The Untamed Wilds: Caravan Campaign

Heading West: Trip 2, Day 3

Sannit said:

Sannit gets the attention of the group and says, "I think we should stay close to each other from here on out. Scouting, hunting, and gathering should be done within line of sight of the rest of the party. If we see anything interesting we should check it out as a group.

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Sheldon said:

"If we can follow the trail of the previous hunters, we may even be able to use their passing to our advantage. If the hostile group hasn't yet made a play for them, we may close the distance and be better suited to protect ourselves and maybe save the hunters while the hostile are focused on them."

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No one else in the group offers suggestions thereby concluding the matter. Once the party is prepared to break camp, the four pairs of partners search the more forward edges looking for the possible departing tracks of the resent hunting group. Merin and Tor cover the southern side, Sheldon and Indigo south to west, Sannit and Bolo west to north, and Aust and Revan the northern side.

[sblock=Tracking by Sight]Essence + Mind + Cohesion + Knowledge + Collegiate + Commercial + Aberrative
Tor = 37
Merin = 40
Sheldon = 40
Indigo = 39
Sannit = 45
Bolo = 41
Revan = 37
Aust = 35
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As it turns out, each pair of partners is able to find a set of tracks. It appears that the hunters split to travel in a general westerly direction but keeping a distance between them for the purpose of being better able to fell game. Rather than follow in pairs, the party takes Sannit's advice and coordinate all efforts on maintaining the more centrally direct path.

The passage of the hunting group gets easier to follow no that the party knows more of what to look for. By midday the group is able to locate on spent arrow and the evidence of a felled and prepared deer. The carcass of the deer had been gutted and is still hanging high above between two pines. Apparently the hunters do not wish to be burdened with a liter and are planning to collect the game on their return trip. Blood still drips from above though it is slow and mostly congealed. The game was prepared quickly, but the delay means that the hunters may only be a few hours ahead.

For the sake of urgency, the party elects to forego preparing it own felled upland turkey and instead elects to take advantage of the rations pressing on through lunch. Mid afternoon brings the party across the change line of the forest. The pines give way to oak and hickory and more undergrowth. As the party becomes more bunched together from necessity and unfamiliarity, this being the first time any have entered such a forest, the distinct aroma of smoke comes wafting on a gentle breeze from the northwest, faint though like a cooking fire.

Investigate the fire. San-Bolo use way to attempt to lessen their impact on their surroundings, less vibrations from their feet on the ground, less scent through the air, etc. to attempt to move silently.

Merin and Tor will follow San-Bolo, staying even with them, about 5 paces to their left. Merin and Tor will also attempt to move silently, although Merin is the only one of the two who has the epiphany to use way to help. Tor is too focused on watching his surroundings as he moves, especially positions higher up in the trees, where someone could rain down spears in ambush.

Investigating the Smell of Smoke

Sheldon and Indigo move to right of San-Bolo, distancing themselves a bit further at 10 paces but still maintaining line of sight. The smell of smoke is intermittent but enough to give a general directionality as the six creep forward edging away from the river in a more northern direction.

Walking through the dried leaves sounds alarmingly loud even with our attempts at quiet, especially compared to the straw covered floor of the pines previously departed.

[sblock=Move Quietly]Core + Motility + Confluence + Knowledge + Will + Collegiate + Commercial + Aberrative + Obscuring - Hindrance - Dried Leaves
Tor = -56
Merin = -46
Sheldon = -52
Indigo = -46
Sannit = -64
Bolo = -60
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Everyone is well aware of the sound of his own step, though it can be noted that the sound of another's step is less lending hope to some degree of quietness. Additionally everyone moves at a snail's pace, taking a step and pausing, then again, listening to the natural sounds of the forest to see if the movement causes any change in the behavior of the birds. Birds flicker and dart as each person nears but no dramatic change is yet noted.

Sheldon knocks an arrow as he and Indigo move forward. Indigo draws her swords.

San-Bolo have crossbow and bow ready.

It seems to take an eternity to move considering the extra care being taken to remain quiet. As San-Bolo are centerd on the smell of the smoke, Tor and Merin to the left, Sheldon and Indigo to the right. San-Bolo are the first to see into the small clearing that had been used for a camp and glimpse the grizzly sight. The campfire still smolders indicating the source of the smell but the smoke is overwhelmed by stench at this distance. Hanging by their ankles are the gutted remains of the four hunters that had passed the days before. They have been striped of all clothing and personal belongings. Their entrails smolder on the fire.

San-Bolo freeze as they realize what they are looking at. Their senses scour the area, ground level and above, searching for any hint of threat.

If the area is clear they will creep forward, still going for stealth. If this is a trap their intention is to spring it, trusting their companions nearby to make up the difference.

As Tor and Merin discover the grisly scene, they both freeze. Tor watches San-Bolo, scanning all around them for signs of danger, ready to rush to their aid. Meanwhile, Merin closes his eyes, and begins to concentrate. He is obviously trying to touch The Source of The Way.

Assessing the Situation

Sannit said:

San-Bolo freeze as they realize what they are looking at. Their senses scour the area, ground level and above, searching for any hint of threat.

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Bolo, with bow remaining at ready, arrow knocked, eases in and very slightly bumps Sannit. It is more than enough information to an exchange between two so close. Sannit stops moving, crossbow at ready, scanning the area understanding Bolo conformation of the certainty that this is a trap. A flicker of movement and the crunch of a leaf some 10 paces ahead, across the camp, catch their attention.

Merin said:

As Tor and Merin discover the grisly scene, they both freeze. Tor watches San-Bolo, scanning all around them for signs of danger, ready to rush to their aid. Meanwhile, Merin closes his eyes, and begins to concentrate. He is obviously trying to touch The Source of The Way.

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Alarm bells go off in Merin's head like the sounding of a gong. He catches Tor with his right hand and points twice urgently to their left as if yelling without making a sound, "There! There! I know the danger is there."

Sheldon and Indigo stop, appalled by the carnage. Taking in the scene and being even more cautious than before, they ease to the far right of the camp. A flicker of motion to his right causes Sheldon to slide in front of Indigo in an instinctive protective gesture, his bow up, arrow trained outward.

From a distance of about 20 paces behind, Aust and Revan happen, by chance, to be outside the radius of the circling quarry which crosses in between them and San-Bolo. Despite knowing it will draw attention to them, Aust shouts, "You are being surrounded! Behind you Sannit!"

After hearing Aust's shout, Sannit calls back, "Bring up the others!" attempting to trick the ambushers and maybe make them pause before striking.

Bolo watches with an arrow drawn, ready to fire.