Storms of Change [IC]

[silentspace]

Filbert stares at the center tent. This is his chance to eavesdrop, and he doesn't want to miss out on it! But maybe sneaking up to the tent would be too risky, despite the darkness… Who knows what would happen if he were discovered? Sighing, he heads out to his patrol with Zanock.

As the darkness comes, all the fires are put out, leaving the caravan in total darkness. The guards and drivers have ever-burning torches that they tuck away. Those without low-light vision or darkvision can't see, but on the other hand, the caravan would be too visible if they had fires burning. It was already visible enough, given how big it is.

The two patrols carry torches. One of the guards lends Filbert an everburning torch.

Zanock is grunting at his useless animal, Piece of Meat as Filbert joins him. This damned animal has been making him miss his swings! If it wasn’t for the horse’s scent abilities, he wouldn’t even bother with it. Zanock growls when he sees Filbert's torch. He doesn't like that enemies can see the torch from a distance.

Filbert can see as far as the torch's illumination, 20 feet. Zanock sees beyond the torch, out to 120 feet.

Both moons are out. Yong is half full, casting its dim light over the land. Urm is a slowly fading sliver, indicating the coming of autumn in a few days. There is a slight breeze coming from the west.

The second watch has started.

 

[silentspace]

The second watch passes without incident.

The two tents in the center have been dark for some time. Around the perimeter of the circle are sleeping five drivers, and three guards (including Rekar and Mirik). Alan and Rowyn are also sleeping here. Sabala is next to Rowyn, but Braveheart is nowhere to be seen.

Six drivers are on their wagons, trying to stay awake and alert with no light. Dunathar is patrolling on foot, 20 feet outside of the wagons. The horses all seem to be sleeping. Beyond them the two patrols are circling. Only the torches of Darien’s patrol can be seen though. Zanock and Etherial are patrolling without torches.

Etherial is just finishing up memorizing his spells by candlelight when Filbert returns. Etherial doesn’t want the torch, as his lowlight vision allows him to see as well in the moonlight as he can in daylight. Not knowing what to do with the torch, Filbert tucks it back into the back of Wagon 1, covering its light. The dim light of Yong, The Bright Moon, lets him make his way around the campsite without bumping into too many things. He’s effectively blind though.

After a bit of stumbing, Filbert makes his way to Mirena, and wakes her quietly. She’s very happy to see Bert again, and hugs him tightly. Bert asks her what is going on, and if they are treating her well.

Mirena whispers “It’s all my fault! I was just trying to be friendly, just making conversation, that’s all! I don’t know what I was thinking. I should’ve known better than to ask Darien what his cargo was! He’s a Silent Trader, after all. That’s the merchant trade guild, they make all the decisions about who gets to trade what, and with whom. House Washel, one of the Council of Five, is a big member. Maybe they run the whole thing, who knows? Anyway I realized I had made a mistake right away. The driver’s job is to drive, and the guard’s job is to guard. The merchants decide what the cargo is, and where we go. It’s none of our business, I know that, I really do! I just forgot for a moment, that’s all. I didn’t mind being assigned to the last wagon, but what’s been really hard is that Darien told everyone not to talk to me anymore, and everyone’s afraid to now. That’s what’s really hard! I’m sure after I’ve been punished enough things will get back to normal though. Please don’t tell anyone I told you this! I’m not complaining, I know what I did was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m so glad I met you though!” she says, hugging the halfling tight. “Will you put your bedroll next to mine?”

It’s about an hour after midnight now. Filbert is tired, and the spot next to Mirena looks pretty good. But before he can respond…

 

[silentspace]

Ambush

The slight wind and the sounds of nature make hearing just a little difficult for Dunathar. He was currently patrolling on the south side, moving as stealthily as he can, when he heard the faint sound of a twig breaking, 90 feet to the south of the caravan (70 ft from him). He cannot see anything. Just a moment later hears the voice of one of the caravan drivers. It’s a driver on the north side of the caravan, opposite from him. Dunathar thinks he must be too far to have heard the twig break. Could he have heard something else? Driver 1 calls out “Who’s there?”

That’s when the arrows come, and the warcries, and the sound of creatures rushing in from the south, and more from the north.

Surprise Initiaive
19 Enemy (s)
17 Dunathar
13 Enemy (s)
11 Driver 1
11 Enemy (s)

Darien and his three guards are currently patrolling on the west side, carrying a torch. Zanock and Etherial are currently on the east side, without any torches. The patrols are circling 100 feet away from the caravan.

Edit: Dunathar is pretty confident he's pretty well hidden in the "shadows", and moving pretty silently too.

 

[silentspace]

Combat map:

 

[Greatfrito]

[OOC: Gotta say, very nice map. What you make it with?]

And I guess... Alan'll kinda, uh... just... keep sleeping. Yeah.

 

[Seonaid]

I second that, all of it. If Rowyn and Sabala get Listen checks (and make them!), uh, let me know.

 

[GPEKO]

Bert

Can't we just talk without being interrupted ?

When he gets to act, Filbert will retrieve the torch he had on the patrol and throw it north of the wagon ring. That is unless the creatures are already upon him at that time, in which case he will try to defend himself with his sword (euh ... dagger).

 

[Someone]

With all the warcries and arrows flying, there´s not much need to shout alarm, so Dunathar dives behind the nearest tree/brush/thing and draws the shortsword, keeping it under the cloack, so it does not reflect the light of the torches, and hides the best he can.

 

[silentspace]

Just to clarify, this is the current situation.

You are at a caravan stop. The terrain is a flat, grassy plain, open on all sides. There is a stream 200 feet away to the east, with low brush around it. There are trees to the north and more trees and rocks to the south, but they are all over 100 feet away. This makes it a perfect spot for a caravan stop. It has plenty of open space to maneuver wagons, it is close to water, and it is halfway between the towns of Flinock and Radigan, with one day's travel to each. It is currently night, and moonlit.

 

[silentspace]

Can't we just talk without being interrupted ?

OOC Nope I don't want to slow the game down for one character's conversations.

Edit: If you had something else to say to her, you can always do it later (a little out of sequence, but I don't mind)