Split up or together
Subject split up or together
(OOC - Has Salix been to Boddentown before? If not, surely he's heard a bit about it, considering it's been a bit of a thorn in the side of the druids for some time now. Mark, correct me if anything that follows is out of character for Salix.)
Salix turns to the group, "Splitting up into two groups is fine, but I don't like the scouting idea. A group going in and then leaving quickly will surely be noticed and just draw even more attention to the ones who come in later. Also, Boddentown is a rough place. There is very little community except that which is drawn together by common greed, and the need to fight the wilderness they refuse to understand. Because of this, I don't think a complex cover-story is necessary. Our business is our own, and we're likely going to find the same attitude from everyone else. We could probably get by on something as flimsy as 'we heard there was work here'. That also has the advantage of not having to provide any details or risk having someone sent out to investigate. Remember, the real ambushed caravan is ridiculously far away from here to be a plausible cover.
"Most importantly, we're here to find out what is affecting the forest this way, and what has happened to the druids. I don't think it is wise to lead off asking about these things, though this is our primary goal. As far as we are able, we need to stay out of local disputes, at least until we know which way the wind is blowing.
"How should we split up?"
From: Kevin
Subject split up or together
Harp will volunteer to go with Kal. On the way, he and Kal will talk about what they might encounter and the fact that they may have to overlook some smaller evils in order to overcome the larger evil.
OOC: Kal may just say these are humans being humans and he does not give a rats *** about what they do so long as it does not affect the elves. Harp just is not sure. Kal has been so gung ho about attacking evil things before that Harp is unsure of how he will react when they reach town.
From: Randy
Subject split up or together
Ranthir will stick with Salix and suggest that Mund come with them.
"Mund and Harp in the same group might be a little too intimidating to some folks. Allistair and Mund can come with Salix and I. Ragnar and Surin can go along with Harp and Kal. Am I missing anyone?"
Ranthir looks to Salix for confirmation. He was the leader of this expedition after all.
From: Derek
Subject split up or together
Allistair will follow Salix's lead, but he states again that he's in favor of staying together.
From: Karl
Subject split up or together
"I'm fine with that. Those who go with Harp will answer to him."
From: Karl
Subject split up or together
Salix adds, "We will should head to the inn. We can plausibly run into each other there."
(OOC - Is there likely to be more than one inn? Has anyone been here before? Has Salix at least heard the name of any inns here so he can pick a rendezvous point? If not, he will suggest the inn closest to the center of town, if there is more than one.)
From: Mark
Subject Split up or together
This is actually a fairly large town, almost a small city. No one knows of any particular inn in town. There is likely to be several inns in town, as many people tend not to put down roots here.
From: Karl
Subject Split up or together
Is the town gated? How many gates? Any major roads heading in or out? Any landmark at all that we know about?
From: Mark
Subject Split up or together
No, the party knows very littel about the actually lay out of the town and surrounding areas. Salix, Mund and Allistair have heard of the town, but it is almost mythical in nature.
They would expect it to be gated, being out in the wilderness like this. But they do not know much more than that.
From: Karl
Subject Split up or together
Ok, then change "nearest the center of town" to "nearest the gate" for the inn. Also, Salix will add, "My group will go first. We'll move out now. Harp, you guys wait a few minutes and follow, but slowly. Let us get ahead. We'll travel with haste. That should put enough distance between us to avoid an obvious connection.
"Ally, I understand your desire to stick together, but I think we'll be less noticeable coming in in smaller groups. Once inside we can regroup as soon as it looks feasible."
From: Kevin
Subject split up or together
OOC: So, we are going to have a 1/2 orc, and elf, a halfling, and a dwarf in the same group? I know we live in a happy new world where we all get along, but we are going to draw some attention.
From: Kevin
Subject Split up or together
IC: "Got at Salix. Hell, with Surin and Ragnar here, we probably couldn't keep up with you anyway" Harp says with a laugh and a grin toward the two smaller member of the group.
From: Karl
Subject Split up or together
Better the attention directed at you than at Salix, no? But, yeah. I didn't think of that. If you want it changed, have Harp say something. Otherwise we'll just be at the mercy of the DM. ;-)
From: Kevin
Subject Split up or together
OOC: No, given our group, there is almost no way we can split up that won't arouse some types of questions. Lets be serious 2 1/2 elves, 2 humans, a 1/2 orc, a full elf, a dwarf and an halfling? Harp will just have to work with his group to try to come up with some type of very basic cover story. Something simple, like they are looking for the human who stole something (like some treasure) from them.
From: Mark
Subject Split up or together
Mund and Salix know that renegades of all races are common up in Boddentown.
From: Kevin
Subject Split up or together
Yeah, but our grouping is still somewhat odd. It would be like having a Korean and a Japanese in the same group and not expecting there to be some tension.
From: Mark
Subject Split up or together
What an egocentric bastard. Always assumes it's about him.
From: Karl
Subject Split up or together
Well, then, if Harp voices his objection, Salix will tell him not to worry. If he doesn't, well, he'll just have to worry. ;-)
From: Kevin
Subject Split up or together
Its not about him, its about the whole group, or this part of the group traveling together. Even in the LOTR, people did notice when a dwarf, elf, human and halflings were in the same group. Now, we are going to add in a 1/2 orc? Who should be, for all intents and purposes be their natural enemy? Inquiring minds want to know.
From: Mark
Subject Split up or together
When did this become LOTR? And that only happened in the bigoted, racist civilized nations. The halflings were treated like everyone else in Mordor.
From: Kevin
Subject Split up or together
Individually, or as Surin and Kal traveling together, that would be one thing. I still think (maybe wrongly) that this group of 4 (Harp, Kal, Ragnar and Surin) would cause some eyebrows to raise.
Just MHO.