Kevin's Watch

Breathless, Caamora said, "I scouted the forest surrounding this town and found nothing of interest. Sparse vegetation with a river nearby. I thought it might be better to ask questions of the townsfolk but none of them were willing to speak of the matter. I stopped at the alchemist (Apothecary - Ed) and spoke with him and the sheriff. He said you had been there and were on your way to the blacksmith. So, I followed."

Charn clears his throat. "Let us be off to Weaselville! It be only a 1/2 day by boot. I be not interested in begging for steeds." He smiles, but appears serious.

The party leaves for weaselville. It's to the North, so you find the road North and get moving.

By the time you leave it is early afternoon, so you'll be arriving in Weaselville towards the evening, if nothing interrupts you on the way there!

Please specify your marching order (I need to know who's at the front, who's at the back, etc for if/when you encounter baddies)

[ooc] I suggest mage in the middle, fighter near, and someone with a good at Spot in the front. I can take up the rear if need be.[/ooc]

Irian rushes to be towards the head of the group, but suddenly feels a firm restraining grip on her shoulder...

[ooc]Vargon will be before Irian to protect her, i hope Brother Charn will cover the back of the elf.
[/ooc]

"Irian, wait!" he grabbed her shoulder
"Where are you going? Stay at my back! If something have to happen, it must happen to me first."
He told to her, then he looked to brother charn
"Brother, please, cover my protected she's not so tough as she thinks..."

...grrr....

[resigned to the strength of protector]

"Sounds good." Xavier nodded thoughtfully.

"I can move more quietly than the rest of you...I'll play scout. I suggest that after the Cleric should follow the Monk, and Roark should bring up the rear in case anybody tries to sneak up on us." To Roark he added, "Keep an eye on our back-trail friend."

Picking his pace up to a slow jog to build a lead, Xavier parralleled the course of the road, slightly off to one side where he'd easily be able to take cover and hide, if anything appeared ahead on the trail.

"Let's get this over with," he called as he passed the others, nocking an arrow to his bowstring just in case..."I don't like the thought of having to face things that my weapons can't kill."

Marching order:

Xavier
Vargon
Irian
Charn
Caamora
Roark.

You march for two and a half hours, nothing much happens. You pass nobody on the road, and, although the path twists and turns a little bit here and there, you continue to head almost directly North. The terrain gradually changes from a sparsely vegetated plain into a thin grassland.

There are various small animals around, rodents, grass snakes and such, but nothing threatens you.

Eventually you come to a forest. The path continues through the forest. You're going to have to pass through to get to Weaselville.

[Everyone consumes a day's trail rations.]

"Eyes up everybody," Xavier spoke softly as they gathered together again before entering the forest.

"We've been lucky so far, but the visibility isn't so good in here, so it's probably the most vulnerable stage of our journey.

Give me 10 minutes to scout ahead, then set off at walking pace. I'll signal, or double back if anything appears up front. Hell, worst comes to worst, I'll start screaming."

With a parting grin, he began moving silently forward into the forest, still just off the trail, and prepared to hide at a moments notice.

Xavier slid quietly into the forest. Within moments he was out of sight in the gloom of the forest.

[This part of the story will continue once we find out what happens to Xavier.]

Irian sighed.

She didn't notice a difference in visibility, but realised most of her companions were not as fortunate. She would attempt to quell her impatience...

Vargon ate nervously with only one hand, the other was ever on the hilt of his sword.

"milady, i know you would like to explore a little bit the forest, but i beg you to not go away alone, for no reason!"ù

He pointed his finger to the nose of the elf, while smiling

"Distract me then, for I am anxious and impatient.

Has anyone a quick tale?"

*glancing towards the cleric*

"...or song?"

Ten minutes pass and you head into the forest.

After walking through the forest for about ten minutes you all spot a body lying on the floor almost simultaneously. From a distance it appears to be wearing leather armour, and there's a bow on the floor next to it.

You're still in marching order.

[ooc] DM, Charn requests a spot check (if necessary) to see if we can tell who it is (Xavier?) or if the body is moving, obviously dead, etc. [/ooc]

[ooc] Charn requests a second spot check to look around and see if there is any obvious reason that a body would be lying where it is - i.e., tripwire, animal tracks, sign of struggle, Sherman tank pointed at it ...[/ooc] Charn whispers "Shhhhhhh".

[ooc] Charn requests a Listen check for audible clues. [/ooc]

Caamora uses move silently and spot check to look for traps, identify body.

You can't see who it is without going closer, but the body is wearing what Xavier was wearing.

You cannot see any movement in the body.

Neither of you see anything out of the ordinary.

Neither of you hear anything out of the ordinary.

Charn approaches the body, assuming it to be Xavier. Weapon drawn as he nears, he says in a low voice pitched to the prone figure, "Xavier, my friend, be you well?"

Irian suddenly notices something.

"There, next to the body, that plant is not what it appears! I don't know exactly what it is, but it's moving of its own volition!"

Once she draws your attention to it, you notice a very well camouflaged plant, it looks just like a normal one, but it's moving in such a way that it couldn't be just blowing in the wind.

We are now in combat time.

You are all in a bunch about 150 feet from the plant. The body is right next to the plant.

Vargon is to act first.