(Edited post to account for what stonegod said below. My bad.)
Jarrith follows Sir Khensu's horse on foot... his eyes scanning the valley as much as the inquisitor is. When he hears Khensu say "Odd.", Jarrith snorts in agreeance.
"You aren't kidding, my friend. What do you think? Gate is either magically locked and opened, or we're being watched."
His eyes go to the road and ground ahead, searching for any signs of recent tread. As they continue to move along it, Jarrith's senses try to take in the whole area and get a perception on how long it's been since the area's seen activity such as their arrival.
"Well, it looks like we might be on the right track... so let's see where this takes us, eh? You don't put up a gate like that unless you're trying to keep something... or somewhere... protected."
Sir Khensu will look back at the rest of the party. "Shall we carry on?"
He offers a hand to Jarrith, assisting him back on his horse if the Stalker so chose.
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
His eyes go to the road and ground ahead, searching for any signs of recent tread. As they continue to move along it, Jarrith's senses try to take in the whole area and get a perception on how long it's been since the area's seen activity such as their arrival.
Jarrith's search turns up a partial hoof print in a bit of mud near the gate that is probably a few days old; it appears to have been going out of the valley. He does not manage to find any other tracks after a cursory inspection.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Jarrith's search turns up a partial hoof print in a bit of mud near the gate that is probably a few days old; it appears to have been going out of the valley. He does not manage to find any other tracks after a cursory inspection.
When Daellin sees Jarrith searching, he tries to give his friend a hand.
OOC: Though really, it'd make more sense for Jarrith to Aid Daellin than the other way around; he's got a better Search modifier, and also has Track.
When Daellin sees Jarrith searching, he tries to give his friend a hand.[/color]
The elf's keen eyes and training confirm Jarrith's find---a single horseman left the valley within the week, mostly likely within the last three days. The elf is able to find fainter signals the Stalker missed---it appears another party, perhaps three in all, made its way into the gate within the last week as well.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
The elf's keen eyes and training confirm Jarrith's find---a single horseman left the valley within the week, mostly likely within the last three days. The elf is able to find fainter signals the Stalker missed---it appears another party, perhaps three in all, made its way into the gate within the last week as well.
He'll tell the others of this. "It doesn't seem completely deserted." He adds.
"A gate such as this might be created to keep something in as well as intruders out. A summoning circle of a sort, which calls something inside but which traps it from leaving."
She sighs.
"Let's press onward. If Fate hath a hand in this, then let it display."
Leaving the gates behind, the group slowly moves into the thickening fog. As they leave, there is a sudden *thunk* noise as they notice the gates have closed silently behind them.
~~~
The gate fades into the mists as the oppressive trees hang above. This continues for about 10 minutes until the trees thin and all is left is the fog. All is a dim grey, as the wan light left from the behind-the-mounts sun is filtered to you.
Eventually, tall shapes loom from the dense fog, and the ground underfoot gives way to slick, wet cobblestones. A dilapidated wooden sign reads "Welcome to the Village of Barovia." As the party approaches, the shapes resolve into tenements whose windows are boarded, broken, and lightless. Nothing moves near-by, though the fog limits visibility. Faint sounds, as of something groaning, echo hollowly from deeper in the settlement.
OOC: Please let me know the order in which you ride. The cobblestone street is 20' wide. It is not currently dark, but the mist does limit clear visibility to 30'.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
"This, of course, is the point where I refrain politely from saying, 'I told you so."
Edi, her mottled mount of distinctive appearance seemed to snort in agreement or disapproval or both, and the short clops of his powerful stubby legs moved in motion to propel the wizard forward. Ah, what a wonderful day it is...being right, she thought, humming the lilting tune of a Cyran jig quietly to herself as they continued.
OOC: Janis takes up a position somewhere in the middle. With her 13 AC and 32 hit points, she and Maraat should probably avoid sick people and strong winds
OOC: I'll be second, behind Mr Elf Ranger Ear Guy.
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
From the back of Sir Khensu's horse, Jarrith keeps leans out from both sides around the inquistor to get a look of the area around them. The dense fog catches his attention, as it seems odd that it should congregate so. "Huh... I wonder if this fog burns itself off during the high summer months? Awfully damp in the valley here. Probably keeps the trees and grasses looking green and virbrant all year round though."
From behind him, he hears Janis speak. "This, of course, is the point where I refrain politely from saying, 'I told you so'." Jarrith turns around in his saddle and smirks at the wizardess. "What's the matter, Janis? I'd think a woman named 'Stormhand' would welcome weather like this! Don't tell me you're afraid of a little fog and wind that sounds like moaning, my dear." This baiting and teasing between Janis and Jarrith has been a primary occurance between them for the past several years as they've worked together. Whether you would call this "sexual tension" or rather just Jarrith amusing himself by trying to ruffle Janis' feathers every time she gets all pessimistic or snooty is hard to tell.
Jarrith leaps off from the back of the horse and makes his way over to one of the boarded-up cottages. He approaches the front door and gives it a good wrap with his knuckles a couple times. "Hello! Anyone home? Knock, knock! Visitors to town looking for a place to stay for the evening! Hello!"
Jarrith leaps off from the back of the horse and makes his way over to one of the boarded-up cottages. He approaches the front door and gives it a good wrap with his knuckles a couple times. "Hello! Anyone home? Knock, knock! Visitors to town looking for a place to stay for the evening! Hello!"
There is no sound other than silence. Glancing in a broken, boarded window reveals that the inside of the building, perhaps a former tenement, is empty, discarded bits of everyday lives scattered about the overturned furniture.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
"Troubling. This is the first sign of life we've seen since leaving the inn."
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
Turning from the window he was looking in, Jarrith shakes his head to the inquistor. "You said it. Well I don't want to call it quits after just a single house... I think we need to at the very least see if we can find the office of the Burgomaster, since he is at least one person who should be here... if that letter of his has any merit. If he's not here either, then I think we can suppose we might be on a wild goose chase."
Jarrith moves back to the road and begins walking further into town, expecting the others to follow behind on horse or foot.
The shifter looks at the others, the look of his broad face clearly looking for agreement among the rest of the travelers.
"Spread out a bit. I don't think losing sight of anyone is a good idea, but I don't want us in a bunch in case Something happens."
__________________
"We create joy." - Pirate Cat, 2006 ENnies
"...the worse thing that can happen to players is not to have their characters die. The worst thing that can happen is to have a boring game." - Mike Mearls
The party spreads out, quietly following Daellin and Jarrith in the gloom. The streets are choked with mist, limiting vision to a few dozen feet. The building here, still on the edge of town, look abandoned, burned out, or barricated. Garbage litters the ground, and a carrion scent assaults you nose, almost overwhelming Sir Khensu's enhanced sense.
Ahead, an overturned haycart blocks the street. Everyone looks at each other, trying to determine their best move when, at the edge of the fog, behind the cart, Daellin just notices two hunched forms. He is about to call out to them when he notices the empty look in their hungry, hungry eyes.
Undead!
Street Ambush: Surprise Round
Daellin, his instinct always ready for trouble from the restless dead, is able to act. The others, disconcerted by the empty streets, find themselves surprised. D: 9
Z: 3
OOC: I'm a little hazy about what you can do in a surprise round, and cover/concealment rules, so a few questions are in order here... 1) Does the cart grant cover? 2) Does Daellin's low-light vision help him here? 3) He'd like to dismount, draw his bow, move to within 30' (if he needs to do so to overcome concealment), and fire; I don't think I can do all of that in a surprise round, but how much of it can he manage?
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