(CSRHoD) Creamsteak's Red Hand of Doom [IC]

[Creamsteak]

Your group travels back out the way you came in, then north along the Dawn Way, still discussing your strategy as you travel. You pass two abandoned farm houses much like the one where you were ambushed the previous day, but they are devoid of activity and it appears they were set to the torch a few nights prior.

Jorr, with his best dog, stops a bit short of an older wooden bridge. He looks onwards at the wreckage of what appears to be an overturned wagon.

A wide expanse of dark water has flooded the woodland in this low valley. Trees still protrude from the calm, dark waters here and there, but many large reaches seem to be little more than open pools of algae chocked water. The trill of frogs and the whine of insects fills the air.The forest road leads right down to the edge of the flooded section, up to a rickety-looking causeway made of thick planks of wood lashed together with mossy rope. The wooden causeway runs for several hundred feet through the boggy patch, only a foot or so above water.

Up ahead you can make out the wreckage of a wagon, lying on its side and half-sunk in the flooded forest, about thirty feet from the causeway.

The A marks the wagon.

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tyrla said little during the conference with Jorr, and even less once they were back on the road- she was coming to a very high opinion of the instincts of her new traveling companions. It was easy to see why they were experienced, successful adventurers- they asked many of the questions that she would have asked herself, and they were often better phrased; they even made points she would have missed. As they travelled, Tyrla tried to keep the bulk of the group between herself and Jorr (or rather, his dog)- that habit was a hard one to break.

The possibility had occured to her that the old fellow might be the canny lone woodsman he claimed- or he might have survived the depredations which had wiped out larger households in another way. Perhaps he was in the hobgoblins' pay, and he meant to lead them into danger. For now, she was content to simply watch, merely adding the old fellow to her list of things to keep an eye on. When they reached the causeway, and Jorr came to a halt, Tyrla grew wary. She looked out towards the water-logged wagon, then swept her gaze around the area and over the far shore. Beneath the shelter of her swirling cloak, one hand crooked in a warding gesture, ready to call the forth the arcane fires she wielded. Perhaps one of the more sharp-eyed or woodswise of her companions would see something...

OOC: Any way to tell from here whether the wagon is an old wreck or something recent?

 

[Creamsteak]

It's hard to tell from this distance.

 

[Redclaw]

Larian looks out at the wagon mired in the muck. I like this not, good friends. What could lift a wagon out into such a morass without breaking it apart in the process? A sudden wave of water, or something large enough to make me pause in any attempt to seek it out. On the other hand, if you want to investigate, Avril, I will prepare myself to support you, should any trouble arise. He tries to look reassuring, despite his cautious nature.

[sblock=spells] Spells Prepared
0-Detect Magic, Lesser Acid Orb, Mage Hand, Daze
1-Shocking Grasp, True Srike, Color Spray, Enlarge Person (Trans.)
2-Scorching Ray, Scorching Ray, Invisibility, Bull’s Strength (Trans.)
3-Mass Resist Energy, Fireball, Haste (Trans.)

Spells in effect
Mage Armor--Until 10 hours after we left Drellin's Ferry

Rod of Extend 2 uses left[/sblock]

 

[pathfinderq1]

"I don't suppose any of you know how to swim," Tyrla says quietly, giving another worried glance towards the wagon. It might hold clues- or it might be bait, to draw them off the relative safety of the causeway...

OOC: Why am I waiting for the hobgoblin SEAL team, with snorkels and crossbows?

 

[Creamsteak]

Special water-proof repeating crossbows with exploding bolts.

 

[Arkhandus]

Warren the halfling, HP 33/33, AC 23, Child of Shadow stance active

"Only a little, but I've swum through shallows before. And I do a bit of fishing from time to time. Stay back, stay quiet, and stay put until I give a signal or you see something attack me. I'll go around and check out the area as quietly as I can." Warren says quietly as he hops down from the smaller of the groups' two horses. He quietly makes sure that all but his necessary gear is in the saddlebags.

"Larian, if there's anything you can do to help me swim better or be sneakier, go ahead. Otherwise I'll start crossing now," the halfling adds, before crouching down and willing the shadows of his clothes, body, and weapons to flow around him in a concealing, fluttering cloak. Warren makes sure to cover his mouth and nose, and loosely cover his ears, with cloth before wading in.

"Avril, if you could do something to make it seem like a large bird or small forest animal is landing at the edge of the water when I enter it, and just make a little bit of bird or small-critter noises for a few moments, I'd appreciate the bit of possible cover that might give while I slip into the water."

Once he's ready, Warren will creep over to the west of the bridge (9 spaces west of it, along the left edge of the map) before he begins to move forward towards the wagon. He then creeps forward, still low to the ground, and keeps careful watch around him while slowly entering the marshy waters, making certain that he produces as little as possible in the way of ripples or other disturbances.

He'll creep forward with his head just barely above the water until he gets close (8 spaces north/up and 3 spaces west/left of the northwestern/upper-left edge of the wagon) to the deeper parts of the water, then he'll hold his breath and submerge himself fully, pulling himself along the bottom as best he can. Warren will move as slowly as he can through the water without bobbing to the surface. He'll keep an eye out under the water if he can, for any alligators or other such things. Naturally, if he does see an alligator or suchlike approach him, he'll bolt out of the water and towards the nearest shore as soon as halflingly possible.

Warrens' goal is to reach the spot 4 spaces west/left and 1 space south/below the wagon's southeastern/lower-right end, then rise slowly up from the water to have a look. Warren will use his dagger and short sword if necessary to pull himself along the bottom of the water until he gets there, and will sheathe his dagger before emerging from the water. Either way he'll draw his short sword just before he reaches the spot where he'll be rising.

[sblock=ooc]Warren's Constitution is 14, so ya can figure out how long he can hold his breath. His total Swim bonus is +1, his total Hide bonus is +16, his total Move Silently bonus is +14, his total Listen bonus is +10, and his total Spot bonus is +8.

Active Stance: Child of Shadow.
Readied Maneuvers: Burning Blade, Mighty Throw, Cloak of Deception, Shadow Blade Technique, Stone Bones.

Gear that Warren keeps on his person for now, rather than in the saddlebags:

Short Sword, Dagger, Mithral Shirt, Gloves of Dexterity, Potion of Cure Light Wounds, 3 Potions of Cure Light Wounds from the hobgoblins, Antitoxin Vial, Traveler's Outfit, Belt Pouch, Wooden Holy Symbol of Olidammara, and his coinage.[/sblock]

 

[DrZombie]

The dwarf grins, takes out his axe and stands protectively near the mages, keeping his eyes peeled for fun, euhm, trouble.

 

[Redclaw]

I don't think there's much I can do for you, my small friend. Rest assured I will be prepared to assist from shore should that be necessary. As Warren walks off the platform, Larian will go stand where it starts to turn, even with the upper end of the wagon. He will have his bow out.

 

[Pinotage]

Avril - Human Druid - Spot +11 - Listen +11
Scarlet - Riding Dog - Spot +5 - Listen +5

Avril scanned the waters of the crossway, curiousity drawing her to the wagon and how it may have come to lie like that in the water. "It's strange," she remarked. "Far off the path and into the water. I find it difficult to imagine that it was pushed there. Dragged more like it. But what could drag something so big into the water?" She scanned the water again with serious eyes.

Warren suggestion sounded dangerous, but the halfling was known to protect himself and stay out of trouble. "Very well. Perhaps a few sounds and some stones thrown into the water might provide an adequate distraction from the wagon and your approach." Using all the knowledge she could think of, she started sounding out a single cry of a eagle stuck in the water. Then she carefully threw a few stones into the water, light stones like the splash of a feathered wing. She wasn't sure if it would help, but hopefully the very noise would draw any attention away from Warren.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
OOC:Knowledge (Nature) +8, to mimic the eagle sounds.

Avril hp - 36/36
Scarlet hp - 30/30

Spells and Abilities Active:

(None)

Spells Cast and Abilities/Items Used:

(None)

Spells Prepared:

Level 0 (5): Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Guidance, Naturewatch, Resistance
Level 1 (4): Cure Light Wounds, Enrage Animal, Entangle, Produce Flame
Level 2 (3): Barkskin, Bear's Endurance, Cat's Grace
Level 3 (2): Call Lightning, Cure Moderate Wounds
[/SBLOCK]