Black Sickle IC

[Owrtho]

The day to leave for Blackwell Keep has finally come. Gathering at Allustan's home you see your fellow escorts for the first time. Hearing some noise around the back you find Allustan is busy trying to prepare a cart for the journey, the contents not even half way loaded. Hearing your approach he turns to great you.
"Ah, I see you all made it on time. Unfortunately packing has taken me slightly longer than I anticipated. I expect I won't be ready till late tonight, at which point it will be better to leave in the morning. So, if you'd care to meet back here again in the morning, we can leave then. In the mean time feel free to enjoy one last day here in Diamond Lake. Though a little help loading wouldn't be turned away either." Chuckling to himself, the wizard turns back to his work loading the cart, leaving you to your methods.

Diamond Lake Map

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Allustan

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Black Sickle OOC

[mootoall]

"I shall help prepare for the journey," says the Daeva, adjusting his great sword on his shining shoulder, and handling some of the packages going on the cart. "Allustan, though you know I've given my word to take you to Blackwell Keep, I must ask: what is it that draws you to the place? I ask merely to sate my own curiosity, for though I must guide you no matter what, I would like to know for what purpose my services are being used."

[mrcarter11]

Keylin, takes a quick moment to see the other escorts, and try to remember what they look like. "Well I guess we shall all introduce ourselves, name's Keylin. Now then, if you'd like I can offer some assistance to you with loading." Following that, he'll attempt to assist the wizard.

[Owrtho]

"Ah, my thanks," Allustan replies as Loria and Keylin begin helping him pack the cart. "Well you see, a friend of mine stationed at the keep recently sent me some messages mentioning reports of strange green worms in the Cairn Hills. I'd agreed visit him and see what I could find out about this." Turning for a moment to move another piece of supplies to the cart, he pauses thoughtfully before continuing, "Come to think of it, another group I worked with recently mentioned similar sounding worms when I last spoke with them. I'm not sure where hey could be found, though they should be somewhere in town. Perhaps you could ask them about it, as the information seems to have slipped my mind. There are three of them, a brunet human fighter named Auric, a female elf named Tirra, and a fellow human wizard named Khellek."

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine simply walks forward and starts helping his employer load the cart, the sooner it was loaded the sooner he could leave and the less his shadowmental beast would stop fidgeting so much, not tapping its power or changing form often lead to it getting restless, and it liked to 'wander,' a trait he would prefer to deal without. He was lucky for those goblins barely a day ago, he had been able to take out a sorcerer and get a bit of magic out of it, and at least sate his beast for a time.

All throughout the loading, Constantine remains silent unless spoken too. He watches the other 'escorts,' judging what they may be capable of. The celestial was obviously a warrior, judging by the sword. The other he couldn't tell very well, the cloak covered most of his features, he guessed he was a rogue or spellcaster of some kind. The two looked capable, if nothing else.

At Keylin introducing himself, "Constantine Vlastoc, hunter and bowyer. Just call me Constantine."

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I'll actually role-play out my beast within, using this color for it's speech, it'll be italicized unless it's active at the moment.

[mootoall]

"We'll talk to the others if it is necessary, and I'm sure they will aid us if we ask." He turns as he is asked his name, and replies "I am Loria Novum, servant of the Light of Pelor, and so long as we work together, yours."

[EdroGrimshell]

"Go talk to them, I've got the loading covered," he says to the celestial, he did not feel comfortable around holy figures because of his beast within, an ice demoness whose enmity towards celestials led to his current discomfort.

[Owrtho]

With your help, Allustan manages to ready the cart by just before noon rather than sundown and you are ready to leave. After procuring horses for the journey, you make your way south toward Blackwell Keep. The trip passes Uneventfully, but the late start forces you to make camp for the night before your intended rest stop.
Pulling over to a clearing off the side of the road, you begin to set up camp.

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine pulls a bundle from his pack and sets it up, revealing it to be a single person tent. He then digs out a fire pit, gathering sticks and wood before lighting it with his flint and steel rings. After a moment he reaches into his pack again, pulling out an ebony wood box and pulling out flasks of water, bread, cured meats, and other rations, "Here," he says, handing over some of the rations to each member of the party that wants it, "this thing has enough for fifteen people, take what you'd like." After he finishes eating, he stands and begins looking around.

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Posting Checks OOC

"Some broken branches over here, no prints," Consantine says, "Probably nothing, but be on guard."

[mootoall]

Loria perks up. "Did you hear that?" he says, turning his radiant head towards the direction of the sound. He puts his hand on the haft of his wide blade, and draws it slowly from the scabbard.

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine looks over, "I didn't hear anything. Maybe it would be better if we kept moving, or at least post a watch."

[mootoall]

"Aye. I'll take watch, don't worry. I shall keep an eye out for any suspicious activity."

[Owrtho]

"Hmm, well that seems to work well," notes Allustan. That having been decided, everyone save Loria settles down to sleep for the night.

[mootoall]

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As per the PM ...

Loria spends his night sharpening his Jovar, watching the outskirts of their camp. Nothing eventful happening, he wakes everyone as the sun rises, just over eight hours after they slept, ready to continue their journey. He lets Allustan study his spellbook for an hour, then says "Alright, time is of the essence. Let us continue, so that we may reach our destination."

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine wakes quickly and bundles up his tent and enchanted bedroll, easily slipping them into his pack, enchanted to hold more than its outward appearance would suggest. He straps his shortsword to his belt and pulls a longbow from his quiver, slinging it across his back.

A question has brewed up in his head as he packed, although he waits until they're on their way before asking, "Allustan, do you have anything useful to help us in protecting yourself should we run into any... difficulties? Potions or the like?"

[Owrtho]

"Well" Allustan pauses in thought, "I did manage to procure a few potions. Let me think. There should be 8 healing potions, 5 of which are of cure light wounds, 3 of which are of cure moderate wounds, as well as two potions of foxes cunning, a potion of barkskin, and a potion of bull's strength. Aside from that I have a few spells prepared myself." While mentioning the potions, Allustan gestures to a box on the right side of the cart.

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine nods, "Good to know, we may need those potions if we run into anything. Although our angelic friend here may be able to cover the healing."

[mrcarter11]

At the mention of potions to assist them in their journey, Keylin's head perks up, diligently listening to each named. Finding none to be especially useful, he simply continues waiting of the others to be ready.

[mootoall]

Loria smiles wanly as he glides over the rough path, and says "Aye, don't worry, I will heal those who need it by the grace of Pelor. Allustan, have you any idea of how long it will take to reach the Keep?"

[Owrtho]

"Well, if all goes well, we should reach the keep in about a day and a half," replies Allustan to the question. Having answered the question, travel resumed, mainly uneventful, the occasional bird chirping, or the buzz of insects able to be heard from the trees on either side.

[EdroGrimshell]

Pupils narrowing to slits, Constantine walks closer to the mage, "we have bandits," he whispers as to not alert the bandits, "at least five. About twenty feet ahead." I hope i don't have to reveal my true form, that celestial would not take well to the transformation.

[mrcarter11]

"We do? Any idea on how strong they are? If they are rather weak, we may be able to scatter them quickly."

[Owrtho]

"Yes, I see four of them ahead. Alert the others, and be ready, but try to avoid alerting them to our noticing them," is Allustan's whispered reply.

[EdroGrimshell]

"I can hit them from here, just need an excuse to leave the main road," Constantine says quietly, "Or a reason to stop for a time."

[mootoall]

"Aye, I can detect evil before us." Loria dismounts, and removes his Jovar from his back, its crosshilts framing his head as it comes over his shoulders. "I shall continue down the road. If they wish to ambush us, I say let them. But there's no reasn we can't have a surprise for them as well." He continues, swords drawn, the tip dragging across the ground, ready to strike those who would harm him and his charge.

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Focus Detect Evil.

[EdroGrimshell]

This is why i don't like working with outsiders! The damn celestial just gave away that we know the bandits are there, Constantine thinks, keeping his face bland, although his pupils are still slits rather than normal, "Allustan, doyou have any illusions that can cover us? I'd prefer to avoid a fight where we have the disadvantage."

[mrcarter11]

"I have the odd feeling, that he will be the death of us. In any case, I think we still have the advantage here if a fight is impossible to avoid"

[mootoall]

Loria smiles wanly at the others. "They do not have any advantage over us so long as Pelor supports us." With this, Loria walks to Keylin and touches him on the shoulder, imbuing him with an Eagle's Splendor. [color="indigo"]"While trickery has its place, we need not fear some petty theives' ambush. We will shine stronger and brighter than they."[/spoiler] He then touches himself, and feels divine magic bolstering his muscles, a bull's strength coursing through him.

[EdroGrimshell]

Constantine rolls his eyes before dismounting as well, his right hand coated in a thin layer of violet frost, "Let's just take them out before they get the chance to attack us," he says quietly, then aims a single phrase at Loria, "No mercy," he says with a serious look on his face, "We either avoid the fight altogether, or kill them, that's it."

[mootoall]

Loria nods. "They lie in wait for us. I don't plan to allow them the chance to harm us. I can sense their bad intentions, and those who would harm others have no place in this world." Loria then looks ahead and focuses with his mind, trying to discern the location of his potential attackers.

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Focusing Detect Evil, to try and find their exact location. Then, CHARGE! Init, actually: (1d20+2)[18]