Warrington Woes

[Sepp]

Jas Norn

Jas draws his sword, and heads to the front of the group, near Stu, in order to be between whatever is approaching and the mages, then tilts his head, listening.

[Toliudar]

Stu

Nodding at Atherin's warning, Stu carefully slides his glaive out of a pair of loops on his horse's harness. He peers forward as they proceed.

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(1d20+3)[15] Listen
(1d20)[1] Spot

[Kyroswolf]

As you continue forward, a rumbling rolls over your ears, at first it is barely distinguished from the sounds of the surrounding forest, but soon, it becomes quiet clear. A steady rhythmic thumping, as the sound of many booted feet walking in step. Over, or rather under it, you realize that the rest of the world has suddenly gone very, very quiet.

Nothing is yet in sight as the source of the noise is still behind the bend in the road and obscured by the forest and hillside.

[Toliudar]

Stu

Glancing back at the others, Stu hisses:

Army! Scatter.

Sliding his glaive back into place, Stu instead pulls out his thick bow, and guides his horse towards whatever cover might be nearby.

[Sepp]

Jas Norn

"And if you have any magiks to help hide us, use them!" Jas calls, following Stu.

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Tying up the mule, but staying mounted in case they see our trail.

[Kyroswolf]

The forest to either side of the road are wooded and provide considerable cover.

[Ghal Marak]

Strennr

Strennr dismounted and led his horse into the woods, just far enough to safely hide from anyone on the road. He then crouched down next to his horse and waited.

[Kellus]

Felix

Following Strennr's lead, Felix hops out of the saddle and leads his horse to cover. As he does so, he carefully pulls his bow and quiver out of his pack, scanning the hills for the source of the noise.

[Naleh]

Atherin

"So I don't spend all my time locked up in a tower studying," he grumbles to Iriades. "I do better things with my time than stagnating. Aeria and I understand each other, and that's what matters."

When Stu declares his suspicions, the elf does not hesitate, but guides his horse straight behind cover. The dog follows behind, its ears lifted at the strange sound. Atherin dismounts so as to use his longbow, cursing that he hasn't prepared ghost sound again.

[Freshmeat]

Iriades Mon'd'atall

Stagnating?!

Iriades isn't exactly pleased with the tone of Atherin's reply, but knows that now is not the time to dicuss possibly trivial misunderstandings. He follows the rest behind cover and dismounts.

[Sepp]

Jas Norn

Jas guides his mount near Stu, watching the road."How big a group do you think it is?"He says in a quiet voice, his hand on his bow in its saddle sheath.

[Toliudar]

Stu

Stu has stayed on his horse, hoping to be able to close or run quickly. He leans over to converse quietly with Jas.

I'm no expert. Take more than a dozen to make that kind of noise. Less they're the size of the ettins. I say, more than thirty, we cut and run fast.

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Continuing to listen intently. Are the footsteps getting louder or quieter?

(1d20+3)[19] Listen

[Kyroswolf]

You notice that he sound does not appear to me moving. It continues to emanate from just out of sight where the road turns around the hills.

[Kyroswolf]

Without warning a voice comes from within you group.

"Welll, yall didn't like that idea did you? Who are you? Why are you here? Are you with them?"

None of you can see where the voice is coming from, but you here the brush ruffle and twigs snap, as though something is moving about.

[Toliudar]

Stu

Damnable arcanists, messing with our senses.

Whirling with a scowl, Stu points his glaive in the direction of the sound of movement.

If we were with them, why would we be hiding? This will go easier for you if you show yourself voluntarily.

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Actively listening, to try to refine his understanding of where the invisible (?) person is. Male/female voice?

(1d20+3)[5]

[Sepp]

Jas Norn

"Much easier. Jas adds dryly, trying to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

[Kyroswolf]

Neither of you as able to pinpoint where the voice was coming from, but everyone recognizes it as being obviously male.

[Freshmeat]

Iriades Mon'd'atall

"Why does everyone I meet capable of making himself invisible have the annoying habit to show it off at every occassion?"

Slightly peeved, the elf looks for any tell-tale signs of where their uninvited guest might be. Although invisibility spells were, on the whole, very potent, only the most skilled of mages were able to avoid creating flaws in their illusions.

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Listen - (1d20+8)[22]
Spot - (1d20+10)[14] (to see footprints, snapped branches and the like)

Should Iriades have a good idea about where the other mage is, he'll cast glitterdust. He has neither the time nor patience to play silly invisibility games.

[Naleh]

Atherin

The ranger is nervous. Atherin has always been proud of his eyesight before, even though he's never trained it - 'eyes like a hawk', he claims, and with his familiar it may be true. To have an opponent he can't see defeats the use of archery.

But he does have one option most don't. "Seek," he whispers in Elven. His dog Saetherialis immediately jumps up and starts looking for anything alive.

Meanwhile, the elf continues to look and listen for any sign of the speaker.

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Not including hawk's Alertness (+2 Spot & Listen), because it probably won't be back yet.
Spot - (1d20+11)[28]
Listen - (1d20+6)[16]

Seek: The animal moves into an area and looks around for anything that is obviously alive or animate.

It's up to Kyroswolf whether that would include sniffing out an unseen person.
(Handle Animal mod is +15, so I don't need to make a roll.)

[Ghal Marak]

Strennr

Strennr remained as calm and collected as ever when he spoke to the mysterious invisible being. "Why do you want to know such things? I nor my companions will answer your questions until you reveal yourself." Strennr then crossed his arms and stared off into space around where the voice had emanated before.

[Kyroswolf]

The voice responds to Iriades' goading with an outburst of words in an unknown language. Iriades launches his glitterdust spell completely catching the voice in mid tirade. The glitterdust reveals the outline of a gnome in ragtag clothing, a staff in hand.

Saetherialis reacts to the appearance of the gnome by pouncing upon him, pinning him to ground. As they land, the gnome's invisibility spell fades, as does the sound of the marching feet.

The gnome is dressed in rag tag robes, that appear to have been rather grand at one time. They are torn, faded, and quite dirty. The gnome himself is small, even for his race, and very thin. He obviously hasn't had much to eat for some time.

"Some one get this damn mutt off me!"

[Ghal Marak]

Stennr

Strennr walked over to the downed gnome and looked down on him. "Ah, that takes care of the invisibility." He then looked up at the rest of the group. Who is up for interogation? I haven't the stomach for it." He then looked down on the gnome again. "That is, of course, unless you answer our questions."

Spoiler

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Bluff- (1d20+1)[6]

[Kyroswolf]

The gnomes only reply is a gesture considered vulgar in many cultures, and a few more words you assume to be gnomish. Unnoticed his other hand slipped into a pouch on his belt. He looks at Atherin, "Would you mind telling your mutt to let me up?" Atherin's eyes gloss over as he commands Saetherialis to Heel.

The gnome stands, brushing himself off. "Well since you can see me would you mind answering my questions?"

Atherin shakes his head as though waking up from a long sleep. He looks confused as to why Saetherialis is now beside him.

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Suggestions was cast on Atherin, simply to get him to call back Saetherialis. Sorry you rolled a 1 on the save. But no ill effects as the spell ended as soon as you called Saetherialis to you.

MAP

RoadRoadRoadRoadRoad
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Ath|||||||||||Ira
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[Sepp]

Jas Norn

Jas lets out a breath of relief as the sounds fade away, though it changes to annoyance as he glares at the gnome. "That was some sort of illusionary sound? What were you trying to do with it?"

[Naleh]

Atherin

The elf blinks stupidly for a moment. "Wha... Why is Sae... Huh?"

Composing himself, he glares at the gnome. "You know, we could ask you the same questions and more. Who are you? Why are you here? Are you with them? ... Who is 'them'? ... And if you made the noise, what was it that frightened Aeriaphos?" With this last question he turns to look toward the bend in the road, concerned.

[Toliudar]

Stu

As soon as the gnome appears, Stu slides off of his horse. Sensing Atherin's confusion at his own action - especially since it mirrors his own - Stu steps around to southeast of the gnome, making no effort to conceal his action, but pretending to look out to confirm that there is no army.

Spoiler

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Spellcraft (1d20+3)[14] to identify the gnome's spell. Stu is preparing to lunge forward to grapple the gnome if he pulls any more spellcasting crap.

[Kyroswolf]

Stu is unable to identify the spell but realizes it was some kind of enchantment.

The gnome looks dejectedly at each of you until finally, "Fine I'll go first I am Dandell Gildepot. I was a part of a diplomatic envoy to Wistendale. We were trying to negotiate for direct trading rather than having to go through Warrington. Anyway, we never made it there. Not far up the road we were attacked by some Gnolls. The funny part is they appeared to be lead by an Orc. Well I was able to get away, but the others were lost. I wish I could help them....but from what I saw...well lets just say the Gnolls were well fed that day. I've been living on the land since then, working my way back to Warrington. I would have already been there, but there are patrols everywhere. Just last week I almost got stepped on by an Ettin. Twice." All this is said at a rapid fire pace, as though he has been dying to tell someone.

As he winds down he realizes the question Atherin asked him. "Is this Aeriaphos?" He reaches into a different pouch on his belt and pulls out a unharmed Aeriaphos, who quickly flys to Atherin's shoulder.

[Toliudar]

Stu

The big orc relaxes a bit at this seemingly-reasonable, if rashly spoken, explanation.

We were sent to check out Wistendale. Contact has been broken off.

How many gnolls did you see?

[Kyroswolf]

The gnome wags his finger at Stu, "No, No. You want anymore I want names."

[Sepp]

Jas Norn

Jas continues to watch the gnome, though he has released his bow. I'm Jas. He's Stu."