Menace of the Icy Spire (Ozymandias79 judging)

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=OOC]
Sounds like we're in agreement about the marching order, unless Larinza objects. Unless someone specifically mentions a change I'll assume that's the plan for the rest of the adventure.

So... what's your next move?
[/sblock]

 

[changer]

"We should try for the top of the ridge before the day is gone comrades. Balth what trail signs will you leave for us as you scout ahead?"

 

[balth]

With us on land, I will simply scout ahead and double back to report. We don't have a lot of features like a forest to work with, so that will probably be fastest since, no offense, I can cover ground much master than most of you.

I can say I don't like those birds. Something about them makes me ...uneasy.

Let us start moving out, and I shall report back in a few minutes.

Balth nods, and with bow drawn and arrow knocked, starts moving out up the trail, attempting to note slick patches, and watching for any signs of life other than the birds.

[sblock=ooc actions] Moving, using passive perception. If you need an active check versus anything, it's Perception 1 (1d20 11 1=14) Wow, IC wants us to be ambushed, apparently [/sblock]

 

[JoeNotCharles]

Balth steps lightly up the path, feet only occasionally skidding on rocks that turn unexpectedly. Unfortunately, he doesn't think to note their place for the sled following him.

At the top of the cliff is a wide clearing, surrounded on all sides by gloomy, overhanging trees. The bark and leaves are pail white and damaged by frost, and here and there branches have broken under the weight of the snow that covers them. The path continues, winding back into the trees; it looks just barely big enough for the sleds.

At the very edge of the cliff is a huge bonfire of partially burned wood. The frozen corpse of another sailor has fallen half into the burned-out woodpile. The crew must have tried to signal for help; Balth recalls that Captain Torion said to set a signal file to be picked up at any time.

There's no other sign of life. Even the birds have disappeared. Under the muffling blanket of snow, the cliff top is eerily silent.

 

[renau1g]

"You be seeing anything up there Balth?" Murphy calls from below.

 

[balth]

"You be seeing anything up there Balth?" Murphy calls from below.

Ugh. Balth says as he buries his face into his mitten.

He quickly and carefully made his way back down to the sleds.

When he gets close, he breaks the path and strolls right up to Murphy, stopping short of him, but in his personal space.

Are. You. Daft, Man? his normal jovial smile was nowhere to be found.

Or are you a spy, planted in our numbers to warn whatever or whomever is here that we're coming?

He arches an eyebrow at the man, sizing him up.

 

[renau1g]

"I would be takin' one step back boyo, unless you be meaning to start something" Murphy calmly warns, dropping the reins of the sled.

"I figured the noise that the rest of us be makin would let anyone know we're coming from a mile away." he continues, his hand sliding closer to the dagger.

 

[Moon_Goddess]

Larinza turns angrily to the supposedly seasoned warriors

"Boys! This is no time to be fighting amoung ourselves! Your acting like children. Now shape up!"

 

[balth]

Larinza turns angrily to the supposedly seasoned warriors

"Boys! This is no time to be fighting amoung ourselves! Your acting like children. Now shape up!"

Balth scowls at Larinza, still sizing Murphy up.

He spins on his heal and is suddenly next to Murphy, shoulder to shoulder. He sticks his arm out with the grade of the hill.

Let's assume for a moment that you're right. That ye be makin a ton of noise with the sleds. Now look at this pass. It's on a slope, leadin up to the top, right?

So where do you think most all the noise you're making goes? Right back at you!

Or most of it is dispersed amongst the walls and the slope itself.

The *point* is, when I'm scouting, I'd appreciate it if you didn't alert everyone within a half mile area who might NOT have heard the sleds that there is someone close to them.

I don't take kindly to being jumped or filled with arrows.

Yell at me again, and you'll need to find yourself another scout. Have the patience to wait for me to return. And if I don't return, well that tells you volumes more than yelling at me, doesn't it?

He moves back in front of the sleds, walking in front of Murphy and leaving his back well exposed.

And I'm not bickering, Larinza, I'm trying NOT to get killed by whatever killed all these sailors.

It looks like there was a signal fire lit by one of the sailors. From what I could make out, he's dead. I'm guessing the ship we passed was answering the distress call of the landing party. I only saw one of the remains of the crew up there, so I'm guessing more are further inland. Or this could be an ambush. He turns his head and smiles a rather disingenous smile towards Murphy. Especially since they definitely know we're coming.

He turns his head back towards the others, his gaze encompassing everyone, including Murphy, his face neutral.

What do you want to do?

 

[changer]

"We continue, scout, that is the job. Noise matters little I fear. The foul intelligence I detected earlier knows we are here and therefore, I suspect, will have more of those fiends waiting for us. Or worse. We must be alert but not alarmed." Janus says quickly, adding "Let us move off this cliff, when we do get attacked again I would rather firm footing under me and not be weighed down this this cursed sled."