the queen!", but figures she should wait to see if the kobalds are even going to take the bait. In the meantime, she starts brainstorming some spicy insults… Her leg really hurts.

Given how long it had been since the caravan rolled out, Alleycat hadn't expected to find trouble so close to Greenest. But the Kobolds had set an ambush, pretty as you please. ~~Can these little bastards see in the dark? I have no idea. I'll have to ask someone, once things settle down.~~

Mekkar didn't think that the Kobolds would want to get involved in a pitched battle, unless they heavily outnumbered the rescuers. Still, they might hang around for a bit and try a few more shots.

It took only a moment for him to slip out of his saddle and take cover behind a tree that was close to the roadbed. There he readied his crossbow and turned his attention to trying to find a target for his bolt. Given the poor visibility (at least for Human eyes), Alleycat found himself relying more on his hearing than his eyesight . . .

---

OOC:
18:30, Today: Alleycat rolled 10 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 4.  Perception Check: Trying to Locate a Kobold.

Comments: Not very impressive, I fear.

Sora heard the thud's of teh bolts and the warnings from the side, and she knew her worst fear came to pass...all hopes of surrise against them was now gone.

She looked at the others, her gaze finishing on Cat. "Fall back."

Cat looks at Sora with a disappointed expression,"Really, how lame, but alright then. Come Manfred!" she calls her fine steed to make a hasty retreat, though she stops to be side by side with Sora,"Better if I stay close to you, don't want folks to start focusing their attacks on you. Shall we ride then?"

Sora nods as cat pulls to her side. "Trust me....I'd like to do something, but in this darkness if we seperate, we will be slaughtered."

She assisted everyone to get back.

In reply to Hargrin Bitterbrew (msg # 128):

The Kobald who spoke pauses after Hagrin's proposal. Recruits were of great value.

"You wish to serve the Queen of Dragons?"

He asks in common.

You hear footsteps in the mud as he steps toward Hargrin. Those with Darkvision can see him.

You hear a few others adjusting positions further up the road in the direction that the kobalds who shot at you were running when you lost sight of them.

~~Will wonders never cease?~~ Mekkar thought to himself.

~~A Dwarf sweet-talking a Kobold . . . this could be interesting.~~

Alleycat held his position behind a tree alongside the muddied roadway, his crossbow at the ready, as he waited for the scene to play out . . .
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Mon 14 Feb 2022.

Bross, seeing that (despite all odds to the contrary) the deception worked, did his best to not break the spell. As it were.

He lowers the sling he had prepared, stores the bullet while and (facing generally toward the voice that said 'you wish to serve the Queen of Dragons?') says "I didn't see it was you, there."

Which he didn't- Blind as a bat in this gloom- but he hoped "not exactly lying" by stating true things would get him through.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Mon 14 Feb 2022.

Sora listened to Hargrin and smiled at his deception. He is a clever one. She thought to herself.

Sora nodded at the dwarf. "Such power is to be respected. Your might was clearly overwhelming, but the sheer tactics of it was genius. Your army was unapposed." She looked at the group, hoping they fell in line. "Come forward so we can see who we talk to our new allies." she looked at Cat, nodding her to her side.

---

<OOC: Sora rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  deception check.>

Cat nods in response, she's ready at a moment's notice to strike but for now she waits in silence. Gripping the handle of her steed just in case.

The kobald steps into the view of Antru and Hargrin.

"I am here. If you would serve the Queen, line up in single file behind the dwarf and follow me."

The storm rages in the darkness.

"May we tend our wounded first? We would prefer to arrive showing only strength, as befits the Queen." Hargin's eyes darted the other members of the party to check their reactions to the kobold's announcement. In truth, the dwarf wasn't sure how far to take this- just that getting folks fixed up would be a good start. Did they take the leader at some point and worry about the other later? Were they minded to try full-on infiltration of the enemy?