A Merchants Folly, A Militia's Duty

[Dungeon Master]

Date : Ches the 9th, Year of the the Rogue Dragons (1373 D.R.)
Location : The Trade Way, between Bowshot and the Way Inn
Time : Mid Morning
Weather: Clear and very cold[/u]



The group set of with Dace leading the way, his skill as a caravan scout meant he was chosen to lead. Cathmhaol coming along next, Nimen and Zeric following on behind him and Vane taking up the rear. With Dace leading, he takes you some miles south of the village of Bowshot. You feel happy to be leaving the village, it was never really that welcoming towards you.

The Journey itself take an hour, maybe more, but in the cold light of the day it seems to take forever. The silence on the journey is more than deafening as you travel along.

Dace pulled up his mount at the top of a hill. Looking down the Trade Way towards the foot of the hill you notice a small copse of trees on the right hand side of the road. Its seems almost the perfect place for an ambush, from the bottom of the hill there is no way to go but up, with the trees, bushes and hedges providing the cover.

At the bottom of the hill the evidence of the the fight is still apparent; a horse carcass lies at the side of the road, a broken wagon lying beside it, arrows lying scattered around and also the odd helm. Pointing, Dace says,
"The attacked down there, came out the trees and caught us on the blindside. Then more of them on horses came over this hill and attacked us front on. We had a large traveling guard so we fought back, when the battle was too much, they left. Heading through the trees and up the small trail at the back. We didn't give chase, we could have lost the caravan.

As I told Zeric, numbers are difficult, there was probably around twenty or so, maybe more. All I know is that they were wearing fur pelts, most likely wolf ones, and were men. I think I killed a couple, but in the heat of combat, I cant be entirely sure."

Nimen was smiling,
"OK this is where it starts to get tough. We head down the bottom of the hill and see if we can pick up the trail from there. Lets be careful"
Then she dismounts after which she took the bow from her back and leads her horse down the hill.

Vane replies
"Right" and follows her,


OOC- that was quick wasn't it?

Modified coz the formatting was out.

[Cathmhaol]

Cathmhaol scowled at Nimen's assumption of leadership. He quickly dismounted and, drawing his sword, quietly moved up alongside her.

[Zeric]

Zeric reached into the satchel carried across his shoulder. He withdrew a cat with an owl-like face, which spread leathery, feathered wings, spanning some three feet as she stretched.

He gave the winged cat a titbit from his hand, which it gobbled greedily, "Hello my friend," the sorceror whispered into its ear, "Why don't you stretch your wings? Catch yourself a rabbit, eh? And while you're at it, carry me with you, so I can search the area for danger? Fly!"

He watched as the cat launched into the air, circling the area of the attack, gradually widening its circle as she scanned the surrounding countryside.

OOC: The Tressym's going to have a scout around for signs of the bandits while she's hunting.

[Dace]

Dace stayed beside Nimen, not bothering to draw his weapons yet. There'd be time for that if the bandits attacked, he thought.

He tried to keep low and away from any ridgelines, better not to give himself way.

And not for the first time he regretted not having a bow.

He looked to Nimen, awaiting comment. Or maybe from this Cathmhaol, who seemed to know what he was about, or the intelligent Zeric, who appeared to be allowing the other man to take the lead.

[Zeric]

Zeric seemed to come out of a trance, "There's a bridleway just beyond that copse of trees. There's no sign of anyone in the immediate area, though."

[Vane Harumpthal]

Vane mused, as he followed behind Nimen and Cathmhaol, his hammer in hand.

"S' we follow the path? It would certainly be easier, I think" he thought out loud.

[Cathmhaol]

"If yer flyin' cat thinks it's safe, we'll go take a look, eh?" said Cathmhaol dryly.

[Dungeon Master]

"The Tressym are old freinds of the elves," replied Nimen,
"If it says its clear, then I trust its word. Is that not true, Zeric?"

Spending a few minutes looking around the attack site, picking up a few arrows inspecting them before dropping them down on the floor again.

"Your familiar did a fly around, didn't it, Zeric? If so we probably need to get back on the horses again and continue further up the path. What do you think Cathmhaol?"

[Zeric]

admin said:

"The Tressym are old freinds of the elves," replied Nimen,
"If it says its clear, then I trust its word. Is that not true, Zeric?"

Spending a few minutes looking around the attack site, picking up a few arrows inspecting them before dropping them down on the floor again.

"Your familiar did a fly around, didn't it, Zeric? If so we probably need to get back on the horses again and continue further up the path. What do you think Cathmhaol?"

Zeric looked around absently, "Elves? Er, aye that they are... She flew around the immediate are and saw no signs of life beyond a few rabbits fieldmice and shrews."

[Dungeon Master]

"Maybe it should fly ahead and report back? Act as a sort of point high in the sky, watching for anything that might attack us?" Asked the elf maiden, as she slung her bow over her left shoulder and mounted her horse. When mounted she says

"Lead on"

[Zeric]

Zeric shrugged, "...um, capital suggestion, Nimen..."

He turned in an aside to Cathmhaol, "It would seem this elf-woman is a genius, Cath. I can't think why I didn't think of it myself. "

OOC: Ok, sorry I didn;t suggest it explicitly. The Tressym will scout ahead, same as she did in the swamp with the lizardmen.

[Dungeon Master]

OOC - I know.....

[Zeric]

OOC: Yeah, i know, but Nimen don't!

[Cathmhaol]

"Aye, a genius," growled Cathmhaol, "Perhaps we should invite her to join the Daggers, eh?"

[Vane Harumpthal]

"Maybe we should" interjected Vane, "Maybe we should! She's been able to keep this trail going pretty well"