Act 1, Scene 2: “The Edge and Back” (Group B: Main Game thre

[TristenC]

Group B: “The Outliers”
[Because everyone except Van lives on the fringes of polite society in some way]
PCs: Boyd, Garroth, Linar, Vanidur
NPCs: Eariel, Hew, Tag, Mike (human male), Moira (human Female), Jensen (Human male)


Game Day 2
//////

Garroth sets out from the glade, leading the pack of humans and his newfound allies through the wood. As they get some small distance from the glade, an almost-forgotten sense of contentment wanes. The residual comfort of their time there still lingers, but it is akin to the fading warmth of having basked in sunlight before returning to the shade. An almost sad feeling falls over the group, as they realize they may never find the beautific place again without aid.

The Minotaur leads the group Eastward along a winding game trail. After only a few miles they break through thickly lying trees to a little-used road. The wide dirt lane had once been used frequently… so the surface dwellers of the group had heard. It had never been so in their lifetimes, or at least as far back as Van could recall... perhaps it had been so when he was young.

It was broad enough for two wagons to pass… at least it would have been had nature not been re-taking the edges one branch at a time… Now the canopy high overhead fully covered the one-time thoroughfare. Far to the south the road wound, dozens of miles, where lay their destination… Bordertown. Northward the path continued to a place all too familiar to the group, The Bridge. Linar gages the lighting in the roadway. There are small patches where the sunlight struggles to peek through; but for the most part the canopy of limbs offers complete shade.

The humans breathe a quiet, collective sigh of relief at finding the familiar path. Eariel nods in thanks to the others. Now we have a straight shot home. All we have to do is make it back in one piece. she says quietly where the civilians won’t hear.


===
At the moment, the slowest members of the group are Boyd and Salem (Salem is at 5 mv). Unencumbering the boar will help, but Boyd’s base movement is 6. If the boar’s gear is carried by others (and Boyd foregoing his shield for weight), The dwarf could ride and achieve a Mv of 10. Otherwise the journey will take much longer.

Linar shouldn’t have any trouble avoiding sunlight, even walking right down the middle of this road.

[Chris1234]

Linar says, "Not as bright as I was anticipating; I can cope with this," comments Linar. "Talking of coping, Boyd, it looks like your pig is struggling a bit. Is there any rubbish he's carrying that can be thrown away? Or is there something I can help carry for you? Otherwise the others will have arrived at their destination, waited for us and departed before we even arrive at ours, never mind us reaching them."

[Sol Mazer]

Van will not offer to carry anything... He's not the sort to weigh himself down. He will take out the rod and try to figure its function, or look to see how many pieces connect to it.

What is this rod made of? Any markings?

[ausie]

"I'll carry the pig if it's too slow." Garroth says... then several seconds later chuckles.. (what passes for
Minotaur humour).

"Put all you excess equipment into a large sack, and I'll carry it over my shoulder.. I have a spare large sack if needed."

"Linar... can you go first over the bridge- make sure it's still stable. Get Boyd to go second and I'll go next and cover you with my bow.."
Now..

[TristenC]

[The bridge is north, their destination of Bordertown is south.]

[Chris1234]

Linar scouts ahead in the direction of the town.

[TristenC]

[The road is hard-packed dirt with occasionally some remnants of stone here or there. There are no immediately evident markings; though if there had been they would likely be overgrown by the side of the road by now.]

Vanidur inspects the rod again. The piece is smooth and plain, apparently made of some kind of steel. It fits easily into the hand like the handle of a hammer. He can tell that it is missing at least two other pieces, perhaps more. One end of the shaft bears a groove around the circumference, as if something were designed to be tied or closed about it. The other end has two small holes, the sort a rivet or pin would go in to hold on an attachment. In it's current state, it is impossible to tell if the device is a weapon, wand or some other thing.

Linar scouts ahead southward as the group trails behind. As they travel, Garroth becomes acutely aware of being followed, and the scent of elves reaches his snout...

[Chris1234]

Linar continues scouting ahead, gently arcing to the left and then the right but always returning to the trail.

[ausie]

Garroth halts and speaks in Elven.. "I am Garroth, not unknown of in these parts, and a friend of Signa. We escort these freed prisoners back to Bordertown. Join us in the march if you wish, we are all fireindly towards the allies of the Forrest."

[Sol Mazer]

"By the gods that snout is useful! If I could bottle it, we'd be rich!"

Van will assume the Wizard Stance: a quick turning to the direction Gar is addressing, staff planted at an angle, left hand out low with an imaginary softball in it. Classic.

[TristenC]

When the Minotaur speaks, the humans look around nervously. Vanidur snaps into a defensive stance. Eariel moves to Garroth and says, Whenever we travel the road, the Wild elves shadow us... sometimes they let us see them, but so long as we keep to the path they don't harrass us. I...

She cuts off speaking as a figure emerges from the forest along one side of the road, not 30 yards ahead of Linar. The figure's body is tan, heavily muscled, and scattered with dark tattoos. The wild-elf stares at the Drow with a barely checked, almost animalistic ferocity. He is not obviously armed, but the look in those eyes is decidedly predatory; though he makes no further move for now.

Behind the group a voice calls out in Elven, though the dialect is obviously different from that used by anyone in the party. Why does the Dark One walk our home.

Turning, the group cannot yet see the source of the voice until it speaks again. We do not know you, horned one. Finally she is spotted in a tree some distance from the road. Half-blood, we have seen you leave the human camp. Do they speak truth?

Eariel's face tightens at the wild-elf's comment, but speaks. They freed us from goblins, near the pit.

==
Garroth is more well-known near Lesoger, but this far west and moving south he has not necessarily been heard of.

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[Chris1234]

Linar remains motionless and will only speak when spoken to.

[Stik]

[OOC]Seems I always pick the wrong times not to log in. Been busy with work and family stuff and another item of business which I will make public soon... [/OOC]
[Time Warp] Boyd will willing pass off some of his gear to anyone willing to carry it.
"Seems I have been more successful at accumulating merchandise than I expected," he chuckles. "Either that, or I have been eating too well. Poor Salem. I have grown too heavy for you.
"But the thing about boars is they grow. I expect before long Salem here will be as big as Garroth." [/Time Warp]

=======================

Boyd looks down at Salem and says: "Some help you are. Letting us get snuck up on by this lot. What happened to your superior sense of smell."
He sits quiet, listening to the conversation, and keeps his lance at ready. If these elves have made themselves known in such a fashion, they are either alone and bluffing, or they have snipers concealed in the woods. And 'alone and bluffing' would be more believable if they weren't so heavily outnumbered.

[ausie]

Garroth kneels to one knee, places a fist over his heart and presents a formal address... in flawless, unaccented elven.

"My name is Garroth Mac Arional Kazzak Windsong, of the house Windsong, son of Lissana Adriel Windsong, protector of the Forrest of Lesoger and student of the Grey Tower, may the light and strength of Corellion protect us all."

He stands solemnly and gestures to his left. "This is Vanidur, a family friend and companion in my quest to rid the Fenris forest of the spreading evil."

He gestures to his right. "This is Linar, a devotee of Corellion. Hey maybe Dark of skin, but his heart walks in the light. He is a true ally and friend, and I would place my own life in peril to save his.l"

He indicates the Dwarf... "This is Boyd, his bravery is beyond question.. He carries the skull of the warg that almost killed me. I owe him my gratitude for that, and he too stands against the evil that threatens us all."

Garroth indicates the people they are escorting.. "These good people, we escort back to Bordertown. They were taken prisoner by a large band of goblins. We entered the goblin outpost and defeated the goblins, and freed these that they had taken as slaves. There is talk of Orcs gathering near Bordertown. I hope to meet them, and repay their kind for the death of my Mother. This morning we left the sanctity of Signa's glade and travel these paths with her blessing."

Garroth stands tall and proud facing the speaker in the tree..

[Chris1234]

Knowing from reputation at least how deadly wild elves on their home patch can be Linar remains unmoving until the wild elf spokeman pronounces some kind of acceptance.