Water Under the Bridge [Group 2 IC]

[Myshlaevsky]

It's a bright, clear morning in the wilds between Glanfeur and Thaurissan and a cold breeze whistles through the pine needles and across your face. Above the sky is azure blue, but dark clouds hang ominously around the horizon, weaving around each other in great concentric circles. The grass is wet, and the air is heavy with the promise of rain.

You stand on a broad and well-worn cobblestone road. Tufts of dark grass sprout from the gaps in the stone, and slick mud gathers at the roadside. Beyond, the path continues into the silvery pine trees of Templeton Woods: a place commonly visited by the peat-gatherers and coal-burners of Harbrig's Point. A dull grey fog slices through the forest in the distance, obscuring your view. Tendrils of mist, idly twisting from bark to bark, encroach upon your position. Where the sunlight cuts them you can see the glinting of hundreds of suspended water motes, each floating trapped within the confines of the mist. Apart from the chattering of birdsong you can see no evidence of another creature.

A decaying wooden post points further into the trees, 'HARBRIG'S POINT' marked on it with roughly cut and inked letters in Common. Beside, a crude engraving of a crow flies above the number 3. Three miles to go until you reach your destination.

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

Whisles a scary sounding drow song now she no longer has to steal her food, she got it right in her backpack! and no longer being watched by guards, for the first time she enjoys nature. When approching the wooded post point she looks She doest like ravens, and flings her dagger at the wooded bord. Takes some bread out and sits down on the ground for taking a short rest.

[NecroRebel]

A human man approaches out of the fog surrounding the road and sign, using the finely-engraved staff he carries as a walking-stick. His jerkin, made of tough, hardened leather, glistens with a thin layer of frost and his breath fogs as he exhales. Watching the whistling drow warily for a moment, he calls out with a slight foreign accent "Hail! I am on my way to Harbrig's Point. Have you any news of the town?"

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

The small, young looking girl covered in black robes puts a lock of her hair back under her cap timidly she turns her head if she hears the voice of the freezin cold looking human. waiting for of he will do. she still looks like a young darkskinned humangirl. maybe he will treat her like one and take her back to town?
She stops whistling. Only shaking her head for saying 'No' , and only whispers the word so she doesn't have to speak.

[Ron2112]

Oredon

The Dragonborn had been following on the path not far behind the human for a short time. Hearing the man's conversation with the Drow, Oredon says, "I am heading for Harbrig's Point as well. Some company might make the trip shorter and take my mind off this cold."

[NecroRebel]

The human man nods his assent. "Company would be welcome. I am known as Celoe Rynteu." Celoe turns to the other person present, warning "It is often not safe in the mists; some say they are Vecna's breath, sent to hide his minions. You should hurry to your home, or wherever you are going."

[Ezeze]

Sariel

The rhythmic clink-clink-click of heavy boots on cobble stone is heard as Sariel comes into view through the fog. Despite herself, she continues to march as if she was in formation, counting off steps in her head. When she catches sight of the three others loitering around the sign she comes to a halt with both feet planted firmly on the ground, each evenly beneath her shoulders, like a solider waiting for inspection. She looks from one face to the other, as it's rather odd to see three people, so different from one another, standing still on a road. "Whats happened?"

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

w-wel, it s-s-seems like we a- she swallows Al want t-to go to harb-br-ick point

She looks a bit confused and intimidated by the woman who stands so firmly like a soldier inspecting her recruits. A sertain rebelliones grows within her.
s-so what next?

[Ron2112]

Oredon

"Very well then," the Dragonborn says. "Insofar as there is safety in numbers, I suggest we travel together, at least as far as Harbrig's Point."

[Ezeze]

Sariel

Sariel looks over the others with a critical eye. The corners of her lips turn up slightly in a muted smile. "As you say. Shall we?" she gestures to the road ahead and once again the ring of boots on cobble stone can be heard in steady, measured step. "I am called Sariel." She looks back towards her new companions, waiting for them to give their names as well.

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

She walks to the waypoint puls her dagger out and puts it back in her girdel. looking a bit suspicious at Sariel she only sais: Lywen

then turns her head away from her and walks behind the others looking around and especialy at what the other cary with them. In controrary of Sariel she walks very silently you wouldn't see her as fast as saries who directly catches ones attention.

Spoiler

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Perception - (1d20+3)[20] at everything around her
Perception - (1d20+3)[4] at her compagnions
Stealth - (1d20+13)[23] to

[NecroRebel]

"As I had mentioned before you appeared, Mistress Sariel, I am Celoe Rynteu." Touching the head of his staff to his forehead for a moment causes it to flare to light, illuminating the path ahead of the group and helping clear the fog.

[Myshlaevsky]

The mist glows in a pale reflection of the light from Celoe's staff, eerily lighting the faces of those present. Sariel sticks to the creeping edges of the fog, only half-visible even to the most discerning eye. As you all proceed towards Harbrig's Point the fog seems to grow thicker and heavier, billowing up through the pine treetops like a vast and insubstantial tower. The smell of damp woodland pervades the air.

For half an hour or more the only sounds you hear are the mixed twittering of birdsong and the clatter of your own footsteps (minus, of course, the silent footpadding of Lywen). Gradually, the quiet gurgling of some nearby stream becomes noticeable amidst the relative silence. It comes from the right of the stone road, and increases in volume and vigour as your proceed. Eventually the other noises fade into the backdrop before the gushing flow of nearby water.

Lywen

Spoiler

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You hear something else below the sound of the running brook. It is a dull thumping noise, like a muffled impact.

[Ron2112]

Oredon

"And I am Oredon," the paladin replies to the group. He pauses suddenly, and cranes his head as though looking for something.

Spoiler

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Making a perception check to see if Ordeon can see anything through the fog.

Perception - (1d20+4)[13]

[Myshlaevsky]

Oredon

Spoiler

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The fog cuts visibility too close for you to make out anything distinct

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

Lywen holds still, listning very carfully. She pats Celoe on his shoulder and nods in the direction of the noise. L-l-listen she sais. The she subtilely stands behind the group and looks deep into the fog. Grabbing a dagger from her belt. she starts humming.

[Cilvyn]

Spoiler

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Perception - (1d20+3)[21]
and she has a dagger in her hand, standing on the otherside of the group where the noise comes from.

[NecroRebel]

Celoe stops walking and looks in the direction Lywen indicates; however, somehow, the sound of the groups' footsteps continue to slowly advance down the road as the light from the mage's staff floats off on its own. A short distance ahead of the group, the light and sound halts and Celoe is heard to speak from it. "What's the matter?"

Spoiler

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Perception - (1d20+3)[18]

Also, Ghost Sound to make the sound of us walking continue forwards and for the ventriloquism, Mage Hand to create a pseudo-object to cast Light on, cast Light on the Mage Hand (extinguishing the one on the staff), and finally send the Mage Hand on forwards at staff level above the Ghost Sound.

Hey look, a distraction!

[Ezeze]

Sariel comes to a halt as well and peers in the direction Lywen is facing. "What did you hear?"

Spoiler

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(1d20+7)[21]

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

J-just Lis-list-en She tries to reprodice the sound Drffff

[Myshlaevsky]

Listening more intently, you hear something else below the sound of the running brook. It is a dull, repetitive thumping noise, like a muffled impact.

Celoe's magical simulacra illuminates the cloying mist before you, but you notice no other effect.

[NecroRebel]

Celoe sighs, then recalls the light back to his staff. "Are you always this jumpy? It's probably just some farmer's bucket stuck on some plants down in the creek." To prove his point, the human walks off the path towards the sound, poking at the earth before him to ensure that it is solid until he comes to the water's edge, peering off into the fog to find the source of the sound.

[Ron2112]

Oredon

"You are probably right, human. No reason to expect the worst." Nonetheless, he follows a few feet behind Celoe, hand on the pommel of his sword.

[Myshlaevsky]

Celoe's staff sinks into the soft, sticky earth, but it is solid enough to walk on. In only a few seconds you come to the edge of a fast-flowing brook. Reeds and moss have blossomed upon the oozingly muddy bank of the creek. The stream is shallow but broad, measuring roughly the height of a man across but only two or three feet deep. The stream disappears into the fog at either end and presumably feeds into Lake Fallon further down.

A makeshift wooden crossing has been laid across the creek. It is from here that the thumping noise originates. The legs of a small humanoid protrude from underneath the planks of the small bridge, thumping rhythmically into the side of the wooden crossing with the motion of the flowing water. One foot is booted, the other is shrivelled, pale and bloodless.

[Ezeze]

Sariel stays on the path with Lywen, standing about a stride off and peering after the others. She waits enough time for the pair to reach the river then calls out "What is it then?"

[Ron2112]

Oredon

"Some poor unfortunate -- but hardly just some farmer's bucket," Oredon says as he moves down towards the (presumably) dead humanoid for a closer look at what might have happened.

Spoiler

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Making another perception check....

Perception - (1d20+4)[19]

[NecroRebel]

"Aye, just some corpse stuck under a bridge here. I'm going to try to get it out of the water; it will foul the stream if we leave it, and whoever it is should probably be given a proper sending-off." Celoe walks out onto the planks in the creek, testing them with his staff before stepping to ensure that they are stable, before coming to the point directly above the body. Using his staff to stabilize the corpse, he conjures a magical force to tug at the exposed legs, trying to bring it out from under the bridge and direct it to the near shore.

[Ezeze]

"Poor soul." Sariel joins Celoe on the bridge. "I wonder if he had any family? We might be better leaving him on the shore for a time, until we can ask about that and about his faith in town."

[Cilvyn]

Lywen

She also follows the others towards the creek. She sees the body and holds her hand for her mouth. I ha-ha-ha-ha She swallow and can't get out of her words. Then she points at herself, her eyes and holds her hand at her middle as if she indicates a small person.
Then she points to the body, points at the solid ground and makes a gesture that looks like fire. She keeps her mouth closed, only murmling some words but you can't realy hear what what it is.

She looks at the others if they noticed what she meant.

[Ezeze]

Sariel looks at Lywen sternly. When they have gotten the body on shore she addresses the others "We should continue on. It might not ingrate us to the locals if we burned a body that should have been buried, or bury a body that should have been burned. We can return. He will not, as it were, be going anywhere." She smiles sadly at her own bad joke.