DM Zyren's Heart of Journeys
Game Master Zyrenity

Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 As Mobo follows behind all he can see are large footprints as if made by some sort of ogre-like creature...

Before you reach the next hilltop, Kosti suddenly stops

"Oh good we are stopping, is it lunchtime?"

Kosti puts a hand on our guides shoulder (or one of the band of misfits if he accidentally got ahead of our guide - he will of course pick the first in line) and waits for him to stop and look up, then nods in the direction of the ambushers.

Look at that rockpile, you see any way of getting closer without getting in the way of the rockslide?

Ost stops, he looks at you like he can't believe you have spotted something he didn't

What's the problem with it? The stones won't start sliding as long no one helps them HAHAHA

...the tall elf laughs out loud...but he just overdos it...

Ragnvald, not being an idiot, pointedly distances himself from he elf leading them.

Jez squints her eyes and carefully watches the part-elf trusting him about as far as she can throw him - which is actually a pretty good distance come to think of it.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Is rock slide anything like boar sled?"

Kosti grabs the clothes covering the guides shoulder so he could not just run away without some resistance, then he uses prestidigitation to create a little, not bright but slightly warm flame in his other hand, putting that next to Osts face.

And we would not want anybody to do that, would we? Just as we would not want this flame to turn int a scorching ray and turn your face into a smoldering crater of burned flesh...

Mobo's eyes lock on the flame, and a too-wide grin spreads over his face as he watches what unfolds.

Ost is totally confused now

What? You think...you think I had prepared an ambush? My dear sir, I'm a well-known man for a lot of things but being a thief is not among them! Why don't you tell your muscled friends to skirt up there and take a look?

I look over at Attalas and then reach down and pick up about a 10 pound stone which I had to him.

Attalas, you want to toss this up there, see if it spooks whoever is up there.

Then you better stay out of the way as we take care of the brigands.

Kosti plans to to keep behind Ost (in terms of distance) during the likely combat, so he has a chance to see if he does anything funny. Since he does not enjoy melee anyway, that should be managable.

"Why don't we all go up there?" Ragnvald growls. "Let's not split our hunting party. I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to our huntsman friend here." Ragnvald lies.

Attalas hefts the rock up and loads it into his sling...

Then he begins following on, ready to unleash the chunk of stone at the least provocation.

Now that you are out of the way of the rockslide "the brigands" realize that the moment of surprise and possible ambush has passed. Quickly they flee down the hill - from what you have seen of them they looked like two halflings or gnomes - Care to rush after them or let them go?

Ost seems higly annoyed by the forced break

A stony avalanche of death...not very imaginative...I guess they are friends of the Red Raven...

"Mmmm yes." Says Ragnvald looking pointedly at Kosti.

Considering their size, they probably hope we chase them into a better ambush. Our task is to turn the Raven red, not chase half starved midgets.

"What? I no see my clan... oh those kind of half-starved midgets."

How far are they from us? Within any reasonable shooting distance?

Like 200 ft.

That would explain why the Raven would be so easy to follow - if he had the ambush set up, he probably tries to slow us down to get away. We should try to follow him. I guess his tracks will be harder to follow from here on, though!

Maybe for you, but nor a skilled huntsman like me. Ost adds and takes a sandwich out of his pack.

Jez looks at the sandwich and then turns to Mobo. Any chance you have some more of those leftovers in your pocket?

"A few hobgoblin toes left!" Mobo brandishes the jar of pickled digits. "So why we chasing this Big Bird? Kost-achoo says Big Bird wants us, and poofs us here, so he poof us here for big game of Hide and Go Stab? Hmm usually there is haystacks and the stabbers get pitchforks to find the hiders... This bird a sneaky cheater. It'll be fun!"

Jez takes one of the pickled toes and begins to chew on it.

Mobo, want a ride, you can sit on my shoulders where you will have a better view. Just don't start shooting your boomstick next to my ears.

Ost takes his time to eat his sandwich before he follows the path once again

This is really easy...nearly embarassing that a man of his reknown does not come up with something more imaginative than just running away. Did I tell you how I once hunted down the fearsome chimera of Blackwood? That was an adventure of epic quality. It was like this...

Ost uses the rest of the day to tell you about the various types of monsters he has already hunted - after some hours their names and species mix more and more and the last story ends with him killing the necrotaurdragonwyvern of Demonskull Mountain...

"I killed a Paladin once, he was mean."

Attalas just lets the comment sink in as he walks.

Yeah, being mean is never good, my big friend. Ost totally ignores the scary bit of information in your last statement.

Over there, under the bluff we should make our camp. he says and strides over to the large rock protruding out of the heath.

I will take the first watch.

None of us should watch alone - if we are that close to the Red Ravens fellows, we should better be safe then sorry

We always have at least two people on watch.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 <-- I am always watching trying to determine what, other than his own ego, this fool is tracking.

Hopping down from Jez's shoulders, Mobo starts taking off his hat, poncho, and has his loincloth partially lowered before he realizes that the hunter didn't say buff.

Ost doesn't notice the goblin's antics and after you have made plans who shares the watch with whom, you enjoy the night in the relative safety of the bluff.

The next morning a mild breeze wakes you up - Ost has already readied his pack and looks eager to continue the search

Today we will reach the Boarwood, I hope you are ready for some woodland encounters, gentlemen. Oh yeah, that reminds me of my travels through the Mierani Forest where I battled the giant cats of Uzdun. Fierce beasts about the size of a shed!

Kosti mumble someting about them probably being more likely the size of a sled. Hopefully he can prepare his spells while the rest of the group collects their stuff. if so, his new array is:

Yeah, enough time for that

Well everyone prepares, Mobo turns over stones and rummages through brush for breakfast.

Survival 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Mobo is lucky and finds a caterpillar the size of his forearm!

Mobo offers up a slice of caterpillar to all of his friends before stuffing the rest in his maw.

Jez cheerfully accepts the slice of caterpillar. As usual, she casts purify food and drink on it. While she enjoys the taste of the goblin cuisine, she is unsure whether her part non-demon metabolism can handle it.

Nymeria eyes the caterpillar but graciously declines.

Um...no thanks, Mobo!

Munching on roasted Caterpillar Ragnvald broods.

Adjusting prepared spells.

"Too small" Attalas dismisses the caterpillars.

On the other hand, he seems pretty enlivened by the word that there could be trouble coming.

Well, yeah...

Ost arches an eyebrow but does not inquire further.

Once everyone has packed his or her belongings, the huntsman leads you to the edge of the Boarwood.

A vast woodland with some low hills in it - an area at least as large as a small fiefdom, but Ost does obviously not see a problem in that.

I know the way, don't worry. Aaaaand - I'm still able to follow his tracks.

He leads you into the wood and after about four of five hours walking through the dark firs, you reach a large glade that must have been reated by a large fire. The surrounding trees still carry scorch marks.

Ah yes, we're exactly where I thought we are. That reminds me of the forest of the Dryad Forest far north of here, they too had such a glade and they were all naked, hah!

"Naked! That's rude!" Attalas seems rather shocked at the thought of such a display.

Jez just shakes her head at the strange ways of the "civilized" races. Naked? You obviously have not spent much time among demonspawn.

I look around the glade trying to figure out what is here.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

When Ost mentions the tracks, Jez inquires: Where are these tracks? You seem to have been following them with great ease, I would have thought that one as sneaky and infamous as the Red Raven would be better at covering his tracks.

"That's because we are being led by the nose." Ragnvald says finally letting the bomb drop looking suspiciously at Ost.

Jex looks down at Mobo: Are pickled noses as good as pickled fingers and toes?

Attalas checks his nose carefully. He then looks at the guide most carefully, his eyes narrow to their usual expression of suspicion.

"Pickled fingers, pickled toes,
Just as tasty pickled nose!
Down the hatch in brine it goes,
Castoff bits of yummy foes!"

Mobo sings gleefully as his eyes too squint at the prim and proper huntsman.

Survival:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Looking for tracks...