Checking in and Down in the Valley
Subject Kal and Harp
Kal replies "I was disapointed by how you felt about what I did, I felt I was making a descision that you didn't have time to, but they would have me believe I was wrong." He smiles, "but lets leave the past behind us. Overall I feel you did an excellent job. You got us all through alive and we accomplished the mission. Furthermore, you mostly kept Mund under control, which doesn't seem to be an easy task." Kal goes quiet for a moment and then looks up at Harp, "Do you imagine all orcs to have the capability for good that you have?" his face hardens and he says softer, "Would that mean that all elves are capable of evil?"
From: Mark
Subject Travel update
I just realized that I might have left the wrong impression.
The North Mountain road is a well travelled road. The party has passed several groups, mainly merchant caravans, heading in both directions. These have consisted of between 3-10 large wagons with appropriate employees and guards. The total number of people in a caravan has been between 12 and 50 people, with about half usually being guards or escorts.
From: Karl
Subject What's up ahead
And the vultures and the "forms" that Salix sees are on or near the road ahead?
Where is Noctis in all this? Has he flown ahead? Is he nearby so he can be sent ahead?
Re-reading your turn, it sound like a caravan has been attacked. Is this a reasonable assumption on Salix's part based on what he sees and the location?
Is there any cover between here and there? Anyway to approach the scene unseen?
From: Mark
Subject What's up ahead
Since the forms are a mile ahead it is hard to tell exactly where they are but they are at least close to the road. He has not flown ahead since it is just after the mid day meal. Salix had sent him ahead in the evening and in the early morning, but the poor birds normal sleep cycles are getting all screwed up. :)
He can be sent ahead. However, remember that unless you have speak with animals, he can not talk to you. A waylayed caravan would be a good guess based on the history of the area and what he sees. There is very little cover in the area. It looks like the area has been cleared decades or centuries ago. There is almost no way for most people to approach unseen.
From: Karl
Subject What's up ahead
Salix tells Ran to drop back, spreading the word that there is trouble ahead and asking Harp and Mund to ride to the front. He briefly considers sending Noctis ahead, but he would have little advantage in the noonday sun and the danger to him would be too great.
When Harp and Mund get to the front, Salix says, "It looks as though a caravan might have been attacked. If so, I'd suspect Orcs. We should ride on with caution. I want you two to take the front. If there are Orcs there, seeing you two might put them off their guard. The vultures are a good sign, for us at least, since they would probably not be gathering if this scene were very fresh and there was still a lot of activity. Still, everyone be on guard.
Salix drops back and conveys this plan to everyone else.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Kal
Harp thinks to himself for a few minutes. "I have been taught that all mortal creatures can choose how they live, and that all creatures have the capacity for good or evil. How they "choose" to live their lives is up to them. Of course, most orcs worship at the altar of evil beings, but it may be that the know nothing else. The elves, for the most part, see the beauty in life, and live accordingly. I am sure that there are some elves who have chosen to live a life of evil, enjoying the pain and suffering they bring to others. But in general, I have found the few elves (and half elves) I have met to be smart, loving caring creatures. That doesn't mean that they don't make mistakes. I think there is a big difference between making a mistake that causes harm and intentionally doing something that causes harm.
Back in the Training Ground, we had a difference of opinion on how to approach something. There is nothing wrong with that. I *think* what you superiors were trying to say was that at that point in time, the decision to open the door and attack was not yours to make. If it had been one of them leading the group, and they had given you the same instructions I had, and you had done what you did, how would they have responed then?
Are elves capable of evil. Of course they are *capable*. But I do not think that it is in their *nature*, or in your *nature* to truly want to harm and hurt others without cauase or reason."
From: Kevin
Subject What's up ahead
Harp will do as requested, getting his bow ready, but not nocked (i.e. he will NOT try to shoot from horseback).
From: Porter
Subject What's up ahead
"Sure thing," he says to Salix.
From: Mark
Subject Checking in
I have only seen messages from Kevin, Porter, Josh and Karl.
Could the rest of you please check in so that I know you got the past turn.
From: Porter
Subject Checking in
Derek's having email problems, but I've sent him the turns, and he doesn't have anything for Alistair to do.
From: Jason
Subject Checking in
Ragnar doesn't have anything special to contribute and he's certainly not in the mood for small talk while on a horse traveling 60 miles per day.
From: Randy
Subject Checking in
I got it.
From: Ashley
Subject Checking in
Surin sits up a little higher in his seat and focuses his attention ahead. His hatchet appears in his hand, though he figures being on a pony would make it pretty useless. "Whatever you need, I'm here," he says reassuringly to Salix.
From: Mark
Subject Down in the valley
Harp and Mund move forward at Salix's command. Both of the riders unsling their bows and bend them in the saddle, stringing them as they do. Neither is terribly good with a bow while mounted but it is better to have the bow ready when they dismount, especially if they have to do it in a hurry. Salix waits for the others to catch up. "Ragnar, would you bring up the rear. Kal, stay near Allistair and Surin, protect them. Ranthir, you and I will be the second row. Lets' leave some space between us and those two." The party takes up positions as they trot down the gentle slope of the valley.
The party moves at a trot and closes the distance slowly, at least to how they have been covering ground the past several days. Ragnar is thankful for the rest. Dwarves just were not made to ride horses. Mund and Harp take up point about 60 feet ahead of the rest and lead the way down. As the party gets closer the scene starts to make sense. There is a large wagon about 30 yards off the road to the north of the road. The ground for yards around the wagon is littered with bodies. There are 10 large bodies and 40 or more human sized bodies all sprawled out in a random pattern all around the wagon. There are no horse bodies though.
The vultures still circle and some of them come to land on the bodies strewn across the ground. It is still impossible to pick out many details but a few can be made out. The wagon leans to one side, a broken wheel laying on the ground. As the party gets within 100 yards of the battle signs of the conflict become more obvious. Javelins sticking out of bodies, limbs spread across the ground, crumpled human forms in leather armor piled up next to much larger forms. It is still tough to tell exactly what happened, but the larger forms are obviously not orcs, but some larger humanoid.
OODM: How do you want to make your approach? I have attached a Map. There is one correction. Down in the lower right hand corner I show what way is north. That arrow is wrong. The arrow is facing west. The party is still about 100 yards away. If you want a character to enter the map please give me the grid coordinates. They are comeing from the east, or the bottom of the map.
From: Jason
Subject Down in the valley
Ragnar will remain in the back as Salix asked, keeping an eye on the surroundings as well as he can (which is never that great!) and bashing any vultures with the flat of his sword (which he has out) if they get too close.