"What about our prisoner? Shall I help her stay asleep or do we risk her waking up in the middle of the night and trying to escape?" It's obvious that Raff would prefer the first option.
"Make sure she stays asleep, and breathing."
Raff will do his level best to keep the prisoner 'asleep and breathing'. In that order.
Des interposes himself between Raff and the horse and it's bundle/rider.
"There's no need to worry about them escaping. Not unless they can chew through steel." He glances at his companions "Those chains are very good quality and our current 'guest' doesn't have any of her own gear on her in which tools might be hideing."
He sighs, "Lets just keep an eye on the surrounding forest for any more surprises, shall we?" He asks.
"You'll need to convince him of that." Indicating Cole. "Until then, I'll enjoy keeping her in a deep sleep."
Cole looks over at Jirah, a questioning look in his eyes, "So, you are not interested in having her questioned? Perhaps to find out where these drow are based at??" He shrugs.
Perception
"Fisty, I can place her in a deeper sleep. Mash doesn't like the dark elves. No, not at all."
Forgot the Perception check
Des smiles at the others as he also helps set up the campsite for the evening.
"I thank every one for the offer of seeing to our new 'freind', but perhapse - just this once - diplomacy is a better course of cation?" He looks to Mash
"Though rest assured good freind Mash, should I require your skills? I shall not hesistate to ask for them." =)
"Diplo... macy? Your words are too long, Pokey."
"Why should I want to?"
Cole stares at Jirah, not sure whether to laugh or cry. "Well, what if these drow are working with those in Haven who are after the Ambar?"
"If they were, why not just let us reach Haven instead of risking their necks trying to kill us now?"
"Because we passed right by their lair. A good time for an ambush, I would say."
When Cole hears the howl, he moves to Luthien and wakes her gently, and describes the howling he heard. "Do you think that was just a wolf?"
Luthien numbly awakening to the sound of Cole's voice looks in the darkness to find the direction of the sound while listening intently; afraid of what she might find.
perception-
knowlage (nature)
"It's a wolf alright, probably hunting. I dont think theres anyting to worry about." Luthien whispered to Cole sounding a little unsure with herself. Why didn't sound it like a normal wolf? she wondered.
Cole is quite distracted by Luthien's facial features, and he accepts the explanation without issue, "Fine, just let me know if you hear it again, thanks."
Raff takes note of the hesitancy in Luthien's voice.
Luthien, as curious as she is could not sleep after she heard the wolf howl. Sitting up on her bed mat she hesitated to take a stroll in the night. Tempted to check it out she knew that wasn't safe her, she sat in silence itching to find out who, or what, that wolf was. Glancing over at Cole questioningly, when she found he was looking at her with a rather blank expression she couldn't quite read. was he wondering the same thing? Maybe he knew some thing about wolves
Cole struggles to his feet on hearing the howls very close to camp. He grabs his weapons and his shield, wishing he had time to put on his armor. Oh well, nothing can be done for that now.
As the noise throws sleep from his mind, Desvartes starts awake. Scrambling up, he looks about into the morning gloom.
"Okay...what new freind have we made today?" He quips.
"Who wears the heaviest armor? Get dressed quick! Mash and I will cover you!" He looks to Luthien, Raff and Mash.
"There's no reason not to dress for the occasion now, is there?"
Des calmly stands over the still bound and prone Drow.
Mash grabs his blade and shield and heads into battle wearing nothing more than a loin cloth. He assume a panther-like stance.
Scrambling to her feet, Luthien feels guilty for not warning the others beforehand. Shakikng her head and tTensing her body, Luthien stands back aways feeling safer behside the larger people of the group. "Ready or not here it comes," she grimaces.
If there is no immediate threat, then Cole will 'armor up' "Can I get some help here?"
Des looks around, though when nothing immediately leaps ot and decapitates any one he relaxes his guard a little.
"Well, I know I didn't get woken up by some one's stomach complaining abut a late breakfast. Any one have ideas about what's going on?" He asks.
Feeling no imediate threat the panic passes and Luthien relaxes.
"Sure, Cole." Luthien says, her armor already on.
Cole smiles at Luthien, and gratefully accepts the help.
"I think that wolf, or whatever it is, will come back, we should be on our way now,"
Mash will don his armor too.
Luthein returns Cole's friendly smile and glances around nervously expecting a wolf to emerge from the the trees.
Cole tries to ignore the flush in his face and the suddenly accelerated heart rate he was experiencing. Much as he would like to attribute it to the unknown threat stalking the group, he knew the actual cause was much closer.
"Are you sure there was just one wolf?" Cole asks her, and glances to where he heard the howls earlier.
Seeing every one relaxing, Desvartes also begins to don his armor.
Once Cole has finished putting on his armor, with Luthiens's help, he quickly wakes everyone, and says quietly, "I think that is more than just an ordinary wolf out there, and it means us harm, so we are leaving now. Mash, scout ahead, and see if you can find a defensible position where we can make a stand." He glances at the unconscious form of the drow, wishing he could remove the burden permanently.
"Luthien, is there any way you can mask our trail from the beast, or delay it in some way?' He asks her gently, trying not to frighten her further.
"If it can scent us, and I trust it can, then it'll find our trail anyway," Jirah answered for the druid.
"Ok then, let's get moving. Luthien stay in the back, next to Raff, and I would ask your pet...err...companion out to see if she can track where the wolf is at. Maybe it can be drawn away from us."
Mash goes ahead of the group, using his knowledge of nature and his potential foe in an attempt to both find the tracks, and find a suitable place where to fight it.
survival
Des listens to Cole's words and frowns. The glance he spared to their captive seeming to not lighten Desvartes mood any, either. Still, Des squares his shoulders and helps break camp as quickly and efficiently as possible.
"I wish we have some peppermint scent. I'm sure I read in a story some where that a good dose to the nose of a hound will throw out their sense of smell...." He mutters to himself as the group gets ready to head out.
Raff quickly does his part in breaking down the camp. "You do realize, at some point we will need to rest. This constant state of running is no good. We'll eventually get sloppy and that will get us caught. We need to find a place to hold up long enough to get our bearings."
Cole says quietly to Raff, "Yeah I know, but everyone here is so jumpy, resting would do no good. If we can find a spot to lure that wolf in, and take him out, then we can relax, brother."
"Ok. Let's find such a place."
Once the horse is again 'packed' and his armor donned, Desvartes resumes his position by his mounts side in the middle of the party as they head off again.