Insight's "In the Shadow of Giants" [IC] - Prelude to Danger!

[Insight]

This is the [IC] (in character) thread for my "In the Shadow of Giants" game. The thread shall serve as the "prelude" to the first adventure, entitled, "Prelude to Danger!".

OOC Thread
RG Thread

***

PRELUDE TO DANGER!
Crossing the Yoirwood
The coniferous Yoirwood, which contains rumored rifts leading to the Feywild, is peaceful today. You each sense that that animals and plantlife found within the Yoirwood are more vibrant, more alive, owing most likely to the aforementioned connection with the Feywild. Aside from the occasional pink rabbit or talking bush (turns out they don't have much to say), the day has been pretty much uneventful.

The reason for your brief jaunt through the Yoirwood is simple. Saben's half-brother, a human priest of Pelor named Anhen has been stationed in Leften's Forge, a town on the other side of the Yoirwood. Your group's last adventure site being so close to Leften's Forge, Saben convinced the rest of the group to make the short trip through the forest so that the Paladin could visit his relative.

OOC

For background purposes, your last adventure was fighting some Demogorgon-worshipping Minotaurs. Their lair was located east of the Yoirwood and you are now traveling west through the Yoirwood.

Amos and his wolf, traveling ahead of the rest of the group in an effort to scout (just in case), halt suddenly and motion for the rest of the group to do the same. Amos sees and smells smoke up ahead. This is more smoke than would come from a simple campfire, even a large one. In a coniferous, primeval forest with no known settlements, the presence of this smoke is curious indeed. This bears investigating!

OOC

State your character's actions for the next one or two combat rounds, the equivalent of six to twelve seconds. If you wish to start an action that would take longer, go ahead. Make sure to include dialogue where appropriate.

There won't be a map unless combat begins. Until such time, use your imagination for distances and terrain.

[Sparky]

Amos crouches low, his senses yearning ahead. He grows still to silence the creaking of his leathers. He quiets his breathing. The birds have fallen silent, but for the cawing of distant crows. The wind is shifting. He waits, listening, stretching... nothing. He squints, dark brown eyes glinting. What's burning then...? He sniffs, breathing deeply and coughs.

Olcan, some yards off looks impassively forward. At Amos' cough, one ear flicks towards the tracker and back. The tracker's mouth twists, Yeah, har har, Olcan.

Straightening from his half-crouch, Amos pads back to the group, a tread lighter than his meaty bulk would suggest. The orc-blooded man rolls his shoulders, stretching them. The leathers creak. He grimaces, showing tusks, "There's smoke ahead. An' fire too, I'm guessin'. Well more'n a campfire," his brow is furrowed. Worried.

He looks over his shoulder to where Olcan stands at alert, then looks back, "Seeker, Mister Sorrenson, you want me to put on my wolf skin and take a closer look?"

Amos shifts his weight onto his left foot leaning until he's out of view of Brother Saben's shield. Damn, but that shield gives me the willies. A superstitious man, Amos sketches a holy symbol - a circle - over his chest, uttering a brief, silent prayer with a flick of his eyes skyward to ward off the sun God's ire on the chance that there was some unassigned Wrath floating around looking to settle on the head of a mild blasphemer.

OOC

Breaking up my 'two rounds of actions' to bring word to the group, as is Amos' wont. He'll follow Brant's or Seeker's 'orders' pretty much without question.

[hafrogman]

Brant draws up at Amos's signal and stares off in the direction indicated. He frowns slightly and shifts his axe on his shoulder, his scowl deepens at the ranger's use of the word 'Mister', but leaves it aside for now.

"... a fire? I've got a bad feeling about this. How far is that village supposed to be again?"

He casts a gaze around at the others.

"I'd say this would be a bad time to split up. Stay close, Amos. Let's all go have a look together."

[drothgery]

"We've been at this for years." Corrin says, in that half-joking tone you're all used to from him by now. "I'm trying to think of one time when it made sense to split up, and there was even a hint of danger around. Just yell if you see something nasty."

ooc

I'm going to assume you all know Corrin has a challenge-seeking dagger, and so know it's useful to leave a few targets untouched before he gets in the game.

[Insight]

Originally Posted by hafrogman

"... a fire? I've got a bad feeling about this. How far is that village supposed to be again?"

OOC

You are all vaguely familiar with this area. The town you seek, Lefton's Forge, is about 70 miles from this spot, well beyond the Yoirwood.

[ShaggySpellsword]

Gregor pulls his hammer from his belt and hefts his shield. After rolling his shoulders, to help his armor lay easier on his back, he says, "Aye Cor, it's NEVER been a good time to split up..." The dwarf pauses a moment and then adds "but of course that was one of those questions that needs no answer. Let's see what's burning through the forest."

Gregor moves forward when the rest of the group does.

[renau1g]

Seeker marched along the others, he was quiet this day, uncharacteristic of the deva. He seemed deep in thought and it was usually best to let him be during these bouts as he wrestled with the fog of past lives that resurfaced in his thoughts. Seeker drew his cloak in tightly even though there was no chill in the air this day and involuntarily shuddered.

The return of Amos and her report snapped Seeker back into reality, the gravity of the situation at hand enough to focus the deva.

"We should investigate this disturbance, if only to determine that it is no threat to us so we can travel without looking over our shoulders while we continue. Like always we shall travel together or die alone." Seeker says, drawing his orb from the sack at his side, hoping he wouldn't need it, but being prepared was always his specialty.

The deva follower of Ioun gestured for the others to take the lead, himself falling towards the rearguard to better keep an eye on the battlefield and keeping his staff held defensively in front of him.

OOC

Actions would be something like:
Round 1:
Minor: Draw orb
Move: With group
Standard: Total Defense (assuming Seeker would walk with his staff out as a walking stick, otherwise switch for drawing staff)

Round 2:
Minor: Perception perception (1d20 10=29) Looking for hidden threats.
Move: With group
Standard: Total Defense (Unless Seeker sees a threat, then I'll change accordingly)

[Sparky]

Amos sets his jaw, draws his shortbow and falls in with the others as they advance. Scouting this out woulda been smarter. He grimaces to himself, But... 'A man that stands alone gets lonely,' Wilbur always said.

He shakes his head to clear the nagging thoughts, There may be trouble here, numbskull, pay attention! Olcan and he turn their keen senses forward.

OOC

Actions:

** Special: Evade Ambush - (Brant, Seeker, Gregor or others if applicable)

Round 1:
Minor: Draw bow
Move: With group (Amos and Olcan together, 2nd rank out to the left a bit)
Minor: Pack Alertness, Amos Perception 22, Olcan Perception 22 (forgot to note the +2 for Olcan being a wolf in the Castle roll)

Round 2:
Minor: Pack Alertness, Amos Perception 34, Olcan Perception 31
Move: With group, with an eye to flanking and lines for charging
Standard/Minor: Possibly switching weapons

[hafrogman]

Brant grunts wordlessly and drops his axe from his shoulder into his grasp. He watches the others as they start off down the trail, then with a nod to Seeker, he sets off after them, watching over his flock.

ooc

Round 1:
Minor: ready greataxe
Move: toward the smoke
Standard: none

Round 2:
Minor: Perception 1d20+7 =20
Move: toward the smoke
Standard: none

[Oni]

Saben's brow creased at the news of the smoke. He had been rather enjoying the relatively uneventful day after the recent nastiness with the minotaurs. Sniffing the air experimentally he glanced around at the others, seeing them readying for a fight, he frowned. Saben hoped it was nothing like that, but having learned to trust the intuition of his traveling companions he found him loosing his shield from his back and bringing it to bare.

"Well let's have a look then."

This seemed such a serene place, it wouldn't do to have anything disturbing that, he thought.

Saben moved automatically to the head of the column, falling into place next to Gregor as he had done many times in the past. Without thinking he drew his sword. Saben looked down at the blade, hmph, won't help much against a forest fire

As they walked in the direction Amos directed them Saben mentally called to his armour. A silvery mist swirled around him forming into metallic plates that encased his form. The half-elf shivered a little inside the bastion of steel (or whatever it was), he had only had the armour a little while, still it was a strange feeling donning it that way. He shook his head, telling himself to focus, again finding himself hoping that this would turn out to be nothing. From beneath the helm his eyes scanned the forest, searching for the source of their alarm.

Actions

Standard: Equip shield.
Move: Move toward smoke
Minor: Draw Sword

Minor: Use Summoned Armour
Move: Move toward smoke
Standard: Perception (1d20+9=23)

Ministats

Saben- Male Half-Elf Paladin 10
Initiative: +7, Passive Perception: 19, Passive Insight: 21
AC:30, Fort:20, Reflex:22, Will:22 -- Speed:5
Resist:none
HP:89/89, Bloodied:44, Surge Value:22, Surges left:12/12
Action Points: 1
Powers -
Enfeebling Strike
Virtuous Strike
Divine Challenge
Githyanki Silver Longsword
Summoned Gith Plate Armor
Valorous Smite
Hold Fast
Astral Thunder
Sacred Flame
Call of Challenge
Virtue
Second Wind
Majestic Halo
Name of Might
Ray of Reprisal
Wrath of the Gods
Lay on Hands
Lay on Hands
Lay on Hands
Githyanki Silver Longsword
Heavy Shield of Eyes

Conditions:

Full character sheet

[Insight]

Crossing the Yoirwood
Round 1-2 "Roundup"

OOC

Here's how I'm going to handle stuff like this. I'm going to repost the RP parts of each of your posts in one block (see below), slightly re-ordered if necessary for proper flow. At the end (see below), the mechanical actions for each will be listed, along with their results, if any.

Originally Posted by Sparky

Amos crouches low, his senses yearning ahead. He grows still to silence the creaking of his leathers. He quiets his breathing. The birds have fallen silent, but for the cawing of distant crows. The wind is shifting. He waits, listening, stretching... nothing. He squints, dark brown eyes glinting. What's burning then...? He sniffs, breathing deeply and coughs.

Olcan, some yards off looks impassively forward. At Amos' cough, one ear flicks towards the tracker and back. The tracker's mouth twists, Yeah, har har, Olcan.

Straightening from his half-crouch, Amos pads back to the group, a tread lighter than his meaty bulk would suggest. The orc-blooded man rolls his shoulders, stretching them. The leathers creak. He grimaces, showing tusks, "There's smoke ahead. An' fire too, I'm guessin'. Well more'n a campfire," his brow is furrowed. Worried.

He looks over his shoulder to where Olcan stands at alert, then looks back, "Seeker, Mister Sorrenson, you want me to put on my wolf skin and take a closer look?"

Amos shifts his weight onto his left foot leaning until he's out of view of Brother Saben's shield. Damn, but that shield gives me the willies. A superstitious man, Amos sketches a holy symbol - a circle - over his chest, uttering a brief, silent prayer with a flick of his eyes skyward to ward off the sun God's ire on the chance that there was some unassigned Wrath floating around looking to settle on the head of a mild blasphemer.

Originally Posted by hafrogman

Brant draws up at Amos's signal and stares off in the direction indicated. He frowns slightly and shifts his axe on his shoulder, his scowl deepens at the ranger's use of the word 'Mister', but leaves it aside for now.

"... a fire? I've got a bad feeling about this. How far is that village supposed to be again?"

He casts a gaze around at the others.

"I'd say this would be a bad time to split up. Stay close, Amos. Let's all go have a look together."

Originally Posted by drothgery

"We've been at this for years." Corrin says, in that half-joking tone you're all used to from him by now. "I'm trying to think of one time when it made sense to split up, and there was even a hint of danger around. Just yell if you see something nasty."

Originally Posted by ShaggySpellsword

Gregor pulls his hammer from his belt and hefts his shield. After rolling his shoulders, to help his armor lay easier on his back, he says, "Aye Cor, it's NEVER been a good time to split up..." The dwarf pauses a moment and then adds "but of course that was one of those questions that needs no answer. Let's see what's burning through the forest."

Gregor moves forward when the rest of the group does.

Originally Posted by renau1g

Seeker marched along the others, he was quiet this day, uncharacteristic of the deva. He seemed deep in thought and it was usually best to let him be during these bouts as he wrestled with the fog of past lives that resurfaced in his thoughts. Seeker drew his cloak in tightly even though there was no chill in the air this day and involuntarily shuddered.

The return of Amos and her report snapped Seeker back into reality, the gravity of the situation at hand enough to focus the deva.

"We should investigate this disturbance, if only to determine that it is no threat to us so we can travel without looking over our shoulders while we continue. Like always we shall travel together or die alone." Seeker says, drawing his orb from the sack at his side, hoping he wouldn't need it, but being prepared was always his specialty.

The deva follower of Ioun gestured for the others to take the lead, himself falling towards the rearguard to better keep an eye on the battlefield and keeping his staff held defensively in front of him.

Originally Posted by hafrogman

Brant grunts wordlessly and drops his axe from his shoulder into his grasp. He watches the others as they start off down the trail, then with a nod to Seeker, he sets off after them, watching over his flock.

Originally Posted by Oni

Saben's brow creased at the news of the smoke. He had been rather enjoying the relatively uneventful day after the recent nastiness with the minotaurs. Sniffing the air experimentally he glanced around at the others, seeing them readying for a fight, he frowned. Saben hoped it was nothing like that, but having learned to trust the intuition of his traveling companions he found him loosing his shield from his back and bringing it to bare.

"Well let's have a look then."

This seemed such a serene place, it wouldn't do to have anything disturbing that, he thought.

Saben moved automatically to the head of the column, falling into place next to Gregor as he had done many times in the past. Without thinking he drew his sword. Saben looked down at the blade, hmph, won't help much against a forest fire

As they walked in the direction Amos directed them Saben mentally called to his armour. A silvery mist swirled around him forming into metallic plates that encased his form. The half-elf shivered a little inside the bastion of steel (or whatever it was), he had only had the armour a little while, still it was a strange feeling donning it that way. He shook his head, telling himself to focus, again finding himself hoping that this would turn out to be nothing. From beneath the helm his eyes scanned the forest, searching for the source of their alarm.

Originally Posted by Sparky

Amos sets his jaw, draws his shortbow and falls in with the others as they advance. Scouting this out woulda been smarter. He grimaces to himself, But... 'A man that stands alone gets lonely,' Wilbur always said.

He shakes his head to clear the nagging thoughts, There may be trouble here, numbskull, pay attention! Olcan and he turn their keen senses forward.

Actions, Round One

Amos Wolfbrother:
Minor Action: Draw longbow.
Move Action:: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
Minor Action: Pack Alertness, Amos Perception 22, Olcan Perception 22 (forgot to note the +2 for Olcan being a wolf in the Castle roll) *** neither see anything unusual ***

Olcan (Amos' Wolf):
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Brant Sorrenson:
Minor Action: Readies Greataxe.
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Corrin:
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Gregor Stonehelm:
Minor Action: Readies Craghammer.
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Seeker:
Minor Action: Readies Orb.
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
Standard Action: Total Defense (assuming Seeker would walk with his staff out as a walking stick, otherwise switch for drawing staff)

Saben:
Standard Action: Readies Shield.
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
Minor Action: Readies Longsword.

Note: Corrin didn't have any actions listed, so I have him following along.

Actions, Round Two

Amos Wolfbrother:
Minor Action: Pack Alertness, Amos Perception 34, Olcan Perception 31 *** see the next post for details on what you see ***
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
*** Amos doesn't see any targets to charge or attack ***

Olcan (Amos' Wolf):
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Brant Sorrenson:
Minor Action: Perception 1d20+7 =20 *** see the next post for details on what you see ***
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Corrin:
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Gregor Stonehelm:
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.

Seeker:
Minor Action: Perception (1d20 10=29) Looking for hidden threats. *** see the next post for details on what you see ***
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
Standard Action: Total Defense.

Saben:
Minor Action: Use Summoned Armour.
Move Action: Move 25ft (5 squares) with group.
Standard Action: Perception (1d20+9=23) *** see the next post for details on what you see ***

Note: Corrin didn't have any actions listed, so I have him following along.

[Insight]

PRELUDE TO DANGER!
Crossing the Yoirwood
The heroes, seeing and smelling an inordinate amount of thick smoke, head off the road 50ft and into the thick pine woods. Amos and his wolf in the lead, they push their way through thick brush to get a better look at the smoke trail and its possible source.

In the distance, another good 100ft, the heroes see one or two large objects set aflame. These objects are roughly 8ft high and either 16ft wide or there are two of them; at this distance, with the smoke and forest obscuring your view, there's no way to know for sure.

None of the heroes see any enemies or hazards in the immediate area.

OOC

As before, please post your actions. This time, do so for just one round. If you are NOT making an active Perception check, please post your passive Perception score in your sblock.

[drothgery]

Seeing everyone else draw their weapons and implements, even with no obvious threat in evidence, Corrin draws his dagger as his follows.

actions

Passive perception: 15

Minor: Draw Challenge-Seeking Dagger +3
Move: Continue to approach the burning objects, letting the others take the lead.
Standard: If everyone takes a second move, Corrin will as well

[Sparky]

Are those... huts? What is that? Amos peers as best he can through the smoke. He grunts and presses forward with the crew fanned out to his right.

Olcan, at some signal from Amos, or on his own initiative, ranges out to the left, circling wide on swiftly padding feet.

Amos lifts a hand to his mouth and bellows, "Halloo! Is anyone there?"

He strains his eyes and ears and nose for any clues about the fire or what it is that might be burning.

OOC

Minor: Pack Alertness, Amos 26, Olcan 34
Free: Call out.
Move: Move up with the group.
Standard: Held. Ready to switch weapons if need be (or move ahead if it looks like someone's in trouble).

[ShaggySpellsword]

Gregor scans the scene (14), trying to make sense of the flaming mass.

"What is that?"

actions

Standard: Active Perception
Other actions: waiting

[hafrogman]

Brant pauses for a moment to regard the flames. Still too far away to make out anything useful. Still, it's too small to be a forest fire, and too big to be a camp fire. Something unusual is going on out there.

"I don't know. Let's find out. Keep moving."

He pushes forward, trying to get a closer look at the fire, close enough to figure out what's going on.

ooc

Passive perception: 17
Move action: move forward
Standard action: move forward

[renau1g]

Seeker will watch as the others begin moving again and despite his best efforts the deva can't pierce the smoke of the fire to determine the cause. Shrugging, he continues forward with the group, continuing to scan for threats.

"Let's be cautious, this is either a ruse to draw us in, or a dangerous natural hazard. Either way we must not let our guard down" Seeker cautions while they move.

OOC

Round 3:
Minor: n/a (passive perception is 20)
Move: With group
Standard: Total Defense (Unless Seeker sees a threat, then I'll change accordingly)

[Oni]

Saben whispered a silent prayer to Pelor, please don't let anyone be hurt, and quickened his pace.

Actions

Passive Perception: 19
Move & Standard: Double Move: Run, in the direction of the fire. Stopping if there is a threat, unless someone is in danger.
Minor: none

[Insight]

Crossing the Yoirwood
Round 3 "Roundup"

Originally Posted by drothgery

Seeing everyone else draw their weapons and implements, even with no obvious threat in evidence, Corrin draws his dagger and follows.

"I was hoping for once we'd run into trouble in a nice, large, open clearing where I could tell what's going on from a hundred feet away." He says.

Originally Posted by ShaggySpellsword

Gregor scans the scene, trying to make sense of the flaming mass.

"What is that?"

Moving forward with the others, doing his best to keep pace, Gregor moved towards the burning structures, looking for both a sigh of what is causing the inferno.

Originally Posted by hafrogman

Brant pauses for a moment to regard the flames. Still too far away to make out anything useful. Still, it's too small to be a forest fire, and too big to be a camp fire. Something unusual is going on out there.

"I don't know. Let's find out. Keep moving."

He pushes forward, trying to get a closer look at the fire, close enough to figure out what's going on.

Originally Posted by renau1g

Seeker will watch as the others begin moving again and despite his best efforts the deva can't pierce the smoke of the fire to determine the cause. Shrugging, he continues forward with the group, continuing to scan for threats.

"Let's be cautious, this is either a ruse to draw us in, or a dangerous natural hazard. Either way we must not let our guard down" Seeker cautions while they move.

Originally Posted by Oni

Saben whispers a silent prayer to Pelor, please don't let anyone be hurt, and quickens his pace.

Saben only

When Saben gets 45ft ahead of the group, he hears humanoid screams in the distance. Between the dense tree cover and the smoke, however, Saben still cannot tell the exact origin of the fire or the screams. Saben knows they are close (within another 100ft or so of his position).

Originally Posted by Sparky

Are those... huts? What is that? Amos peers as best he can through the smoke. He grunts and presses forward with the crew fanned out to his right.

Olcan, at some signal from Amos, or on his own initiative, ranges out to the left, circling wide on swiftly padding feet.

Amos lifts a hand to his mouth and bellows, "Halloo! Is anyone there?"

He strains his eyes and ears and nose for any clues about the fire or what it is that might be burning.

Amos hears the faint sounds of screaming in the distance. From his knowledge of humanoid races, Amos thinks these voices are a mix of human, elf, and dwarf origin. Olcan whines and yips as he seems to notice the same.

OOC

Amos will alert everyone who didn't have quite as high a Perception check. If you have a Move and/or Standard Actions remaining, please post them or edit your post above.

Originally Posted by ShaggySpellsword

When Amos mentions the screaming, Gregor picks up his pace, searching for a way in to rescue anyone who may be trapped within. unfortunately, the smoke makes it difficult to make anything out.

Originally Posted by Sparky

Amos pauses only momentarily to inform the others what he and Olcan sensed. Then the big man breaks into a run, headed towards the burning objects. Olcan streams along in the underbrush, ears pricked, tail and hackles raised in wariness.

Actions, Round Three

Corrin:
Minor Action: Draws Challenge-Seeking Dagger +3
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group.
Standard Action: Moves 30ft forward.

Gregor Stonehelm:
Minor Action: Perception check: 14 *** Notices nothing more ***
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group.
Standard Action: Moves 25ft forward.

*** You already made a Perception check this round. You can make another next round if you wish. ***

Brant Sorrenson:
Minor Action: Open
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group
Standard Action: Moves 25ft forward

Seeker:
Minor Action: Open
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group
Standard Action: Total Defense

Saben:
Standard Action: Moves (Runs) 35ft forward
Move Action: Moves (Runs) 35ft forward
Minor Action: Open

Amos Wolfbrother:
Minor Action: Pack Alertness, Amos 26, Olcan 34
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group.
Standard Action: Runs 40ft forward.

Olcan (Amos' Wolf):
Move Action: Moves 25ft with group.
Standard Action: Runs 40ft forward.


CURRENT POSITIONING:
Just so that this doesn't become confusing --

Saben: +45ft from Seeker
Amos and Olcan: +40ft from Seeker
Corrin: +30ft from Seeker
Brant and Gregor: +25ft from Seeker
Seeker - 0

[drothgery]

"I was hoping for once we'd run into trouble in a nice, large, open clearing where I could tell what's going on from a hundred feet away." He says.

ooc

Standard action: Move another 30 feet.