Tests and Trials (Manzanita Judging)

[Dungannon]

As the group rises for the day and prepares to travel East, Devlin looks at the young boy. "Any idea what we should do with him? I don't think he is fit to travel with us, as he is now."

 

[scout989]

As the group rises for the day and prepares to travel East, Devlin looks at the young boy. "Any idea what we should do with him? I don't think he is fit to travel with us, as he is now."

"Huh, I don't think I want him traveling with us anyway- I most surely don't trust him as far as I can throw him. I think we should give him directions to Orussus and a day's worth of food. If he's worth anything, he'll be able to make his fortune there."
Luthiel begins to pack his gear in preparation for the coming travel. <Almost done,> he thinks, <almost finished with this.>

 

[Dungannon]

ooc: I'm thinking we could have one of the abandoned characters escort the boy back to town. That way we don't have to worry about him and Rae has one less NPC to keep track of. The question is, which character can we most do without?

 

[scout989]

ooc: I'd have to say that Jasper is our most expendable right now- I don't want to give up our cleric or our tank.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Jasper nods in agreement. Since the others are not sure exactly how far east they will be traveling, the group factors a bit of uncertainty into their plan: Jasper will take the boy back to Orussus and meet up with the others in the Red Dragon Inn ten days from now. If they're not there, he will return to the tavern in another ten days, and so on.

The halfling gathers his things. He bows regally and marches off toward the city with the boy in tow.

 

[scout989]

Luthiel watches the two leave, then turns to the others. "All right, are we ready to head out there and take care of this business?" He has his pack already on his back, and his bow in hand. "Damn, but I'm tired of these stinking woods and these wolves and the people and all of it! Let's go!"

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

With Jasper gone, the group has been reduced in number to five: Luthiel, Devlin, Malen, Garrit, and Cryndo. They pack their bags and head east, through the wood.

There is a rough trail, it isn't difficult to follow. It winds a bit, but always veers generally east. Hours pass. The journey began just after sunrise, the sun is now approaching the horizon. The forestseems to grow sparser and brighter the farther they travel from the clearing. The tree trunks aren't so massive and the canopy isn't so thick. A few bright rays of afternoon sunshine pierce the foliage and illuminate the path ahead of them. Birds are chirping, squirrels are dashing about, and not a single wolf is seen. Nor any other monster, for that matter. The transition happens quickly, only a little more than half an hour and the wood has changed from dark and creepy to bright and happy. And suddenly, the tree line ends.

In front of the group lies a massive expanse of tree stumps. As far as the eye can see, the once-forest extends. Not too far off, a small semi-permanent settlement has been established. There are a few shoddy wooden houses, but mostly tents, and one very large tent, with plumes of smoke coming out the top. The smell of some kind of spiced meat stew tempts the nostrils. Men with thick arms and broad shoulders can be seen hauling logs onto carts. Some are singing in grunty voices, some are smiling, all of them are sweating and dirty.

Nobody has caught sight of the group yet. The sun is directly behind them, the little settlement directly in front. This must be the place the ancient elf was talking about.

 

[scout989]

Luthiel checks immediately upon seeing the settlement, then backs smoothly into the woods until it is out of sight. He gathers the others and says "Look, they're probably going to be coming out here soon to chop wood or something like that. We should head back into the woods a half-mile or so before we talk about this." He then turns and headsa back the way he came. After approximately half a mile, he turns off the path and begins looking for a place to hold a conference.

 

[Dungannon]

"Well, I say it right now, I don't like our odds if it comes to a stand up fight. You think there's a possibility we could bluff them or scare them away?" Devlin keeps looking over his shoulder back to the clearing, as if expecting the loggers to head in their direction at any moment.

 

[scout989]

"Well, I say it right now, I don't like our odds if it comes to a stand up fight. You think there's a possibility we could bluff them or scare them away?" Devlin keeps looking over his shoulder back to the clearing, as if expecting the loggers to head in their direction at any moment.

"I'd say that's about the only way we can do it. A bunch of big, burly guys with axes- I don't like those odds either. The question is, what will possibly scare them off for long enough that the wolves and that elf will agree that we've done the job? I suppose, if we could find something salable, that one of us could go there and pose as a wndering merchant to scout things out." Luthiel thinks hard for a moment. "All that I can think of is the stuff that we confiscated from the dead goblins. But that was all pretty mean stuff, not much to be sold there. Any other ideas?"