You make your intentions to leave known to the gate guards and they open one of the gates wide enough for your group to leave through. The road looks the same as did yesterday and is just as empty of other travelers.
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Kair wakes in the morning, and goes down to breakfast, waiting for the others, and keeping an eye on the stable boy as he prepares the horses. As the other start coming down one by one, he greets them all with a raised flagon of watered wine and continues his business.
You travel in the silent and dim lit forest for about half a day before you come to a section of the road that has a very large laying across it. Through it's branches and leaves you see the other side of the road, but you would have to either cut some branches off the tree before you try getting the horses over it or attempt to go off the road to get around it.
Kair draws his axe quickly, looking around. Turning to the others, he says, "Something's in the woods. Be on your guard."
Vasili nods but doesn't say anything, trying to stay as alert as possible.
In response to Kair's words, Amria nocks an arrow to his bow and watches the forest for any signs of activity.
Shall we go around, yes? Vasili nods to the tree in the road. My guess is that it's a distraction for our would be ambushers.
"Ugh. Classic highwayman trick. Gut one or two, the others flee. Sometimes they flee regardless.", says Kair, looking at the tree, twirling his axe in his hands. "I'd presume they laid either traps or an ambush around the tree. I'd cut through it. Wouldn't take me long, just mind my back." Dismounting off his horse, Kair attempts to move closer to the tree. "Watch my back.", he mutters, ready to chop in the tree.
Amria, arrow still nocked, keeps careful watch on the surrounding trees as his fellow woodsman attempts to remove the roadblock.
Onvyr sits atop his horse and lets his weapon hang at his side. He looks around as Kair gets to work, seeming to enjoy the environment.
"This place is somewhat interesting isn't it? It seems like we have all manner of independent organizations vying for control of the area and making deal in the shadows. It is just odd that the settlements that we run into seem to have no truck with these groups and even, in some cases at least, oppose them. Not that I have any particular distaste for chaos, but I find it odd that no trading post has cropped up to support these unions of shapeshifters, vampires, and whatever else. I certainly wouldn't mind shopping there."
Kair shrugs, chopping the tree, watchful for attacks. "I certaintly wouldn't like them to get that idea. It's hard enough killing werewolves as it is. As for vampires, I'm grateful to never have met one, but I believe they don't shop, but simply... acquire things. And people."
I'm sure it'd be a lovely time, yes? Vasili chuckles as he waits.
Some of you see a group of men emerge from the woods in the direction of where the tree was chopped from. They have weapons drawn and are moving towards your group in a most threatening manner.
If adjacent, Onvyr will cast Magic Weapon on Kair. If not, he'll just draw his morningstar and move adjacent to Kair.
Grabbing his axe from the tree, throwing leaves and bark everywhere, Kair roars and charges at the bandits.
Amria makes to address the strangers. Just as he opens his mouth to speak, the ranger bellows his own greeting as he charges. "Well that's one way of saying hello..."