You do realize that there was no fight here. Perhaps they just went for a walk?[/ooc]
"I theorize giant bats.
"Unless anyone hath a keen wit such to find our comrades, I bid we continue on to the castle."
We slowly start walking back to the camp....that is if we can find it.
Silently contemplating things in the back of the group, Aldan has no skills that would be of any use. Thus he continues to remain silent until his knowledge or magic is of use to the group.
Idiah rolls her eyes at Bro Seamus' suggestion.
"Brother Seamus," she sighs. "Giant bats would only come out at night, surely? And they wouldn't think to extinguish the fire." She points to the cold embers that Merian just pointed out.
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Silently contemplating things in the back of the group, Aldan has no skills that would be of any use. Thus he continues to remain silent until his knowledge or magic is of use to the group.
Aldan,
~Arien aproaches you, sensing that you feel useless in this situation~ Fear not, mage. We will alway have need of your skills. I for one am glad to have you with us.
"Giant bats would only come out at night, surely? And they wouldn't think to extinguish the fire." She points to the cold embers that Merian just pointed out.
I shield my eyes from the harsh sun as I turn towards the woman, but I'm clearly grinning as I reply quietly, "Why, thy answer is clear as good water. The giant bat must haveth flaming breath, and burnt the poor gnome to cinders. Good Vaitro, ever mindful of duty, did ask leave to extinguish the gnome before being carried off.
"And if fire-breathing giant bats are the strangest things we see on our quests to this Castle, we shall call ourselves blest."
Silently contemplating things in the back of the group, Aldan has no skills that would be of any use. Thus he continues to remain silent until his knowledge or magic is of use to the group.Aldan,
~Arien aproaches you, sensing that you feel useless in this situation~ Fear not, mage. We will alway have need of your skills. I for one am glad to have you with us.
"Thank you for the words of comfort. I simply hope we can get back to the business at hand quickly. That is all."
I shield my eyes from the harsh sun as I turn towards the woman, but I'm clearly grinning as I reply quietly, "Why, thy answer is clear as good water. The giant bat must haveth flaming breath, and burnt the poor gnome to cinders. Good Vaitro, ever mindful of duty, did ask leave to extinguish the gnome before being carried off.
"And if fire-breathing giant bats are the strangest things we see on our quests to this Castle, we shall call ourselves blest."
Merian looks sideways at the self-proclaimed friar. "You're setting unusual expectations for this mission, Brother Seamus." She looks around, clearly frustrated. "With no tracks... towards the castle seems our best course, unless someone else has a better idea."
"With no tracks... towards the castle seems our best course, unless someone else has a better idea."
"The only other options I imagine are to return to town; to wait here until we, too, are taken; or to shout loudly.
"Choosing 'mongst those, I too think us best served by advancing towards the castle.
"I recommend Kael to you all as a most excellent scout, keen of eye and subtle. I would ask him to lead the way, should there be no objection."
Idiah sighs.
"To the castle it is, then."
I wave and walk briskly up to our campsite.
"Hail, friends! I trust you had a more comfortable night than us? No blame on Priapus' cooking, of course."
"Oh look! I found them."
Kael grins.
"As I say, a most excellent scout.
Good morning, gentlemen. I believe you've met everyone, with the possible exception of Brother Arien here. All signs pointeth t'wards the castle grounds. Lyssa is alive, but soon to be sold to orcs.
"We've brought your breakfast, but we fear to be on a tight schedule, so ye may needs eat as we go."
"Ah well so much for that home cooked meal from the farmers wife. Since I feed my portion of breakfast to wolves I will welcome a bit of a bite."
"Ah... Priapus and I had come to invite you to breakfast with an accommodating farming couple, but I fear your concerns for Lyssa are sound. Do you have any food on you?"
CJ,
I am sorry to hear that. Please take care of yourself and I will keep you in my prayers.
"Our destination! It is certainly... larger than I expected."
"Our destination! It is certainly ... in better repair than I had suspected."
Merian examines the castle critically, looking for visible signs of habitation or fortification at this distance. "We should get off this ridge," she says, pointing forward, "we'll be visible from anyone down there with the sky behind us like this."
Avoid being seen? Outlined against the daylight sky? I nod numbly and comply. Something like that would have never occurred to me.
(Brother Seamus cannot make a DC 20 Spot check in the sunlight).
"It looks like there are people there but we are too far away to see anything of value.
Yeah, you tall people should duck down so you will not be seen so easily."
"Merian, that is some good insight. I would not have thought of it."
Merian squints against the glare, but can't see anything from this distance. "Right," she says, "let's get closer then, and see what we've got. Scouts on point, flankers out left and right?" She takes her own suggestion, moving toward the right edge of the group and readying her shield as they move down the slope toward the castle.
"Alright. I'll be about 200 feet ahead. You'll hear the prearranged signal if I get into trouble."
Idiah moves to the left flank, careful to stay in the shade of the slope as Merian recommended. She has her axe at the ready. She didn't spot anything at the castle, but stays alert: it is likely that enemies are patroling the area.
Aldan tries to stay in the middle of the group, surrounding himself with more capable warriors than himself.
I turn to Merian. "I am well-made for hiding. Let us be far enough from the roadway that the group as a whole is safely out of sight, but let me stray such that I might see both thee and the pathway."
"Sounds good," Merian nods. "We might want to pull Kael back a little bit as well, however, for the same reason... in the woods, it may be hard to see him so far ahead of us."
Idiah checks out the intact watch tower, since it is the most likely place they'd put snipers. From this distance do we have a good view?