24th of Goodmonth 579 CY
along the High Road in the Kron Hills
5:12 pm
The morning dawns with grey clouds across the sky and a coolness in the air that causes everyone to break out their cloaks and keep their thoughts to themselves. Busily breaking camp the large group has a breakfast of hard biscuits and cold ham in silence as they roll up their bedding and repack their supplies.
The cold summer morning adds to the dread in the face of the merchant Javin Martell, and is reflected in the face of his driver as the two hold a quiet conversation, Javin clearly telling him of the images he was showed the night before. Although visibly shaken the driver hitches up the horses to one of the carts, mumbling as he goes about his work.
So with little joy of what the day will bring, the party sets out heading north along the High Road. The first cart is driven once more by Javin and his henchman, while the second has Templeton at the reins and Hexiros riding shotgun. Rebekah and Gwylla have resumed their spots in the back of the first cart, and Emmyr takes turns with Aridha and Zanword riding in what little space the second cart offers. Mounted on the giant frog Rana loops behind the merchant train lost in her own thoughts.
It is only a couple hours before the terrain starts to roll and small copses of trees dot the open grassland at odd intervals, you have reached the Kron Hills. The beauty of this untouched land is not lost on you even though their is no sun to brighten the hues of the long grass or hills of wildflowers. Three times before noon Javin stops the carts at the crest of a hill and then Hexiros, Zanword, Emmyr, and Aridha set off to patrol the upcoming area for bandits. It is slow going, but the extra caution seems to relax Javin so Rana says nothing to the added travel time.
After stopping to stretch and put on a pot of beef n'barely soup for a hot lunch everyone notices a slight smile on Javin's lips as he sits on a rock eating. As the group remounts he is heard saying,
"I think we may just get through this without any trouble."
Famous last words...
The journey continues on much as the same with another four stops and patrols. With the sun only a couple of hours away from setting Javin's thoughts turned to Hommlet and seeing some of his friends in the rustic hamlet. He misses stopping at the crest of the last hill and only realizes this as he reaches the bottom...
"Oh no," he gasps as the first arrow strikes.
The first of many, as another dozen arrows arch through the sky and bring chaos with them.
One hits the flank of Javin's team and the horse rears and pulls the reins out of the man's hands. Cursing and reaching for the reins it is to late as the team free of its lead bolts away cutting across the road at a jolting pace. The rear wheels hit a hump in the center of the road and throw both female half-elves six inches off their seats into the air. Unfortunately when they come back down the cart is no longer under them and they both tumble to the ground sending up dirt and dust.
Templeton manages to keep his team of horses from trampling the two women as he pulls it off to the other side of the road and then brings it into a nice position to defend some of the others. Zanword runs up to assist Gwylla, just as a terrible barking erupts from the tree line ahead.

A dozen humaniod hyenas erupt from the trees barking and howling. As they loop towards the group you can see clawed hands clutching spears, shields, and some with nets. The armor is a mash of horn, metal, and leather that covers pelts of motley red, brown, and some spotted in light hues. There muzzles support yellowed fangs and there tongues slobber out the sides of their mouths. The ray of sunlight escapes the clouds and causes their feral eyes to glow with a golden shine, as they advance quickly.
Emmyr and Hexiros leap off the second cart and take up positions in the middle of the road to help protect the half-elves that are face down in the dirt. An couple arrows drops a foot into the dirt in front of the two combatants. Looking over the heads of the advancing creatures, the two warriors see the forms of others hidden in the trees some forty yards away.
Rana and Aridha make it to the cover of Templeton's wagon and the young girl ties the frogs reins to one of its wheels, as Rana steps down from the beasts back.
"Oh bother," she mutters to herself.
[sblock=Map]

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[sblock=Combat]
Emmyr J9
AC:16, HP:13, sword&axe
Hexrios L10
AC:16, HP:12, UNKNOWN
Rebekah H10
AC:13, HP:10, NONE,
PRONE
Templeton J11
AC:16, HP:10, sbow,
cover
Gwylla G11
AC:12, HP:8, NONE,
PRONE
Rana I12
AC:15, HP:7, cane,
COVER
pack frog I13
AC:10, HP:11, tongue,
TOTAL COVER
Zanword F12
AC:17, HP:12, cutlass&shield
Aridha H13
AC:15, HP:10, cutlass&shield,
TOTAL COVER
Gnoll Saves: STR(+2), DEX(+1), CON(+0), INT(-1), WIS(+0), CHA(-2)
Gnoll X2 AC:15, HP:14, spear, net,
cover
Gnoll W3 AC:15, HP:19, spear, shield
Gnoll X5 AC:15, HP:21, spear, shield
Gnoll U7 AC:15, HP:22, spear, shield
Gnoll S8 AC:15, HP:27, spear, shield
Gnoll W9 AC:17, HP:20, spear, shield,
cover
Gnoll T10 AC:17, HP:22, spear, shield,
cover
Gnoll V12 AC:17, HP:19, spear, shield,
cover
Gnoll T13 AC:17, HP:22, spear, shield,
cover
Gnoll R15 AC:17, HP:22, spear, shield,
cover
Gnoll X15 AC:15, HP:16, spear, net,
cover
Gnoll S16 AC:15, HP:13, spear, net,
cover
NOTES:
Surprise round: Gnolls fire at merchant train = chaos insues
RD1 -
Gnolls: most dash towards party see map (others to far to matter at the moment)
Party - IS UP (and note there will be no other major fights this day so have at them)
Little white dot means difficult terrain (mostly forest) and provides
cover, also moving through any of the cart space is difficult terrain. Aridha could move straight to M14 at the cost of 40' of movement. Saying she dove under the cart and came up on the other side. When in the cart space please let me know if you are under it or on top.
cover = +2 to AC and DEX saves
COVER = +5 to AC and DEX saves
TOTAL COVER = cannot be target with attack, may be caught in AoE
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