Crucible of the Word and Sword

[Amphetryon]

The skies open up and begin dumping down rain shortly after you turn a corner that obscures the gates of Grotnamuheil from view. Luckily, your destination is easy to spot, as Haesti Mountain dominates the skyline, rising high enough to wear a permanent crown of snow. Folks have always trekked to and from the mountain, but the path has become much smoother and more well-known within the past few months, as smiths realized the value of its combined iron and tin deposits. The rumors of the strange treasures recently unearthed there have given your party an audience of curious onlookers, as teens and children put off their chores to catch a glimpse of the group who volunteered to go protect the miners from who knows what danger in the newly found tunnels.

[Yawielas]

Runa turns her face up towards the rain, closing her eyes for a moment, then looks towards the town gates. She smiles at the eager onlookers and waves a little, remembering the tales her father used to tell about heroes' welcome into towns and villages. Perhaps it felt a little like this. The leather armor is chafing, but she walks with a straight back, excited to see what treasures they are supposed to protect. She looks at the rest of the group, wishing she knew them better, but there will be plenty of time for that, she reckons.

Spoiler: Runa

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http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=863393

[kestrel404]

Eloi reaches behind himself to scratch at the junction between the wings on his back and his skin - the area still sensitive. The action is partially masked by his cloak, but any who care to look can see the 'deformity' clearly. It's perhaps fortunate then that this issue came up when it did - the townsfolk are often a superstitious lot, and he had no interest in the majority of them discovering that he'd grown scaly, batlike wings while staying there.

"Ah, rain. The Gods' way of telling you that today is a bad day to travel. I can tell that Loki is watching over us, truly." Experimenting a bit, Eloi stretches out just one of his wings - a tricky operation, since he hasn't yet gained full control over the things - and then curves it around over top of himself.

Looking up in delight, the Halfling grins around him. "Well, anyone who wants to crouch is welcome to use my portable bit of cover for as long as I can keep the darned thing up there - not sure how long it'll last, they get tired easily."

[Beowulf DW]

Ragnar plods along, not really minding the rain, though he does know that he'll have to see to his weapons and armor later.

"Rain's good. Washes the blood into the soil, and brings a good harvest. Which means more barley. Which means more beer, eh!" Ragnar half laughs as he pats the halfling on the back, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically.

[gallagher]

Uvaer looks to his fellows with a puzzled look. Surely, rain is in the domain of Thor. He is blessing this journey for us with good, pure water. Uvaer tips his head back to allow some of the rain to collect in his mouth for a quick drink, while also showing off his sharp teeth.

Yes, we are truly blessed this day. Uvaer holds his maul over his shoulder in a relaxed position, hoping that his demeanor keeps the travelers' spirits up.

[kestrel404]

The halfling smirks as the main turns his face to the falling rain. "Oh aye, good sir priest. Perhaps we are both right, though. Indeed, I find it quite likely that Thor's half-brother did bring him a great keg of ail in honor of our journey, bet him he couldn't drink it all in one go, and then when the great god of thunder won the bet, did push him towards those great grey heavenly bushes above us. Yes, even now your god is raining down his...'glory' upon us. Is it me or does this rain feel unseasonably warm?"

The words are timed so that they come all in a stream, and end just as the other man is about to swallow. The halfling features are schooled in a mask of innocence, conspicuously not watching the priest by the end.

[Yawielas]

Runa laughs. She looks down at the little halfling. "My father would have liked you. He loves stories about the gods. And a little naughtiness to." She looks at Uvaer, the darfellan, and smiles. "If you think Tor has blessed us, I'm glad. Never hurts to have the gods on our side."

Spoiler: OOC

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Could we have a short description of all characters? And did we just meet a few days ago? Runa is a human girl of around 20, with red hair and blue eyes, carrying a bow and a short sword, and wearing a leather armor, although she doesn't really look like the warrior type.

[Beowulf DW]

Spoiler: OOC

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Well, here's the description from my character sheet.

Ragnar is not a handsome man. At least not anymore. Although he's only twenty-four, he looks much older; the poison and the grief put lines into his face, and granted his eyes the look of experience and grief beyond his years. Additionally, the poison gas rendered his voice something between a rasp and a growl. Ragnar doesn't mind this last part quite so much, as it tends to get people to listen to him.

Additionally, he's pretty tall, quite strong, has green eyes and brown hair.

[gallagher]

If the good god Thor needs a piss, he must have incredible aim to hit only you. I feel nothing but water.

[CryWolfCorrupt]

The last member of the group stands ahead of the group in the rain and makes no attempt to hide from it. He feels alive in the rain, and basks in it when he can. Very tall for his age, he seems rather lanky and his studded leather armor looks almost out of place on him. From his right shoulder to his left hip he is encircled by a large, black chain. His face is scarred somewhat, giving him a rather unsettling appearance, but his eyes are calm. He sighs and raises his chin, allowing the rain to fall freely upon his face. He files his fingers through his fire red hair, leaving it unorganized and turns back towards the party. "Best we make haste," he speaks over the storm. His voice has a certain... youth to it. "Shan't be long before Thor brings more than rain down on us, this close to the mountains. Let's move forward."

[Amphetryon]

Fortunately, the ground proves porous enough, and the rain just steady enough, that most of the water soaks into the topsoil and the worn trail on which you walk, rather than forcing a slog through ankle-deep puddles.

After nearly an hour of wet but uneventful travel, you begin to get the feeling that you're not alone. *Two Spot and Listen checks each, please, designating which is left and which is right.*

[Yawielas]

Runa looks left and right, starting to feel uneasy.

Spoiler: Spot and listen

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Left spot (1d20)[11] Right spot (1d20)[5] Left listen (1d20)[16] right listen (1d20)[19]

"Do you guys hear anything?"

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Carlile looks left and right and strains his ears over the sound of the rain hitting the earth. Thinking he hears something to the left, he turns to look, but doesn't see anything. The rain runs over his face and he has to blink continuously. "Thought I had heard something from over there," he points.

Spoiler: Spot and Listen

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Left:(1d20+3)[4]
(1d20+3)[23]
Right: (1d20+3)[11]
(1d20+3)[7]

[kestrel404]

Spoiler

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Spot Left: (1d20)[4]
Spot Right: (1d20)[11]
Listen Left: (1d20+2)[7]
Listen Right: (1d20+2)[9]

[Amphetryon]

(Psst, you can use the dice-roller thread if you'd like. No need to reroll, though).

[Beowulf DW]

Spoiler

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Spot: (1d20)[19]

Listen: (1d20)[15]

[Beowulf DW]

Spoiler: Forgot the second one. Sorry!

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Listen: (1d20)[18]

Spot: (1d20)[1]

[gallagher]

Spoiler

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spot left: (1d20+2)[17]
Spot right: (1d20+2)[22]
Listen left: (1d20+2)[22]
Listen right:(1d20+2)[22]

[Amphetryon]

Spoiler: DC 15 Spot/Listen to the left

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There are a pair of badgers eyeing the party and chittering to each other.

Spoiler: DC 15 Spot/Listen to the right

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Thirty yards into the forest, a trio of Forest Gnomes are pouring out the remains of whatever liquid they were cooking over their firepit, extinguishing the flames. Those who made the DC 15 Listen and speak Gnome can hear

Spoiler

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'We need to be careful, and quick. Fizzbottle wants us to find that dagger, if it really exists, and get out before the miners can raise a fuss.'

[Yawielas]

Runa looks from left to right, then back again. "I hear something....Over there, and there." She points, and grabs her bow, just in case.

[gallagher]

Uvaer looks over his left and right and points it out; I see some gnomes chattering away and hurrying to pack up their cookfire, and some badgers on the other side. There are only three of them, but it may be that they are druids, and those badgers are their companions. Prepare for us to be surrounded.

With that, Uvaer positions himself between the badgers and the party, and prepares to cast Magic Weapon if the badgers appear to be hostile.

[kestrel404]

The halfling looks at the priest and suppresses a snicker. Shaking his head, he folds his wings back into his cloak and takes a sharp right turn off the path. He calls out in the common tongue, "Ho! A good morning travellers!"

[Beowulf DW]

Ragnar watches as the halfling starts off in resigned trepidation."If he gets us killed, I'm splitting him in two."

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Carlile's eyes open wide as the halfling darts off the path. "Not if I beat you to it," to Ragnar. He slowly unhooks and pulls the chain off of his torso, gripping it gently in the rain. He turns to face the direction of the gnomes and focuses his attention on preparing for whatever may happen.

[Amphetryon]

The Gnomes look up, startled, at Eloi's greeting. One trips and knocks over the animal skin they'd used over the fire to hold off the rain, falling prone, while the other reaches for a large leather sack.

The Badgers chitter and back up around a small sapling with yellow berries.

*Initiative is in order; those with Knowledge:Nature may get more information on the Badger's behavior and surroundings*

[Yawielas]

Runa readies her bow, arrow nocked, but holds off shooting untill she can see if the gnomes are attacking or not.

[kestrel404]

Eloi smiles disarminglyalarmingly at the two gnomes, stopping roughly evenly between them 30' away. He holds up his hands to them showing that he's unarmed and says smoothly, "Greetings and salutations! I appologize for startling you. Please, no need for unpleasantness - I just wanted to say hi!"

Spoiler

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Talking is a free action! So I'll give diplomacy a shot: (1d20+5)[6]

Not paying attention to the badgers.

Also, I'm readying an action (assuming that my 20' move is sufficient to get me within 35' of these guys):
If either one charges at me, casts a spell, or uses a ranged weapon (use, not ready) - Line of Entangling Flame breath weapon attack at the first aggressor:
(1d3)[3] damage, DC13 reflex save for 1/2. If they take damage, they're entangled and they'll take 1d6 fire damage every round for (1d4)[2] rounds.

Edit: So much for diplomacy...

[gallagher]

Spoiler

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I'll post whatever I am to do when the results of everyone's initiative is in
initiative: (1d20+1)[20]

[CryWolfCorrupt]

Carlile whips his chain out loudly. "I did not want it to come to this already.... we're not even to the mountain yet."

Spoiler: Init

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(1d20+3)[15]

[Beowulf DW]

Spoiler

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Initiative "In the event..."

(1d20+1)[17]