C&C: A Lion in the Ropes

[driver8]

Our story begins with the party having recently formed in Verbobonc City. Banding together for adventure, fame, wealth or just simple escape, youve hit the road east. But obviously in such a short time you each know little of each others backgrounds and personalities.


Our party-

Norgim Soulforge (Kuld) Dwarf Paladin 2, divine champion
James Ferdinand III (scout989) Human Ranger 2, axe wielding woodsman
"Fatcoin" Bufo of Badwall (howand why99) Human Assassin 2, survivor and avenger
Grighton Yondo (Sado) Human Fighter 2, crossbowman extraordinaire
Vergart Crook-nose (mps42) Half Orc Cleric 2 , shamanic missionary of Kord
Colm (AndrewD Gable) Human Cleric 2, disciple of Delleb

RG thread
OOC thread

 

[driver8]

On the Road

"Ahh the Viscounty's a land of opportunity, nowadays. Paradise for adventurin' folk. Head east..there's fortunes to be made for the right sort."

The fat tavern keep in Verbobonc City, the one whose name you can't recall, had painted a rosy picture of the Viscounty of Verbobonc. A open land with few nobles running the affairs of the peasants, a place full of opportunity, a frontier where one could make his name.

After a few hours of his talk, some drinks, and lack of anything to do in the city, a party was formed.

It has now been over a week since youve left the city and began travelling east along the River Road. Your experience thus far has been a little different than the one predicted by the tavern keeper.

Everyday, its been the same thing. An endless parade of grey clouded skies and cold autumn winds. The road you've travelled has been lacking in other travellers-so much so that youve begun to doubt the existence of people in Verbobonc. And your view has been unchanging- the swift Velverdya River to your left, the low forested hills to your right. Sometimes, in the distance, a small farm or thorp.

However a quarter of an hour ago youve become aware of a presence in the treeline to your right, perhaps 30 feet away. A movement , a sound, difficult to place. As the party trudges to a small rise in the road, everyone is aware that something or someone is paralleling their movements along the road. Or at least, you think so. Between the wind, and the gloom of the overcast day, it is difficult to confirm.

As the party crests the ridge, your minds still occupied with movement in the woods, you almost miss a wisp of smoke in the distance. There, about a quarter of a mile away, you see it float skyward from a stand of trees between the river and the road. The trees block the source of the smoke, but a large red caravan wagon can clearly be spied nearby the river and the smoke.

So far the tavern keeper had been wrong about everything.

Maybe that would change now.

 

[Kuld]

Norgim Soulforge Paladin lvl2

Norgim changes the grip on his battleaxe to one that is more comfortable for fighting. Doing his best to shift his attention equally between the caravan and the presence in the forest, he does a quick scan in the air for any possible projectiles, while trying to sense an evil presence.


“Well men, either we have a caravan in some trouble, er they’re wantin’ to give us some of their own..”

 

[scout989]

James Ferdinand III

James raises an eyebrow at these words. "Not exactly the trusting type, eh? Well, I think we should all head down that way and offer our assistance... or our steel, if you're right" He looks expectantly at the others, confident that they'll agree with his masterful strategy.

 

[Sado]

Eager to prove his worth to his new companions, Yondo inconspicuously notches a bolt and readies his crossbow, keeping a watchful eye toward the treeline to their right.

 

[mps42]

Vergart

"... And then Kord, in his great wisdom, created the Ants and, yes, even the tiny Mosquito to build the balance between all creatures.
"I'll tell you one thing though, as boundless as His wisdom is and as much as He is the light, sometimes I regret his decision to make the Mosquito. It's an annoying little bug.
"What's that? Caravan in trouble? Oh, yes the smoke over there. Well, perhaps they are just having a late breakfast but we probably should check it out. Who knows, maybe they, too, will seek the path of enlightenment."

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Colm listens with interest as Vergart preaches. Although he'd never read in any of the canonical religious texts that Kord was the deity responsible for the creation of life, nor had he read anything that suggested such a thing was impossible. As he notices the column of smoke on the horizon, he moves his hand towards his morningstar.

"We'd best head down there, then, and see what this is all about," he says, secretly fearing the worst.

 

[howandwhy99]

Fatcoin

"Nay, I say this is an ambush. Let us approach as we must to pass by, but rushin' in I'm not keen on. I will flag slightly behind and keep my eye t'ward these woods here. Our shadow within may be more than a passing wolf who has caught our scent."

Fatcoin unshoulders his bow and knocks an arrow while keeping his eyes on the trees next to him. He scans for any tracks off the road, but remains on it with his companions.

 

[driver8]

No projectiles issue forth from the treeline. Suspicious, Norgim concentrates, but can sense no evil presence nearby.

With Fatcoin trailing behind, watchful for ambush from the forest, the party carefully approaches the stand of trees and the source of the smoke. Stealth, and the gusting wind allow the party to approach the tree stand covertly. As they approach, they can hear, just above the wind, the faint sounds of notes being plucked on a mandolin.

As they get closer, weapons at the ready, they can each see a small clearing through the trees. A small campfire, the source of the smoke, can be seen in the in the center of the clearing.

Several figures sit around the fire, unaware of the your spying. A human male with his back to the party, a tall male elf (who suprisingly has a beard of white) dressed in a suit of green, and a short female human with a mandolin, long black hair and a colorful crimson dress.

Behind these figures, another red caravan wagon, previously unseen, is parked in the clearing. Two halflings in leather tunics and gloves appear to be hard at work at one of the wagons wheels. A team of draft horses are tied close by.

Painted in large gold letters on this wagons side are the words:

Johan Fever's Troubadour Caravan and Circus
Astounding Oddities
Wonderous Tales

As the group takes this in, a small brown bear wearing a silver collar appears from behind a tree trunk to the party's left. The creature sees Norgim and stops. Gazing at the dwarf it emits a low grunt, and unmoving, stares at the paladin. There it remains, as if oblivious to the rest of the party.

 

[howandwhy99]

Fatcoin walks slowly and quietly to his left towards the river front. He keeps his head down trying to find cover from the group ahead in the clearing. Aware of the bear he nonetheless scans the people's dress and their wagons looking for insignias and flags.