powered by FreeFind index sitemap

The party saddle up and ride out, the spell casters a little weary from the expenditure of their magical energies. As they ride onto the road, the first glimmers of the sun break across the land, and a beautiful sunrise unfolds before the party. As the sky continues to clear, it looks like it might become a beautiful day. Sunlight glistens of the melting snow, and here and there, on south facing patches of grass, fresh shoots and occasional flowers can be seen sprouting. The date is the 4th of Kythorn (OOC: Equivalent to June in our calendar), but here in the north, the month marks the beginning of Spring rather than summer.

An hour passes, and the party make good progress. The landscape here is marked by low rolling hills, and from the brow of each, the road can be seen extending, sometimes in an almost perfect straight line, for usually over a mile to the next rise. In the hollows, occasional pockets of mist lurk, awaiting the rising sun to be burnt off. Upon reaching the top of another shallow rise, the outline of a large caravan breaking camp can be seen a half mile away. The vertical line of smoke from a cook fire still rises into the air, and the camp is busy with people preparing to leave. It looks like about 20 wagons parked just off the road on a slight rise.

As the party approach, four men mount horses and trot forward towards the edge of the road to meet the party. Two of them are heavy built fighter types, wearing ring mail and with swords close at hand. Another is dressed in green and brown leathers, and has a short bow at his side, a quiver on his back. The last, who hangs back somewhat, is dressed in robes, and looks like a mage.

"Morning greetings!", calls one of the fighter types as the party get within easy speaking distance. "You're travelling early this morning. Any news of the road?"

It is obvious that this group are friendly, but naturally cautious at your mixed group of companions.

Milo and Yvandel speak almost at the same time...

Yvandel wrote:
> "Hail and well met, friends," Yvandel jumps at the
> opportunity to actually converse with people instead
> of fighting. "Well, if you're heading in the direction
> that we just came from... beware, there are bandits
> about. We were attacked by a bunch of them, and we're
> only barely able to fight them off. It seems though,
> that your caravan would be too large a target for a
> group of amateur bandits. They couldn't even stand up
> against the few of us, they will surely be no match
> for you and your comrades."
>
> Yvandel cautiously approaches, right hand extended,
> the left hand clinging tightly to his reigns to make
> sure he didn't fall and make a fool of himself.
> "My name is Yvandel, pleased to meet you..."

Milo wrote:
> "Hail, fellow travelers." Milo approaches the fighters.
> "I am Milo, cleric of Ilmater, and I am afraid that we
> have little news of the road, being so early yet in the
> day. We travel north to Silverymoon, by way of Longsaddle.
> How goes the road with you all these days?"


The fighter type smiles slightly at their approach. He looks first to Yvandel, reaching forward to grasp his hand and shake it as they get close. "It is good to hear such news. We will be wary. Well met Yvandel, I am named Rondin."

He looks towards Milo as he continues. "Well met Milo." He nods his head respectfully at the young priest of Ilmater. "We have come from Mirabar, merely passing through Longsaddle. I guess I am not surprised to see you heading this way to Silverymoon though, I have heard of the strange Wizard Weather that is blocking the Everlund pass. It is an inhospitable pass in the best of weather, I would hate to try it now by the accounts I have heard!"

He pauses to smile at the party for a moment before continuing on. "As far as the road goes, it is clear. Although when we were at the Sprite's Refuge yesterday, there was talk about some smaller caravans being attacked from the cover of the Broken Fang woods. So be extra careful on the road when passing the woods. We saw nothing ourselves though"

Larz wrote:
> Larz steps up rides up and speaks to the rider
> and asks, " Do you know what is attacking the
> caravans? Are the calculated or disorderly?"

Rondin looks towards the dwarf seated on his mule. "Well met dwarf", he says, nodding his head. "At the Sprites Refuge, they suspect a band of kobolds, as a previous visitor there had found a dead kobold in the bushes near a place where it looks like a battle might have taken place." He pauses briefly. "We ourselves have seen nothing - I suspect that they left us alone because of our size." He glances over the size of the party. "I suspect that you will probably be all right since from the stories, all the groups that have been attacked have all been either single travellers or very small weak looking groups."

Balnor wrote:
> Balnor looks at Milo and Yvandel jump ahead to
> talk to the Men. Still very angry at Milo, Balnor
> says in frustration to Milo. "Why dont you
> let Yvandel do the talking. I dont want you to
> LOSE track of the conversation!" He will pull
> his horse off to the side of the path.

Ronin and the others look at Balnor and Milo smiling, obviously finding this interchange mildly amusing, although slightly puzzled at Balnor's emphasis.

<Yvandel wrote>:
> "Rondin, about this halfling. Did he seem to be in a
> particular hurry or just taking his time? It'd be good
> to know if he feels like he's being chased."

Rondin shrugged. "When he joined our camp last night, he seemed very at
ease, but he did of course leave rather abruptly this morning, so who
knows."

<Merrell wrote>:
> Merrell's eyes lit up as Rondin confirmed that he was
> on the right path. "The lady is, good sir. My search
> for her has continued from Cormyr. The mage on the other
> hand - yes, he is a mage - shall pay dearly when I am
> through with him. Thank you kindly." Merrell turned
> to leave, but then about-faced to ask Rondin one more
> question. "This woman, what DID she look like? Mage's
> can pull tricks to affect what people see." Merrell
> listened to Rondin's reply, thanked him again, and then
> hurried forth to catch up with the party. As the journey
> continued, he began to contemplate who this third woman
> might be.

Rondin hesitates, his brow furrowed as he tries to remember what the woman looked like.

"...She was about average height and medium build, not especially pretty, but not ugly, with long red hair..."

The ranger like fellow interrupts him. "That's funny - I'm not sure, but I could have sworn she was blond!"

The third fighter frowns and says "Blond? I vaguely remember her as having raven black hair, short cropped..."

The mage behind Rondin pipes up. "I suspect that there was probably some form of illusion spell cast on her to make her appear non-descript... from what you have said, it seems that she might be who you are looking for. Be careful. Although I did not speak with this mage you mention, I did get the impression that he was a fairly powerful magic user." He lapses back into silence.

"Well safe journey to you and your friends" says Rondin, backing his horse off the road slightly to make way. "I hope you catch up with your different quarry!" He smiles and waves a farewell, as Merrell and Yvandel turn their horses to follow after the rest of the party, now a couple of hundred yards further up the road.