Steve Gorak
Adventurer
Ethian is busy undoing the harness knots when the stranger arrives. Seeing his non threatening demeanour, he continues with his task, letting the other deal with him.
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A Candlekeep Mystery (IC)
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Hawthorne watched Dolman with an eye expert in spotting subtle shifts in body-language that would betray a negotiator's true intentions. The man seemed friendly enough, replying, "I know these mountains well enough. I fell trees for lumber and firewood and sell 'em to the towns below. Simple living that suits me."
He scratched his greying, dirty beard. It was an absent gesture, but Hawthorne saw it for what it was - a signal to someone nearby that instructed them to wait. Perhaps if they were intending to ambush the group, Dolman had reconsidered.
The woodsman gratefully took Ruznami's offer of a drink, and sat down on a rock next to the fire, placing his axe on the ground next to him.
"Ghosts?" he said to Argenti, "Perhaps. We're not far from that old abandoned village. I'd stay away from there, if you don't want to find ghosts."
He scratched his greying, dirty beard. It was an absent gesture, but Hawthorne saw it for what it was - a signal to someone nearby that instructed them to wait. Perhaps if they were intending to ambush the group, Dolman had reconsidered.
The woodsman gratefully took Ruznami's offer of a drink, and sat down on a rock next to the fire, placing his axe on the ground next to him.
"Ghosts?" he said to Argenti, "Perhaps. We're not far from that old abandoned village. I'd stay away from there, if you don't want to find ghosts."
Steve Gorak
Adventurer
Continuing tackling the knots on the harness, Ethian gets curious when ghosts are mentioned. He raises his head and asks: "Tell me friend, have you seen such ghosts?"
Ethian pays close attention to the stranger and his response.
Ethian pays close attention to the stranger and his response.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
"Not myself, no." said Dolman, "But I have had nightmares, like something was trying to get into my head, once when I camped too close."
He indicated that here might count as 'too close' for camp, with a gesture.
(Hawthorne felt that the gesture seemed to hide a signal that told an observer nearby that there was danger here. He hoped that it meant that Dolman felt that his group of agents were too formidable to ambush.)
He indicated that here might count as 'too close' for camp, with a gesture.
(Hawthorne felt that the gesture seemed to hide a signal that told an observer nearby that there was danger here. He hoped that it meant that Dolman felt that his group of agents were too formidable to ambush.)
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As the woodsman sits down and takes the proffered drink from Argenti, Hawthorne nods with his lips pursed a little tightly. His read of the man gave him the hint that perhaps the woodsman wasn't truly alone out here, and Hawthorne felt that the sooner both sides could get their cards on the table the safer both sides would be. "So there might be ghosts in the area, eh? Huh. You know, since we arrived here I have had the odd feeling like we were being watched."
He turns his eyesight away from the campfire to allow his eyes to adjust a bit more to the darkness, and takes a few steps outside the fire's radius while placing his hands on his hips to look out into the treeline to see whomever it was that Dolman seemed to be indicating to.
"I hope your nightmares have not caused you too much anguish, my good man. I admit that the attack of the massive ankheg we received on the Uldoon Trail heading to get here might have caused me a bit of mental strain as well, but thankfully we were able to dispose of that wretched creature quite easily. I have hired a very competent band of agents I must say."
While he did not mention the ankheg attack and their successful defense against it to intimidate Dolman directly... Hawthorne did hope that his confident revelation and slight doublespeak would convince the woodsman and whomever it was he thought was out there in the trees to think twice about engaging with them. He turned back to Dolman with a smile and patted the crossbow in the holster on his hip. "Strong weapons at your side make for much easier sleeping. We shall see if that is true if the sounds I hear out there..." (he motions into the trees) "try to come to us during the night. The spirits can be strong, but I'm fairly sure we can break a spirit easily enough."
He turns his eyesight away from the campfire to allow his eyes to adjust a bit more to the darkness, and takes a few steps outside the fire's radius while placing his hands on his hips to look out into the treeline to see whomever it was that Dolman seemed to be indicating to.
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"I hope your nightmares have not caused you too much anguish, my good man. I admit that the attack of the massive ankheg we received on the Uldoon Trail heading to get here might have caused me a bit of mental strain as well, but thankfully we were able to dispose of that wretched creature quite easily. I have hired a very competent band of agents I must say."
While he did not mention the ankheg attack and their successful defense against it to intimidate Dolman directly... Hawthorne did hope that his confident revelation and slight doublespeak would convince the woodsman and whomever it was he thought was out there in the trees to think twice about engaging with them. He turned back to Dolman with a smile and patted the crossbow in the holster on his hip. "Strong weapons at your side make for much easier sleeping. We shall see if that is true if the sounds I hear out there..." (he motions into the trees) "try to come to us during the night. The spirits can be strong, but I'm fairly sure we can break a spirit easily enough."
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Hawthorne counted at least three humanoids lurking in the shadows and underbrush at various places about a hundred yards from the camp.
"I think you will find that animal nor man would brave to bother you here tonight." said Dolman, a little loudly for how close he was to Hawthorne. "My thanks for the drink and food. I think I will be on my way. I sleep more soundly lower down. I hope you fare better than I."
He got up, stretched, and picked up his axe in a careful, non-threatening way.
"I think you will find that animal nor man would brave to bother you here tonight." said Dolman, a little loudly for how close he was to Hawthorne. "My thanks for the drink and food. I think I will be on my way. I sleep more soundly lower down. I hope you fare better than I."
He got up, stretched, and picked up his axe in a careful, non-threatening way.
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"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mister Dolman. I pray that your sleep this evening is relaxing and free from worry."
Hawthorne smiles at the woodsman and gives a small wave as the man walks off. He listens carefully to the sounds of the trees and underbrush to make sure the other three scallywags also follow Dolman further down the trail, holding his hand slightly up to the others around the campfire to hold their speech and actions for a few minutes.
After several minutes, and his confidence that Dolman and his associates have left the area, Hawthorne immediately goes into action mode. "Okay, so that's one potential issue disarmed for the night, but let's not let any stones go unturned. Kaliban... Crock Jon... you're our warriors and can see in the dark, yes? Go do a circle or two around the camp just to make sure there are no one else out there skulking about. I counted at least three out there when our... friend... was here eating our food and drinking our drink. Pretty sure they have all thought better of engaging us, but I'd prefer to be sure."
He looks to Shedrick-- who is sitting by the fire with his mouth to his flask-- and motions to the young man. "Shedrick, I want extra eyes on the camp tonight. There's what... seven of us? Eight if we count Archimedes? Let's do four on, four off and split the night in half. Talk with everyone and figure out our watch for tonight. I don't mind getting a later start tomorrow morning so we all can get at least five solid hours each, plus have four sets of eyes looking out there, ghosts or not." He motions out into the woods, then nods to the half-orc and the deep gnome to get started hopefully.
Hawthorne smiles at the woodsman and gives a small wave as the man walks off. He listens carefully to the sounds of the trees and underbrush to make sure the other three scallywags also follow Dolman further down the trail, holding his hand slightly up to the others around the campfire to hold their speech and actions for a few minutes.
After several minutes, and his confidence that Dolman and his associates have left the area, Hawthorne immediately goes into action mode. "Okay, so that's one potential issue disarmed for the night, but let's not let any stones go unturned. Kaliban... Crock Jon... you're our warriors and can see in the dark, yes? Go do a circle or two around the camp just to make sure there are no one else out there skulking about. I counted at least three out there when our... friend... was here eating our food and drinking our drink. Pretty sure they have all thought better of engaging us, but I'd prefer to be sure."
He looks to Shedrick-- who is sitting by the fire with his mouth to his flask-- and motions to the young man. "Shedrick, I want extra eyes on the camp tonight. There's what... seven of us? Eight if we count Archimedes? Let's do four on, four off and split the night in half. Talk with everyone and figure out our watch for tonight. I don't mind getting a later start tomorrow morning so we all can get at least five solid hours each, plus have four sets of eyes looking out there, ghosts or not." He motions out into the woods, then nods to the half-orc and the deep gnome to get started hopefully.
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VLAD the Destroyer
Adventurer
Kaliban stayed seated near the fire as the man approached and began talking to the others. He stayed silent and waited, ready for trouble in case that was the strangers intent. He smiles at the man as he sits at the fire and shares in their food and drink. As the man is ushered off he stands. He nods to Hawthorne.
"I was going to suggest something very similar. Crock Jon you coming."
"I was going to suggest something very similar. Crock Jon you coming."
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Crock Jon is pleased that he could stay in the shadows while the visitor was with them, stacking firewood. He breathes easier when Dolman leaves, and when Hawthorne gives him his instructions, he nods, giving a slight bow. "Yess'r," he says, as Kaliban invites him to join.
The two head into the woods, and start to make a perimeter, 60 feet out. That's far enough that they can still use the light from the fire, but not be easily seen.
They make two slow circles around the campsite, looking to see if there remain figures in the woods. As they do, they are also looking for places to watch from.
Assuming the perimeter seems secure, Crock Jon will squat down somewhere along the way, possibly further out, where he thinks he might have the best view. He's prepared to wait, keeping an eye on the trail, for at least an hour after their initial perimeter is secure.
If he sees a sexcond viewpoint, he'll point it out to Kaliban. "There might be a nice place to rest tonight," he suggests casually.
The two head into the woods, and start to make a perimeter, 60 feet out. That's far enough that they can still use the light from the fire, but not be easily seen.
They make two slow circles around the campsite, looking to see if there remain figures in the woods. As they do, they are also looking for places to watch from.
Assuming the perimeter seems secure, Crock Jon will squat down somewhere along the way, possibly further out, where he thinks he might have the best view. He's prepared to wait, keeping an eye on the trail, for at least an hour after their initial perimeter is secure.
If he sees a sexcond viewpoint, he'll point it out to Kaliban. "There might be a nice place to rest tonight," he suggests casually.
FitzTheRuke
Legend
Crock Jon and Kaliban disappeared off into the night. They circled the campsite once, and then, not finding anyone, they headed a little further than Kaliban would have preferred, along a ridge above a trail that seemed a likely place for Dolman and his group to have left the main road. The instinct proved right; down among the trees, by then about a half a mile off, Crock Jon and Kaliban spotted a secluded campfire. Watching for awhile from a distance, they counted four figures in the firelight.
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