[Eberron] What Lurks Below (IC)

[The Baron]

The first drops of rain make dark circles in the dirt road.

Jannis, your client, stands in the middle of the path, the hooded lantern in his hand casting a weak light through the overcast night. The dirt road runs like a brown river through field of tall grass swaying from side to side, making shadows dance at the end of your vision.

Jannis says through heavy breathes, "I know we're not there yet, mates, but it shouldn't be more than another hour or so. Soon we'll be dry and behind the walls of Windshire."

Jannis had hired you more than a week ago in Passage. He needed an escort to Windshire, and he was willing to pay well: 100 gold for about a weeks worth of time, most of it on a boat. Little did you know, Jannis had also hired five other escorts.

You met at the longboat Final Voyage in Passage. As it traveled along the shore of Lake Galifer and up the Wynarn River you got to know your companions a little better - or perhaps you kept silent, wondering why someone needed such expensive protection on the way to a sleepy hamlet in a peaceful region of Aundair.

You docked this morning at a small boathouse on the side of the Wynarn. From there you followed a gentle path through farmland bursting with grains for bread and grapes for wine. It must be close to harvest time. After stopping for a brief lunch you continued on, the land slowly growing more hilly and elevated. This made the walk slightly more taxing, but in the late afternoon dark clouds behind you provided some extra motivation. However, it appears you didn't beat the darkness or the rainclouds. But Windshire is close.

"It must just be over the next few rises," Jannis reassures as the rain begins to come down heavier.

(ooc: i've provided a map. please place yourself (and any animals) on the grid. remember horses are large so provide a four square area for them. Jannis is the J. The yellow circle is the illuminated radius and the dark circle is the end of the shadowy illumination - barring low-light vision or dark vision. Please mention in your first post what, if anything, is in your hands)

 

[Jdvn1]

Dormon currently has a cloak on, but he only wears it out of necessity. To a stranger, he probably looks like a cloaked child. His right hand holds his cloak close to his body and his left grasps a bow under his cloak. After all, he was paid to protect this guy, but he's not really expecting too much at the moment.

It may be difficult to tell, but Dormon is mindlessly humming a random tune. The rain drowns out most unintentional sounds, though. When Jannis speaks up, he stops humming and turns his head to reply, "Out of curiosity, what business brings you to such an out-of-the-way hamlet?"

OOC: Are we going towards the right or the left? If to the left, I'll be on N16. If to the right, J13. Behind and off to the left, close to the tall grass. Ready to jump in and hide.

 

[Wyrmslayer]

Kennith look excitely around and grinned. He slowly stroked Gyder's mane and quietly consider his horse. If he had the money, he would rather ride one of those legendary giant bird of Aundair. Nonetheless, Gyder is excellent mount, judged Kennith by his experience in horsemanship. He hummed a tune as they traveled on, wishing that they will encounter or do something that he can related to his fratenity with great pleasure later on.


ooc: L11 and K11 is where Kennith is at with his horse Gyder. Ripper, the dog is at K10. Hopefully the Improved Initiative and Alertness will save my hide
Oh yeah, nothing on hand except dirt

 

[Krug]

Tykri meowed to herself. She hated being wet. She hoped by some miracle the rain would go away and leave her be. She prefered the city, which was more of her environment. Here out in the wild, she felt exposed.


Tykri is at I14.

 

[taitzu52]

Jeth'bar walks ahead and guides the group. Not being gifted with night vision, he does his best to peer off into the gloom, wondering why this man needs such a heavy escort. His wide brimmed hat is pulled down, while his stiff, high collar is buttonned to the top, revealing only his eyes, ears, and the bridge of his nose. His attire's effect on his conversational abilities are of little concern to him. His only solace is the feel of his beautiful bow in his grip, raindrops on it glisteinig on it's fine laquer.

(OOC- My posiiton is dependant on our direction of travel. Either G14 or O14 would be my spot, whichever is in the fore. My bow is in hand.)

 

[PlotMonster]

"Indeed!" Gedward exclaims after making out Dormon's words through the rain. "What of importance can be found in this Windshire? At least the gods have placed a blessing onto the fields of Aundair."

Gedward's comfort in the rain is belied by his occassional mutterings and constantly clearing the water off his face. Before the rain, Gedward had been fairly silent, seeming to be constantly observing the landscape. He would intermittently comment on the landscape or the fauna.

In the rain, he has no equipment at the ready, though his hands usually seem prepared to move at if needed. Unfortunately, that seem to be a little more clumsy than Gedward would lead you to believe.

ooc: Gedward is standing at L15, slightly behind Jannis.

 

[P0L]

Kort is walking 20' in front of his employer, moving with easy and long strides (for a halfling). He is an honorable halfling, and no matter how easy the job seems to be (and it seems like EASY money) he intends to carry it out to the best of his abilities.

The rain doesn´t bother Kort much, he likes this walk through the wilderness much better than the boat riding, not being too much of a swimmer. The backpack with his stuff doesnt weight much to him, Foecleaver rests sheated at across his back, the hilt protuding from his left shoulder, he carries the composite longbow on his left hand and tries his best to penetrate the darkness watching out for potential trouble.

 

[The Baron]

Jannis sighs at the questions, "What my mis... purpose for coming here might be is none of your concern. Your only concern is my protection. I suppose I should inform you all that this area has not been completely safe as of late. So stay on guard. Hopefully we'll make these next few miles without incident."

As if on cue, a howl comes from the north, from deep within the dark fields. A second howl responds, this one much closer and to the south. A number of shadowy figures leap from their hiding spots among the tall grass. Through the dark and the rain, they seem to be fur-covered humanoids with one large claw on each of their hands. Tykri's keen eyes spot the creatures as they make their move and her quick reflexes allow her to react in unison with their emergence.

Spot checks:
Jeth'bar - 3(roll)+6(mod)-4(rain)=5(failure)
Tykri - 14(roll)+2(mod)-4(rain)=12(success)
Gedward - 6(roll)+3(mod)-4(rain)=5(failure)
Dormon - 6(roll)+0(mod)-4(rain)=2(failure)
Kennith - 12(roll)+2(mod)-4(rain)=10(failure)
Kort - 3(roll)+0(mod)-4(rain)=-1(failure)

ooc: this is a surprise round for just the bandits and Tykri - the rest of you will have to wait (sorry for the bad rolling!) Tykri, you have a move action - post away! Updated map below. You should all be placed on the map now and so are the creatures (B1-B6 respectfully, running clockwise from the northwest). Realize some of them are outside of illumination and may not be seen by you. Take a look, and I'll try to post quickly after Tykri so the rest of you - and your foes - can get moving.

 

[Krug]

"Blasted! An ambush!" she screams. "Running through the rain!"

Tykri shoots an arrow at B1. I assume her bow is ready and armed. If not, she will nock and arrow for the next round.

 

[P0L]

Cursing the poor visibility, Kort stops, closing the distance with his employer as he nocks an arrow and tenses his bow looking for a target in the rain.