Door to Nowhere

[Kwargrow]

Taylar intends to manipulate waylines to increase his senses and attempt to detect what caught Plumeir's attention.

Spoiler: Rolls

80

 

[MacConnell]

Taylar...

GM: Wariness Astarte: 51(perception) + 44(hearing) + 50(d100) = 145 Plumeir: 61(observation) + 51(smell) + 63 = 175 Taylar: 46(perception) + 37(hearing) + 75 = 158

Since neither he nor Astarte could confirm the suspicion from Plumeir, Taylar begins to creep forward along the game trail, motioning for the other to be quiet and alert. The river is somewhat visible to the West and the forest displays nothing of clearing to the East. The game trail offers the easiest and most logical egress. Within about a 100 more steps, Taylar can hear nothing of a fire but can hear quiet movement and quiet voices of people coming from the North. Whomever is ahead, it is not some quaint village. These people seem more like experienced explorers. At this distance, Plumeir can point in the direction of what he is sure is a campfire, not some accidental natural disaster. Only able to amplify his sense of smell, he cannot hear what Taylar does, but Astarte can tilt her head back and forth to pick up some of the sounds.

 

[astarte]

Astarte can tilt her head back and forth to pick up some of the sounds

She will do this, then silently draw an arrow from her quiver and get her bow ready, just in case of some unexpected attack.

 

[Kwargrow]

To maintain secrecy, Taylar does not speak but uses hand motions to alert the Investigators that there are people nearby and what direction they are in. He will continue to stealth approach the mystery people until he can see who it is. If there is some indication that the Investigators are discovered and there is an alarm, Taylar will draw his bludgeons and prepare to fight.

Spoiler: Rolls

66

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Plumeir acknowledges Taylar with a hand signal and indicates that he is going to try to cut straighter through the forest, rather than follow the trail, on the inland side, the party's right flank. He will camouflage himself as he moves.

OOC: 58

 

[MacConnell]

Astarte...

... Taylar...

Plumeir...

Spoiler: Enhancement

Astarte: 46(hearing)
Plumeir: 51(smell, camo)
Taylar: 37(hearing)

Spoiler: Wariness

Astarte: 51(perception) + 46(hearing) + 50(d100) = 147
Plumeir: 61(observe) + 51(smell) + 58 = 170
Taylar: 46 + 37(hearing) + 66 = 149

Having no way of knowing who could be found ahead, the party prepares for the worst, as is the nature of experienced travelers. Both Taylar and Astarte could hear Plumeir move through the trees but he demonstrates some skill, as he sounds more like an animal than a person. After only a few steps he was very difficult to see.

The trail was not straight, as it tended to follow the river; but based upon the direction of the curious sounds and smells, it should head more to the East, meeting with the direction Plumeir is moving. Walking the trail is faster than cutting through the trees. Astarte continues with Taylar. At about the same distance, all three can view the cause of the sound and the campfire.

Taylar had seen members of this tribe before, as the Outliers had been ambushed by them along the Western Road, twice. They are on the taller side of average but not so muscular, charcoal gray, Aedamans. As a tribe, they are wanderers, suspicious, and defensive, contributing very little to societal advancement. When encountered, they tend to exhibit a bully mentality and provoke hostility, sometimes ambushing caravans to steal supplies.

Whereas they are normally clothed and equipped rudimentarily to simply, this particular group of three couples of Nishurins are clothed in fairly well-made leather garments, including full boots, not just shin guards and equipped with recurve bows and metal-tipped arrows. There are no signs of children with them or having been with them. It is not likely that these are the kidnappers, but the camp, though not a village, looks to be a bit permanent. Someone is evidently supplying this group, and it seems highly likely that they are in associations with the kidnappers.

As the party observes the group, the Nishurins indicate a great wariness of their surroundings and ready arrows as they begin to look about for a danger they, evidently cannot yet see. Each of the party is still too distant to attempt a mystical assault and line of sight is not good enough to warrant a projectile.

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar]: full wellness
Astarte: full wellness
Plumeir: full wellness

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and intentions. Provide a random roll.

 

[Kwargrow]

Still using hand motions Taylar indicates that he and Astarte should separate to keep from being attacked with an area of effect ability. He takes out his bludgeons and it is clear on his face that he does not think this will end peacefully since none of them speak the Nishurin language. He manipulates waylines to increase his defense against projectiles and starts walking towards the Nishurins away from Astarte and Plumeir and he does not bother to try and hide his approach.

Spoiler: Rolls

91(+61)=152

 

[astarte]

Astarte whispers to Taylar to be careful and (if he can) to obscure his presence at least until he reaches the enemies. She also remind him, that they should take two of the foes alive. "There's still a chance they might tell us something useful." She'll then obscure her presence and quietly walk toward the hostiles to the distance close enough to hit them, hides behind a tree, and start shooting to kill to those that seems to be the hardest opponents.

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Plumeir can no longer see his friends any better than he can see the potential enemy, but he fully suspects that these people will be enemies. He quietly approaches the encampment from his flanked direction, ready for action, especially since the unknown group is well-equipped.

OOC: 71

 

[MacConnell]

... Taylar...

Astarte...

Plumeir...

Taylar hears the words of Astarte but almost imperceptibly shakes his head to reaffirm his defiance of hiding. His willingness to be seen should offer a greater chance for the other to remain concealed. Taking the trail, which is not straight, his presence quickly becomes known to the Nishurins. Astarte takes a straighter path to augment her desire to be undetected in the partial cover of the trees and undergrowth. The deliberate approach of Taylar completely takes attention away from the possible location of Plumeir.

Spoiler: Enhancements

Astarte: 44(soullessness)
Plumeir: 51(camouflage)
Taylar: 32(motility)

Spoiler: Stealth

Astarte: 52(subterfuge) + 44(soullessness) + 50(d100) = 146
Plumeir: 60(tactics) + 51(camo) + 71 = 182

Nishurins: 120(wariness) + 81(d100) = 201

As there is no doubt that Taylar is ready for conflict, the nearest male Nishurin states in a heavily accented Markidian, as he gestures with his right hand, “Turn around. You go back.”

Spoiler: Reaction

Astarte: 53(readiness) + 48(speed) + 32(clarity) + 50(d100) = 183
Plumeir: 42 + 63 + 51 + 71 = 228
Taylar: 69 + 46 + 32 + 152 = 299
Nishurins: 200 + 81 = 281

His female partner is also focused on Taylar. Both have arrows nocked and ready to be drawn. The other four Nishurins, certain that the solely visible man could not possibly be alone, scan the area looking for other foes. Close enough to have a better view, Taylar can see that some effort has been made to make the encampment more of a permanent establishment. If these people are not the kidnappers and it stands to reason that they are not, they are in league with them, or the kidnappers would have had to avoid passing through this spot. There is a thick tension in the air. Even the birds have gone silent.

Taylar is about 5 or 6 strides from the man who spoke. Astarte is about the same distance from both Taylar, the man, and the next nearest couple. Plumeir is about twice that distance to the East and about 6 strides from the campfire and the third couple.

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar]: full wellness
Astarte: full wellness
Plumeir: full wellness

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and intentions. Provide 2 random rolls.