The Secret Alliance

[The Bushranger]

Well, Shrike says around a mouthful of egg, I think 'go in, start hacking away, and don't stop until they're all dead' is one good way to go about it.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Daen pauses with a piece of bread in his hand and throws a look at Shrike to see if she is joking or not. He then shrugs, however, and continues to eat.

"A sound strategy."

[BlueWizard]

The two servant girls cook to order, and it is a fabulous breakfast. These girls have excellent skill. And yes, Ella has coffee. Probably the best coffee or tea selections Liam's ever seen.

When Ella hears about what is the best plan she speaks, "I figure Cathar will lead you up to the hills. There's a bunch of caves there. I bet the goblins have tunneled out at least one of the blocks by now. It has been a while since the old king filled the hole with cement."

Ella will be eager to set you on your way. Cathar will be quite slow in getting ready, and seems in no hurry to go. Either way, it won't be long until Ella is ushering you off in the direction of the caves.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike returns Daen's querlous look with one that says she's completely serious.

She thanks the girls and Ella for the breakfast, and prepars her gear for the day's work. Raising an eyebrow at Cathar's slowness - it's been niggling at the back of her mind that he's been seeming a little too eager, perhaps, to have at the gobbos...

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Sabriel was lost in her own thoughts. She ate her breakfast rather slow, and couldnt help but watch Liam come back together with Ella. A sly smile spreds across her lips, but is quickly covered by sadness. She heaves a heavy sigh and finishes her breakfast.

The other thing that bothered her was that Ella and Cathar weren't telling them everything. Not much she could do about that though.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug walks over to Sabriel after he's done eating. Hearing her sigh and seeing the look on her face he frowns. He leans down and whispers to her."What wrong pretty elf lady?"

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Just thinking about the past Bruug. Just thinking about what I left behind, and what could have been.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

The redhead looks up from adjusting her scabbard, trying to get it comfortable, and tries to give the elf what she hopes is a reassuring, cheering smile.
A friend of mine said once that while we should never let go of the past we shouldn't necessarily let it control our future.
She looks down, the smile fading.
Lady knows I've been guilty of that lots of times...

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

A smile spreads across her face at Shrike's words, and she even manages a small chuckle.

I haven't let go of the past, but sometimes, it won't let go of me. Don't you find it odd that a ogre and an elf are traveling together? I know I would. It seems to me that fate has other plans for me than to be...

She stops abruptly, realizing she almost said her secret, and to a complete stranger at that.

Anyway, an elf and ogre don't have much of a life beyond those of their homeland.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug shrugs as he listens to Sabriel. "You help Bruug, so Bruug help you. Pretty elf lady says we kill gobbos, we kill gobbos. We go kill gobbos now?" He looks around at the others to see if they're ready.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

We go kill goblins now Bruug. She stands up and stretches a little bit.

Turning to Cathar, she asks him Are you ready?

[BlueWizard]

Cathar groans, but will lead on into the hills. It will be a couple hours of walking through the woods. Cathar suggests an order, with him close to the middle. He'll point the way, he says.

It is a long walk, but the air is nice, and the temperature fair.

{OOC- A general marching order single-file and two-by-two would be suggested for future DM references on long journeys. OOC thread would be good place for that discussion.}

[The Bushranger]

<earlier>
Shrike's smile returns a little at having cheered the elf slightly.
Yeah, although I guess I've gotten used to odd sights like that. I spent several years wandering in the company of a drow, so I don't find it quite as odd as most others would, I suppose.
She would like to learn more, but won't press. She of all people knows the importance of privacy...

<now>
As the party moves off, she moves torwards the front of the group, the better to scout from.

Spoiler

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Move Silently: (1d20+4)[5]
Spot: (1d20+5)[7]
Listen: (1d20+5)[24]

[BlueWizard]

The morning walk is nice in the forested mountains, but the pockmarked rock face of this portion you were led to looks sickly. Many years of goblin wars and explosions, have left this land an eyesore. Cement was hardened and covering everywhere. There were boulders of cement, and even piles of cement rock littering the hills here. No tree life came near this ugly slope.

There were several potential caves, and Cathar looks at them all, "Well, now we just need to figure out which one..." He looks at them, as if trying to figure out where to go. "Not much of a tracker myself..." he mutters.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

Thankfully for us, we don't have to rely on you for our tracking.
Shaking her head, Shrike moves a little away from the group and looks over the caves, looking for any signs of recent life.

Spoiler

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Survival: (1d20+5)[21]
Search: (1d20+7)[19]
Spot: (1d20+5)[13]
Listen: (1d20+5)[17]

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

If she fails, I'll have Sam pick up the heaviest scent from the caves.

[Cespenar]

Daen

While Shrike is examining the caves, Daen turns back and checks out the road that they came from, if just for the sake of doing something.

Spoiler

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Spot - (1d20-1)[12]
Listen - (1d20-1)[18]

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug stands there, idly scratching himself as he looks around, waiting for others to figure out where to go.

Spoiler

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Spot (1d20+7)[26]
Listen (1d20+7)[23]

[Wiz]

Liam

Liam sits down to await the judgement of others more experienced in this area.

[BlueWizard]

Bruug notices splintered wood in front of one cave, and as Sam the wolf sniffs out the correct one, he will crinkle his nose in the direction that Bruug is looking. Sabriel's wolf can communicate that it smells of goblin dung in that direction. Sam thinks going there will only make his sinuses sore and irritated.

Sabriel does have a good idea of where one to start, especially with Bruug's eagle-eyes.

Cathar groans, "Fine then... let's go. I just want a fair cut of what ever we find..." He seems in a very dower mood.

[Ipphli]

Bruug

Bruug heads towards the cave, pulling his axe as he does so.

[The Bushranger]

Shrike

Pull your fair share of weight, and get your fair share of the loot.
The redhead slips a dagger out of her belt and holds it ready as she follows Bruug in.

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Good job Sam, she whispers quietly to the she-wolf.

She quickly follows the others in.

[Wiz]

Liam

Liam stands and walks forward, ready to take his place.

[Cespenar]

Daen

Unsheathing his sword calmly, Daen again takes the rear.

He smiles briefly, though, at the notion of the "fair cut".

[BlueWizard]

The cave that Sam sneezes at will stink horribly as you get near it. You will see why the wolf and his sensitive nose wanted no where near it.

This must be the cave. Just inside the entire ground looks to be a feces dumping ground for goblin dung. All of you just about puke.
{DC Fort 14 to not puke; if puke DC Fort 10 or -1 from nausea.}

Cathar covers his mouth, not puking, but turning a little green, "Ah Sh@#! I hate goblin crap!"

There is no way to enter this cave without stepping through several inches of feces... it looks as if many goblins have tracked their feet through it, judging by the sunken footprints in the stinky stankness.

[The Bushranger]

Fort save 'A': (1d20+1)[11]
Fort save 'B': (1d20+1)[14]

Shrike

That just...eww....like....
As the stench sinks into her nose, she finally spins away and has breakfast attempt a return-to-sender.
After a moment, though, she straightens up, wipes the back of her hand across her face, checks her boots, and, holding her nose, wades in...

[The Bushranger]

((Grr, forgot you can't edit rolls into a post...)

Spot: (1d20+5)[6]
Listen: (1d20+5)[13]

[Deathslayer7]

Sabriel

Spoiler

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fort 1: (1d20+4)[12]
fort 2: (1d20+4)[11]

[Deathslayer7]

ach my bad.

Sabriel

Spoiler

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saves for wolf.
(1d20+3)[11]
(1d20+3)[7]

Sabriel herself cant quite keep her stomach down, and leans against the wall, puking her own breakfast. Wiping her mouth, she grimaces at the bad taste in her mouth, and the horrible smell in her nose.

Seeing her wolf puke also, Sabriel realizes that this stench must be filthy to make even a wolf puke.