Mark of the Raven, Chapter 1 - 'Convergence'

[jkason]

Galec Setou, shifter cleric

Galec looks to both paths, then shrugs.

"I have no great woodcraft at my disposal, so one of these looks as likely as the other to me. Whichever road we choose, I think we might be better off sticking together for now. Dol Dorn praises an individual's strength, but there is also a strength in numbers, as Izril says."

 

[ByteRynn]

"I, however, do have some great woodcraftiness about me, an' these roads look jus' as good as each other."

Breyer looks about a moment.

"I suspect that if our instructions were just to check out this area, searchin' this whole valley would be a lot more simple if we split ourselves up. After all, what 'ave we got t'fear anyway?"

 

[Hanuman47]

Wen nods in agreement with Breyer. "You're right - we could do this a lot more quickly if we split into two groups." He ponders the forking ways. Which is the best path to choose? Unable to decide, he lies down on his back and stares straight up into the sky. A drifting cloud passes over the rocky spires, reminding Wen for a moment of a harpooned whale. He sits up. "I want to be with the group that goes that way," he says, pointing to the right hand path.

 

[Azaar]

Farsis Nightshadow -- Ranger 1 / Warlock 1

"We are, however, supposed to split into two groups before long, if memory serves." Farsis, other than when he's been called upon to consult, has remained quiet -- more so than usual, at least to those who know him. "How much further were we to go before parting ways, or are we close enough now to continue with our original plan?"

 

[MrCjeli]

Denihade, Changeling Beguiler

"The closer we get to our destination, the 'arder it will be to divide ourselves without bringing attentions to our endeavor," Horat offers, "I agree with Farsis that we will also work quicker in two parties. I must admit ignorance of nature of the lay of the land, so I defer to those who do. Just so long as both parties possess capablities in this regard I believe we will meet with success. Baring an ambush of course."

Horat grins morbidly and adjusts the worn straps of his backpack. He hangs close to Izril and awaits some sort of command decision or consensus to be reached.

 

[jkason]

Galec Setou, shifter cleric

Galec's shoulders twitch in a shrug.

"Seems I'm in the minority, and the group feels it's time to split, then. Let the strength of consensus bend my will today. I've no preference for path myself."

 

[Kishin]

(I apologize for the delay, folks)

Izril nods his assent at the group's decision. His own opinion of the decision is unreadable, his face a focused mask of deep thought. "Very well then. Myself, Arlas, Nakaz and Edaura shall take the high road. We shall follow Edaura's lead, given her skill in these matters. Likewise, Farsis and Breyer are both experienced woodsman, and should serve the rest of you well enough." Striding over to the group quickly, Izril extends a hand to Breyer, dropping an unremarkable black marble into the Dwarf's hands. "Crush this within your grasp if you have found the airship, or are in need of us. It bears a minor enchantment, but a useful one." The Elf explains, before rejoining his group and taking the first steps toward the uppster path.

"Luck to all of you." Arlas calls over his shoulder.

The right path descends in a steady slope, twisting its way about the hillside. The path is never truly precarious, but some degree of corodinated footwork is required, and occasionally, a boot quietly dislodges a clump of dirt or a handful of small pebbles, sending it skittering down the hillside. At the bottom of the trail, a larger pile of dirt and stone collects, scattered and trampled by what may have very well be recent footfalls. This path may very well not be unknown to the other denizens of the area.

This suspicion is confirmed once the trail flattens itself outward once more. Up ahead, just beyond the dried remnants of the streambed, a lump of brown and black lies amidst darkly stained stones. Some feet ahead of this lump, the hills rise up again, channeling the trail into a narrow pathway dominated by the shadows of nearby mountains.

Closer inspection of the body marks it to be a Hobgoblin, clad in black leathers and cloak, its flesh crisscrossed and mutilated by long, exceptionally bloody gashes. The damage is such that the creature's face appears all but unrecognizable, and one ear appears to have been completely torn from its skull. The death seems to have occurred fairly recently, the body still wet with its own life's blood.

Farsis, Denihade, Ixen
[sblock]While drawing near the body, you catch the barest hint of the sound of harsh, screeching birdcalls. Glancing upwards rewards you with an idea of the possible source, as a number of dark, hawklike shapes flit about overhead, almost out of sight.[/sblock]

 

[jkason]

Galec Setou, shifter cleric

Galec wrinkles up his nose at the sight of the body, then shakes the obvious tension from his shoulders and re-composes himself. Holding his crossbow at the ready, Galec looks around, sniffing at the air.

"If the hobgoblin has nothing of value on him," he says to those inspecting the body, "we should keep moving, I think. Whether it was guarding something or merely hunting, whatever did this isn't likely to treat us with more hospitality."

[sblock=OOC]I saw a thread recently about using the Heal skill to glean information from a dead body (method of death, etc.). Would Galec be able to do that here? If not, no big deal, but it seemed an opportune time to check. [/sblock]

 

[Kishin]

Galec
[sblock]Seems like a perfectly valid use of Heal to me.

From examining the body, it seems to Galec that the Hobgoblin died from the blood loss created associated with the sheer quantity of his wounds rather than any one killing blow. The slashes marring the body are long and narrow and look to be the mark of some wild animal, though they are clearly too precise to be something as large as a bear or even a mountain lion. All of the wounds are unusually deep, and who or whatever inflicted them seemingly intended for the Hobgoblin to bleed as much as possible.[/sblock]

 

[ByteRynn]

Breyer accepts the gem and goes with the rest.

After seeing the hobgoblin body, he wrinkles his nose and says "Ah...good riddance anyway. However, I suspect we will find ourselves faced with whatever this was ourselves."