Search in the Dark is a side quest from the Off to War campaign thread. To join you would first have to join the Off to War campaign and then make a character which who would become a member of one of the many search parties searching in the dark.
Overview: Martomum Stonebreaker has been recently put in charge of Lord Bairian's Outriders. And on the first night of his command, all but one of the Outriders has returned from patrol. Eager to find this lost patrolman, Martomum has set off to find him with the PC's help. Once the patrolman is found this mission will be completed and the PC's will be returned to camp, but until then they are not allowed to post in the IC thread because they are not in camp. Note: At anytime you may decide to head back to camp.
Just a short ten yards into the woods and shadows and brush make it hard to see. (spot and listen checks)
Halting to get their bearings the three warriors discuss their options before carring on:
It was getting darker and Shinn was more than a little worried. Their fearless leader was mumbling something about a torch and did little to notice the three warriors who had followed him. At least he had finally stopped running. "Who would have thought it would be so hard to keep up with someone with such small legs" Shinn whispered to the others. He was only half serious.
Shinn leaned his shield to the ground. He felt content to wait and listen for orders. Asking questions from Martomum seemed like a good way to get hit on the head. Besides, how where they supposed to find a missing Outrider in the dark of the night? He sighed and secretly hoped they would find a female nymph instead.
Hralfgar decides to take the lead of the group and clear the path ahead. He kneels in the bushes and takes a long good look and listen around him, focusing on each movement of the shadows, every tweet and twitter of the midnight birds. Learning from his father about hunting, he listens and looks patiently, examining all that is around him and his fellow warriors.
Last edited by Erwinfoxjj; 6th July 2009 at 04:04 PM..
Reason: fixes
Shortly after entering the woods, Trinham wonders what he is doing blundering about in the dark without a light instead of eating stew by a nice warm fire. Using his link to Moggins, he finds that his familiar is nearby and that he is enjoying himself. Well if he can't enjoy himself, neither can the cat.
Just as the group stops, a ginger and white cat appears directly behind the dwarf and gives a very loud MEOW. He then goes to Trinham and brushes around his legs waiting for Trinham to scratch his head. "Sorry about that sir. This is my familiar Moggins. Unfortunately, he has a very peculiar sense of humour and thinks creeping up on people and making them jump is very funny."
"Moggins. We are looking for a man who is lost, can you help us please"
"Whoa!" Shinn almost jumped a mile. "Oh, its just that crazy stray." Shinn tried to relax. "Wha? Oh! Its your cat Trinham??" He felt quiet stupid for taking a fighting position over just a cat. He tried not to look in the direction of the quarter-master. Martomum was probably angry as hell right now.
Instead he wandered over toward Hralfgar. Shinn leaned on his spear and took notice of what the man was doing. The older warrior seemed to know something of search parties. "Ever seen a mage talk to animals before?" He ventured. "I sure haven't." Shinn glanced in Trinhams direction. "I wonder if that cat can even understand him? Haha. Crazy right?" Shinn tried to relax but still felt uneasy.
__________________ "Does it come in black?" -Bruce Wayne
Last edited by Deskjob; 6th July 2009 at 07:09 PM..
Reason: spelling
Hralfgar continues to looks and listen and ahead and speaks softly to Shinn. "My Grandfather spoke to nature. Have you ever tried? The land can tell you something, from trampled flowers, to scratched tree bark, and even way a shadow lands upon the ground. My name is Hralfgar, please to make your aquaintence.... What is your name?" Hralfgar concentrates hard on the area around him. (maybe a take 10 or something, just wondering)
"Wha!!.." the dwarf jumps at the small feline, his two-handed falchion goes from his back to in front of him in a defensive postion before anyone can blink. The thick curved blade has ruins edged near the hilt and the edge looks razor thin and sharp. "Ye green ninnies goin get killled ye don't quiets down." he grumbles softly. "And ye," he says pointing to Shinn. "Pick ups ye shield, does ye little good if anin gnobs jumps out at you frum the dark."
Looking around the small gathering, Martomum looks straight at Moggins even though everyone else has trouble seeing the cat in the growing shadows. "Keep'n yur beast close wizard," he whispers. "Ye don't want'n it ta take a wilds swing frum a greeny."
The dwarf looks out into the forest and you all notice a small shiver in the shadowy form of the warrior.
Hralfgar removes four torches from his pack and hands them to the other three. "Would you need one master Dwarf? I remember my father speaking of low light eyesight in those deep tunnels." Hralfgar lights his torch and passes the flame on to the others, pausing to the dwarf.
Shading his eyes to keep from losing his darkvision Martomum leaps to stop Hralfgar from lighting the other torches. "Nay ye greeny! One bees more than 'nuff." he whispers harshly.
He takes the three other torches and hands them back to Hralfgar, and with a grunt says. "Ye wantn' ta attracts mure attents then ye cans handle?" The dwarf looks again out into the woods an the shiver is visible this time.
"An in ye waste more light burnin thems at ta sames times. Greenies." The mutter is diffently not a compliment. He turns to the other two "Ye's gotten any ideals ye wish to shares ors do ye wants to listen ans stays alive?" He asks Trinham and Shinn.
Last edited by HolyMan; 7th July 2009 at 03:23 AM..
"My apologies..." Hralfgar readys his sword and shield and waits, examining the area. "What is the matter brother Dwarf? Shall I move ahead to light the way?"
Last edited by Erwinfoxjj; 7th July 2009 at 04:40 AM..
Reason: fixes
Shinn was handing his torch to Hralfgar. "Thanks, names Shinn." The quartermaster cut him off; but at least he could see now.
Shinn shruged at Trinham and returned the Dwarfs gaze. "Ready when you are Sir." Shinn did his best to look soldierly. He wouldn't be letting his shield drop again. Not with Martomum around anyway. Hehe. Maybe Trinham could turn the old taskmaster into a frog. Shinn shook his head. Now wasn't the time to ask.
__________________ "Does it come in black?" -Bruce Wayne
As Trinham goes to take the offered torch, he says "Thank you Hralfgar. My name is Trinham Woods. I'm" Exactly what Trimham was will never be known, as Martomum choose that moment to grab the torch from Trinham's grasp and started his tirade about making a noise. Trinham puts his finger up to his lips, grins and winks at Hralfgar.
Trinham lowers his voice and says to the dwarf "Now where sir?"
"Arrgg!" the dwarf mumbles under his breath, "greenies."
Martomum stomps off to the edge of the torch light, then without turning around he says. "Ay do no be needn' me way lit. Wha' in I is needn' is fur you three to be stayin behinds me wiles I's scounts ahead."
He looks out into the forest, then refixing his sword to his back he steps out of the torch light and disappears. "Givin' me a strongs 50 counts, till ye follows." Comes his voice from the darkness.
"Ugh, there is no way I'm getting a promotion now." Shinn sighs. He wasn't sure if he was babysitting the dwarf, or if it was the other way around. Shaking his head he started counting. "1,2,3,..."
Shinn was green though. He knew that. Maybe becoming an officer was the only way he was going to survive this war. Volunteering sounded like a good idea. A way to get noticed. Especially as just an irregular grunt. "13,14,15,..."
Shinn shook his head again. "18,19,..." "Nevermind" he thought. "Lets just find our man and get out." "22,..." Think positive. "Easy job, easy money." Yeah, think ...Aww crap... what number was he on?
__________________ "Does it come in black?" -Bruce Wayne
Last edited by Deskjob; 8th July 2009 at 08:45 AM..
Reason: spelling
Trinham waits until the man with the torch moves off, then follows him. Thinking to himself "If the dwarf wants quite, I'll give him quite." Trinham starts to "Move Silently", Finds that he is starting to fall behind the others so picks up his speed while still trying to move as quietly as possible.
The forest darkens as the men start to march after the dwarf.
ooc
Hmmm good thinking ghostcat everyone make move silently checks, let's see how noisey you all are. and a marching order too. need to now if both Trinham and Shinn are behind the torch bearer or is he in the middle?
Occasionaly they spot signs left by the dwarf, a charcoal mark on a tree, or a bent branch which is defiently pointing in a givin direction. Following at a slow pace they walk on for close to 1/4 an hour before the path stops twisting and turning and starts heading straighter and deeper into the forest.
Linear Mode
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