Play by Post D&D: The New Begining

[Panther_Gunn]

"Yes, I need you to carry the hurt man.  We are going to make a kind of a hammock on poles, so you could just drag that behind you.  We are only going about a mile or so.  It should not take more than a few hours there and back."

Og scratches his head while Whisper talks, his face a little scrunched as he tries to take all of the info in.

" 'few ours'....that little time?"  Then, he seems to look up at the ceiling a bit, as if he's talking to himself "hmmmm...little time....man not heavy....not far.....rain.....", then, looking back at Whisper, "ok, Og think one gold ok.  Fight extra.  When leave?"

[BlueBard]

"Yes, I need you to carry the hurt man.  We are going to make a kind of a hammock on poles, so you could just drag that behind you.  We are only going about a mile or so.  It should not take more than a few hours there and back."

Og scratches his head while Whisper talks, his face a little scrunched as he tries to take all of the info in.

" 'few ours'....that little time?"  Then, he seems to look up at the ceiling a bit, as if he's talking to himself "hmmmm...little time....man not heavy....not far.....rain.....", then, looking back at Whisper, "ok, Og think one gold ok.  Fight extra.  When leave?"

"Soon," Whisper replies.  "I don't think we are going to be able to wait for the rain to end completely, but hopefully it will abate."  Seeing the look of confusion on the half-ogre's face, he amends, "We want it to rain less hard."

I put on my cloak and step outside to check the weather.  While I'm out there, I will retrieve my bow and quiver from the hiding place in the stables, taking care to keep them covered and as dry as possible.

(Whisper is making a Survival check to try to determine when the weather will begin to change for the better and when it will be reasonably safe to start out.  He's also using his Knowledge (Nature) skill to improve his forecast.)

[Viking]

(Whisper is making a Survival check to try to determine when the weather will begin to change for the better and when it will be reasonably safe to start out.  He's also using his Knowledge (Nature) skill to improve his forecast.)

Starbuck proceeds to strum his lute, singing a little ditty about changes in the weather and predicting them.*

*Also known as, "Predict, predict, predict, predict when the weather's good to go!"  See here for reference.

(OOG: Starbuck is using his Inspire Competence bardic music ability to help with the forecast.  He's a bard.  That's what  he does.)

[Glitch Girl]

It's not often that Whisper has musical accompaniment  as he checks the rain outside.  It is oddly...  helpful and catchy too. 

Unless Starbuck follows Whisper into the rain, the sound of the lute fades behind the patter of raindrops.

Whisper:[spoiler]
The storm continues and looks like it will for a while; however it's settling into a lighter, yet steady rain.  You don't expect any more hail or heavy wind, just cold and wet and judging from the clouds, it'll go on for a while, but the worst is played out.  On the plus side, it will make you guys nearly impossible to track, even with the half-ogre dragging the wounded man along.   

You find your stuff where you left it.  Swift flies down from the support beam to greet you.  He's puffed out and doesn't look particularly happy, but he's well. 

you notice that two horses that were stabled here, two fine stallions, are gone, probably taken by the two elves when they left.
[/spoiler]

Back inside:

The orcs get up.  One of the sways a little bit, but his friends make sure he stays standing.  They begin to gather up their things like they're going to leave. 

[Panther_Gunn]

The orcs get up.  One of the sways a little bit, but his friends make sure he stays standing.  They begin to gather up their things like they're going to leave.

Og will get up from his table, and calmly walk over behind the readying orcs.  He will stop to stand right behind one (or two, if they're close enough to each other), and address them, looming down from above: "Og hope pig-noses not go talk to hobble-gobbles or hobble-gobble boss.  Og not happy when have to squish things & not get paid.  Pig-noses not make Og not happy, do they?"

ooc:  This would be a perfect example of why Intimidation should *still* be based on either Charisma or Strength.  ;)

[Glitch Girl]

Two of the trio mumble a collection of emphatic negative as the look up at the expanse of half-ogre looming over them. The third manages to articulate "We've got no dealings with the Axe, and we don't none either.  We won't cause you any trouble, you got enough as it is."

[Viking]

Starbuck takes immediate note of the orc's apparent familiarity with 'the Axe.'

"Safe journey to you, then," he says to the orcish trio.  "But before you go, do you know something of this 'Axe' and his crew?"

Switching to Orcish:
[spoiler]"Don't worry about me telling the Axe about you.  I tend to be really... 'forgetful' when it comes to people giving me advice."[/spoiler]

[Glitch Girl]

The orc looks Starbuck over.

He says back in Orcish
[spoiler]"That may be, but what's in it for us if we tell you?"[/spoiler]

[Viking]

Starbuck's reply is matter-of-fact, and confident:

[spoiler]"You'll never have to worry about the Axe again.  Looks like these adventurers want to do something 'permanent' about the Axe, and I'll be going along to confirm the details."[/spoiler]

[Glitch Girl]

The orc replies
[spoiler=Orcish again]
"Maybe... but if you're wrong, that don't help us much.  We need something more.. solid."[/spoiler]

He looks at Starbuck's money pouch, then back at Starbuck.   His two compatriots nod in agreement.

[BlueBard]

Whisper should be re-entering the tavern right about now.

He sees the bard talking to the Orcs. 

[spoiler]His brow furrows, his eyes narrow, and the corners of his mouth turn down but all so slightly that only someone who knew him well and was watching him closely would notice.  Others might catch a momentary glimpse of a change in expression, but would have difficulty interpreting it.[/spoiler]

He then goes to check and see whether a suitable travois has been cobbled together.

"We leave soon.  The worst of the storm has passed."

[Viking]

Starbuck reaches into a pocket, pulls out a gold piece, and flicks it to the orcs.  He expectantly awaits their response.

[Glitch Girl]

The orc catches the coin, eyeballs it a bit.  Then he speaks

[spoiler=Orcish]
"Ivar the Axe he's called.  Used to be a general down south I hear, 'til he got exiled for something.  Something 'political'.  He's been recruiting locally for his own group now, right Rodush?[/spoiler]

One of the other two orcs nods and says something.
[spoiler=Orcish]
"Yeah.  Promised good pay and some good fighting.  Says he's working for a rich lord.  Didn't ask which one, I don't work with hobs if I can help it."[/spoiler]
He spits on the floor to punctuate.

Meanwhile towards the back room...

"We leave soon.  The worst of the storm has passed."

"We're just about done here," says Orloid.  He stands and checks the wounded man. 

Shalla straightens up.  "You folks take care now, may Fharlanghn protect you."

[BlueBard]

I help Orloid and Nathan transfer the wounded man to the travois, do whatever I can to cover him up so he doesn't get soaked with rain, then go get Og.

"Og?  We're ready to go.  Will you help us get the man outside?  Gently."

[Panther_Gunn]

Giving the orcs a "hairy eyeball" as he turns, Og responds to Whisper.  "Let Og get stuff."  He moves back over to his corner, shoulders up an Og-sized backpack, grabs his hammer, and then returns.  "Ok, Og ready."  He gets two steps towards the litter when he stops & turns.  "Oops, Og almost forget." 

He'll move towards an out-of-the way corner of the bar, while getting Shalla's attention.  He brings up his coin pouch, and when Shalla is with him, empties it out on the bar.  "Og pay now."  With one finger, Og will carefully slide the coins he owes, one at a time, towards Shalla, a look of utter concentration on his face (and a tongue poking out from between his lips).

Once he's put the rest of his money (& other odd bits that definitely *weren't* coins) back into the pouch, he moves back over to Whisper.  "Ok, Og *really* ready now.  Og drag hurt man?"

[BlueBard]

"Yes.  Please take one end of the trav-- ah, the bed the man is laying on.  I'll pick up the other end and help you get it outside.  Then you drag it to where we are going."

"Is everyone else ready to go?" Whisper asks the rest of the party.

[Glitch Girl]

GM NOTE: I am going to asume your character is staying at the tavern if you do not post you leave.  This is a good chance for those who don't think they have time for the game to bow out now.  The one exception is Uncle Yuan who already contacted me.  I'll give this until monday before I continue the action.

[Viking]

Starbuck touches his hat to the orcs in a gesture of acknowledgment, and goes to stand by Whisper.

"I shall follow your lead, Master Ranger," he says with a nod.

(OOG:  Starbuck breaks the fourth wall for a second, to address some unseen entity in the audience.  "This means that I'll be leaving the tavern with the rest of these adventurous types," he says, with an exaggerated wink.)

[BentonGrey]

After what seemed an interminable time ^_^, the party was gathering by the door, preparing to begin their journey.  The azure elf, already out in the now pattering rain, tapping his foot, impatient to be on their way towards what could possibly be the answer he sought.  Still, a part of him enjoyed the feel of the deliciously icy rain as it poured down his hood and soaked him again.  In his time in the tavern, he had begun to feel a little too dry.

OOC: I've just been waiting to get rolling, Dakkon is more than ready to hit the road.

[Uncle Yuan]

As we gather to leave I quickly rewrap my bow and quiver for the weather, pull on my cloak and pack and make ready to go.  As I do so, I motion Nathan over and say softly to him, "I thank you for your work this evening and commend your attitude.  I have accepted this man as my charge and pledge my efforts to his safe deliverance.  There is both foul weather and foul intentions out tonight.  If you have obligations to your order or a parish, or even your family, this would be the . . . prudent time to attend to them."

I give the young initiate a thorough inspection - does he even have armor or arms?  Is he dressed and/or equipped for travel through the wilderness?

[BlueBard]

(Just to be safely, painfully obvious...)

Whisper helps Og carry the wounded man out of the tavern.  Once outside, Whisper will let down his end and wait for everyone else to exit the tavern.  He ignores the rain.

"As soon as we are safely away, I will tell you all where we are going," Whisper says.  He makes a soft cry to call his trained falcon to his arm.

"Sorry for the wet weather, my friend," he soothes the falcon.  "It will not be the first time our rest has been cut short, will it?"

[Lord Elcorion]

the cloaked woman will rise and join the rest as they prepare to leave the tavern. other than the breif conversation earlier, she has not said a word to anyone, never given her name or any other information about herself, but then again, no one has asked, either. she cuts a mysterious, slightly disconcerting image, carrying herself with equal mesures of confidence and discretion. she seems capable enough of holding her own, but she also tries to keep herself essentially unidentifiable, the shadowed figure that one may see, but never know.

[BlueBard]

Once we are all outside and out of earshot of any tavern-goers, Whisper tells them the details of his plan.

"There is a druid not far from here.  We will take this man to him for care and sanctuary.  Then my plan is to come back here and wait for our chance to trail the bandits back to their camp.  Any of you are welcome to come with me."

[Glitch Girl]

Og:

As soon as Og counts out the coins, Shalla smiles and scoops them up.  "Thank you Og.  A clean tab is much appreciated."


Orloid:

Nathan is dressed for light travel but he's not well armed or armored.  He has donned light leather armor and has a wooden staff along with a bag of his belongings.  Beyond that not much else. 

"Sir, I am a missionary of Pelor.  If I may be useful here, I would like to continue on with you and the others... if you'll have me of course."

Everyone:

You gather outside.  It's still cold and still wet and still dark, but at least there's no hail.  You gather outside in the damp. Oddly enough, the blue elf seems to be enjoying the weather.  He appears to be the only one.

A large bird flies over from the stables - it's a fine looking falcon, obviously well cared for.  It fuffs its feathers against the rain as it rests on Whisper's arm. 

Nathan drapes another blanket over the wounded man in hopes of further protecting him from the cold rain. 

"This druid," he asks Whisper, "Is he trustworthy?"

[Uncle Yuan]

Orloid:

Nathan is dressed for light travel but he's not well armed or armored.  He has donned light leather armor and has a wooden staff along with a bag of his belongings.  Beyond that not much else. 

"Sir, I am a missionary of Pelor.  If I may be useful here, I would like to continue on with you and the others... if you'll have me of course."

I smile reassuringly and say, "Certainly, Nathan.  Your courage and dedication are  tribute to Pelor!"  Inwardly I think, If any serious trouble comes up, this kid will be be almost as big a liability as the injured man.  Sigh.  Very well, Lord, if this be thy will . . .

Since the man is reasonable stable right now, I'll let Nathan take up station next to the travois.  I'll take my bow and take up a position near to the bard.  "What did you learn from the orcs?"  I ask him. " Anything of value in trying to predict how these Cleansing Flame will respond?"

[Viking]

Starbuck nods to Orloid.  "Indeed.  That commander of the hobgoblins is called 'Ivar the Axe.'  Apparently, he was a general in the southern lands until he was exiled for some political reason.  He now claims to be working for a rich lord, and is recruiting aggressively, promising good pay and good fighting."

He pauses a moment, thoughtfully.  "Oh, yes.  The orcs don't particularly care to work with hobgoblins.  Always useful to know about interracial prejudices."

[BlueBard]

Whisper replies to Nathan.

"I trust Ambrose with my life.  He will have no love for these outlaws, I am sure.  I would not be surprised if he were already aware of them."

[BlueBard]

Whisper takes the lead position.

"I will guide us to Ambrose the druid.  I would suggest that the priests and Og take a position in the middle with the injured man, to better protect him in case of trouble."

As the group moves off, Whisper continues.

"A word of caution to you all.  Ambrose is a trustworthy man of honor.  But his concern is protecting the wood and the animals therein from fools who would despoil it.  He is neither good, nor evil.  He is who he is.  Take what you need from the forest, but do no grievous harm and take care to keep control of fires... not that we need worry overmuch about fires in this weather.  Do not cut green wood save for thin branches and leave the young trees alone.  Harm no animals for mere sport."

[Glitch Girl]

"I trust Ambrose with my life.  He will have no love for these outlaws, I am sure.  I would not be surprised if he were already aware of them."

"Oh... good," Nathan whispers back.  He looks a little relieved.

His relief fades a little bit after Whisper warns everyone to "not mess with Mother Nature".   He seems to actually be avoiding brushing up any plant life if he can help it now as he keeps watch over your charge. 

At one point he looks over at the elven woman and asks, "Excuse me, my lady, but I don't believe I know your name."

[Lord Elcorion]

"that would be a proper belief, given that i never said my name. however, since you have asked, you may call me annia." ((-smirks- getting rid of the "LE's charecter" thing early, eh?))