Map and round 3 actions
Subject map
I'm confused by the map. Has the swarm abandoned Allistair and Salix? Or is the red stuff not the swarm?
From: Karl
Subject Map
I took it as the swarm still up in the tree where Salix and Ally were.
(But they hit the ground and crawled into Ragnar's protective circle.)
From: Jason
Subject Map
The swarm has not abandoned them. The swarm will never abandon us. It is they who have abandoned the swarm.
Seriously though, Salix and Allistair both moved out of the swarm on their turns and crawled towards the rest of the group.
From: Mark
Subject Map
Karl and Jason have it right.
The swarm abonded Mund and Ran, flew up and over the rest of the party and ended up surrounding Ally and Salix. Those two took damage and lost their balance and fell 30 feet to the ground. They then moved to the protection of the circle.
From: Porter
Subject Round 3 actions
Mund sees his brother and friend fall. After the initial fear, he's relieved to see them both crawl back toward this magical protection of the godsman.
"Hey! Can any of y'all magick me up to fly up there and kill those buggers?" Mund shouts to everyone.
OOC: It's kinda hard to know what to have Mund do since the swarm moves first.
If the swarm attacks Mund, putting themselves in range, Mund will do a full attack in return.
If they don't, Mund will will retreat to the protection as well.
From: Randy
Subject Round 3 actions
Ranthir will retrieve his sword and return to the area near Ragnar unless doing so will put him at a great danger of being attacked by the swarm.
From: Josh
Subject Round 3 actions
Kal keeps concentrating on the detect thoughts spell. Was the turn he cast it the first round as far as spell effects go, or is this the first round?
From: Mark
Subject Round 3 actions
This will be the first round. The way I read it is that it takes a round of concentration to get the first result. At the end of the second round you get the second result, same with the third.
I hope this makes sense.
From: Karl
Subject Round 3 actions
Salix will cast "Call Lightening" and strike at any swarm square not also occupied by a party member.
From: Derek
Subject Round 3 actions
Does Allistair have any penalty to cast spells this round? Did he lose his MM from the previous round, or just not cast it?
From: Mark
Subject Round 3 actions
He did not cast it. With all the damage he took and the distraction I thought he would not even try. He knew he was in too much pain to make a Concentration check.
Salix and Ally sittin in a tree.....
From: Derek
Subject Round 3 actions
What about this round? Is there a concentration check necessary the round after taking damage?
From: Kevin
Subject Round 3 actions
Harp will sacrafice "Bulls Strength" to cast a CModW on Salix.
Round 3
Subject Round 3
Round 3 Init: Kal (24), Swarm (23), Ranthir (21), Salix (20), Ally (13), Mund (12), Ragnar (12), Surin (10), Harp (7).
Kal continues concentrating his attention on the area of the forest where the swarm had appeared. His mind probes for the patterns that make up thought. He is shocked to find none.
Mund, seething that the things had attacked his brother (Start rage), shouts back to the party members, "Hey! Can any of y'all magick me up to fly up there and kill those buggers?" Mund's voice seems to attract the swarms attention. The swarm seems to hover and then descend. Like a glittering red mist, it surrounds Mund. The barbarian is able to prepare himself and takes a mighty swing as the swarm moves around him. His frosty axe whirls through the air, the broad blade clearing a wide path in the creatures (AC20, 17+13=30,hit, damage 6).
The thousand of insects that make up the swarm swirl around Mund again. For a second time he is assailed by hundreds of biting, stinging creatures, so small that his armor is of no use (Damage 12). This time though the poison starts to affect the fighter (Fort Save, DC18, 1+15=16, fail, Dex drops 1 point). He feels his reactions slow just a bit, but not too much.
Ranthir, not sure what to do but knowing he would be more useful armed, dashes out from the protection around Ragnar, grabs the sword he had just dropped a few seconds ago and returns to stand next to the cleric.
Salix look up gratefully at Harp. "Thanks friend. I don't remember the last time I fell out of a tree, but it has been a while. Let's see how these things like it when nature strikes back." The druid climbs to his feet with Harp's help and pulls the wooden holy symbol from his belt. He starts to chant the prayer to summon the power of the storm. Clouds start to form overhead and the glade starts to darken.
Ragnar helps Ally to his feet. The mage is in obvious pain but his years of training, and a rough childhood with Mund, has hardened the magic user to casting while hurt. Pushing the pain aside Allistair chants the one spell he knows has worked. The four arrows flash from his fingers and drop hundreds more of the swarm as they pass through (Damage 16). The edges of the swarm seem to fuzz a bit after the passage and the coherency looks to waver.
At almost the same time Ragnar and Mund act. As Mund is swinging his axe for all he is worth, Ragnar is chanting for the battle lord to blast this evil creature with his holy might. A bright burning light streams forth from the dwarfs shield and the creatures burn (Will save, DC18, 5+7=12, fail, damage 19). Mund's axe slices through the remains of the swarm (AC20, 15+13=28,hit, damage 6), but there is nothing left for the return stroke. What few insects are left buzz off in all directions, aimlessly flying around, blind to all that is before them.
OODM: Fight is over.
I need actions.
The swarm is gone
Subject The swarm is gone
Kal keeps concentrating out there, changing up the direction every few rounds to see if anything pops up. For however long the spell lasts.
From: Porter
Subject The swarm is gone
Mund bends down to examine one of the dead insects at is feet to see if it's anything he recognizes
From: Karl
Subject The swarm is gone
Salix's spell is wasted then, right?
From: Mark
Subject the swarm is gone
Sorry but yes.
From: Karl
Subject The swarm is gone
"We should head for the town. The woods are obviously not safe, and there is little I can do here," Salix says. Not seeing any obvious foe, he dismisses the storm cloud without actually calling any lightening. He should have waited before wasting the grace, but he really had no idea how weakened the swarm had become. He says a silent prayer to Obad-Hai asking for greater wisdom to see the party safely through this ordeal.
From: Kevin
Subject The swarm is gone
Harp watches in anticipation as Salix begins to invoke the power of Obad-Hai. The clouds swirl, the wind quickens, the temperature starts to change. Harp looks over to where the swarm was just in time to see both Mund and Ragnar attack it. Two different types of attacks, but both effective. Harp feels the power of Heironious flow through Ragnar, lancing out to kill hundreds of the vile insects. Mund's axe makes a sweeping cut through the remainder of the swarm, taking down most of the rest of them. Before anything more can happen, the swarm seems to dissappate like a fog cloud in a stiff breeze.
Watching the insects disappear from view, Harp looks around. Many of his companions had been attacked by the swarm, and showed the signs of those attacks. Ragnar' circle had protected them for much of the time, but the insects had been able to draw the group away from that protection and them ambush them. That seemed odd for mere insects.
"Salix, was that weird or what? Were those things able to think? It almost seemed like they intentionally drew us away from Ragnar, and then chose to attack Salix and Allistair when they were in the tree instead of attacking us who were closer. Can bugs do that?"
Harp helps Ragnar survey the wounds the group has and uses what grace he has left to help heal those wounds.
From: Mark
Subject The swarm is gone
Mund picks up one of the insects. It looks just like a normal wasp, maybe an inch to an inch and a half long, filmy wings, wicked looking stinger. However the carapace is black with a red stripe and the eyes are a brilliant multifaceted green.
From: Porter
Subject The swarm is gone
"Hey Salix, have you ever seen any critters like this? Pretty weird, neh?"
From: Karl
Subject The swarm is gone
Salix hears Harp's questions and checks out the wasp with Mund. Does it tell him anything? Knowledge check.
From: Derek
Subject The swarm is gone
Allistiar winces as he slowly comes to his feet checks himself for further damage. "That was foolish of me," he thinks. "I should have taken Salix and myself into the rope trick space. Then those wasp-things couldn't have gotten us." Oh well, they were all alive at least. Allistair winces again as he probes the places he was stung. They were already starting to swell up. He'd probably look like a bloated corpse in a couple of hours. Well, if it gets unbearable Ragnar can probably heal it a bit.
Allistair joins Mund in looking at some of the dead bugs. "Doesn't look like any species I know, but Salix would know best whether it's a naturally occuring species or not." Not being able to help in determining what they are, Allistair goes to the tree and cancels the rope trick, coiling the rope and putting it back in his pack.
From: Jason
Subject The swarm is gone
If I understand correctly (I may not, it seems weird to me) a cure spell will cure both lethal *and* nonlethal damage as long as there is nonlethal damage, right? So with so little nonlethal, I can basically just ignore it for purposes of figuring out who to heal. Ragnar will cast CMW on Salix & Allistair, then see to Mund/Ran if Harp hasn't already done so.
After taking care of the obvious and immediate needs, Ragnar says "I don't know how these things found us so quickly, but I don't think we should remain around here any longer than we have to." With that he'll grab the canvas he used to cover his shield, trying to ascertain if its still usable or if he tore it badly in his haste to get it off.
Picking up the pieces
Subject Turn
I might get some minor stuff out this afternoon but I will get the next major write up tonight.
From: Mark
Subject Picking up the pieces
As the party looks around the clearing, trying to determine if there is another foe out there, Harp and Ragnar take care of the wounded. Kal continues his scan for mental activity, but finds none. Ran, Salix and Mund feel no further complications from the poison (DC 18 Fort save, Ran, 11+7=18, save, Salix 17+7=24, save, Mund, 10+13=23, save). However, the three notice that their muscles still do not respond like they did before they were stung.
The party keeps station around Ragnar and he moves around the clearing so that Kal can cover more of it. When Kal is about 40 feet from the edge of the woods to the north of the clearing he all of a sudden holds up a hand.
OODM: Salix, Mund and Ran are still affected by the initial exposure to the poison. That will last until cured by the appropriate spell/prayer. I will let Josh know what he has sensed.
Rage, something in the woods and Mund on the move
Subject Something in the woods
Harp, having followed Ragnar as he and Kal moved forward, sheathes his sword, pulls his longbow out and nocks an arrow to the string, preparing to launch a hail of fletched death if needed.
From: Karl
Subject Something in the woods
Salix draws his scimitar, and gets ready for . . . whatever it is.
From: Porter
Subject Rage
OOC: Does this count as a separate "encounter"? In other words, are the affects of Mund's previous rage over, and can he rage again?
From: Mark
Subject Rage
I will say yes. It has been several minutes since the last fight ended.
From: Porter
Subject something in the woods
Mund readies his axe and gets ready to move.
From: Derek
Subject something in the woods
Allistair comes up to one knee and speaks quietly. "My offensive spells are mostly gone, but I can enlarge one of you, or polymorph if you'd like. Either would give us an edge if there's more fighting to do."
From: Karl
Subject Something in the woods
Salix replies, "Don't you be enlarging or polymorphing either of *my* knees."
From: Josh
Subject Something in the woods
Kal speaks using Allistar's spell. "Don't react. There is someone or something in the trees."
From: Derek
Subject Something in the woods
OOC: I was thinking the message spell had expired, but I guess not.
IC: Allistair whispers to everyone wia the Message spell. "I can turn into a mist form and fly, if you want me to check it out."
From: Mark
Subject Something in the woods
The message spell lasts for 70 minutes, 10 min/level, so I would say that it still has at least 3/4 hour if not more left on it.
From: Derek
Subject Something in the woods
Alright. Then Allistair's offer to polymorph someone was also sent to everyone via Message.
From: Porter
Subject Something in the woods
I'm game. You got anything that can can let me fly and still fight?"
From: Derek
Subject Something in the woods
Allistair replies and relays to everyone via Message. "I think I could turn you into a dragon Mund, perhaps like the white one we fought in the testing grounds. That thing could fly and fight pretty well. What do you say, Kal? Should we wait a little longer?"
From: Josh
Subject Something in the woods
"hold off for a minute more. I may be able to detect what they're thinking."
From: Kevin
Subject Something in the woods
Harp hears assorted whispering around him, occaisionally picking up what Allistair is saying. He keeps his eyes trained forward, asking Kal in a soft voice "Any idea where this thing might be?"
From: Porter
Subject Mund on the move
As many of you know, I'm moving to Oregon.
That move is taking place this next week. I will not be around at all to play our game.
Derek, if you don't mind, could you take over with Mund?
What Kal heard
Subject What Kal heard
Kal signals the party to hold. They stop, eyes peering into the scattered trees of the woods beyond the clearing. Even though they really do not need to, the party talks using Allistair's message spell. The mage relays to everyone "Don't react. There is someone or something in the trees." Mund and Allistair immediately start talking about what creature Ally should turn Mund into and if Ally should enlarge Mund. Kal tells them "Hold on. Let me see if I can pick up what they are thinking.
The elf concentrates for several more seconds and then reports back. "It is thinking in two different languages. The first one I did not understand, the second was common and it was trying to decided if it should reveal itself to us."
OODM: I will let Josh tell more.
From: Josh
Subject What Kal heard
Kal whipsers to everyone "Go with me here. Trust me." and then speaks outloud:
"Harp, Ragnar, I need you to pray to Heironeous. Take whatever graces he will grant and heal Allistar and Mund.
Salix, if you can get in contact with your druidfolk who sent us here, do so and let them know what has happened.
The rest of you, spread out and see if you find any signs of the evil beasts we have heard of."
Kal sub-vocalizes again, "please, trust me."
Healing
Subject healing
OOC: Mark, had Ragnar and Harp used any healing before we started moving?
If not, then Harp will do what he can, while saying quietly to Kal "I will use what grace I can, but I've pretty well used what I have. Ragnar may have more, but he did quite a bit back with those damn bugs."
From: Mark
Subject The forest speaks
From with in the fringe area of the forest a strange voice can be heard. It sounds like a mix of a breaking branch and snapping bough. "Tree and root, may the forest hold you."
Salix's head pops up when he hears this.
Comments, from the forest
Subject Healing
I will work on the healing this afternoon.
Any other comments are welcome.
From: Kevin
Subject Comments
Your hair looks funny and you smell bad???
Those type of comments??
From: Mark
Subject Comments
At least I have hair.
From: Kevin
Subject Comments
Hard to tell from the reflection off all the grey ones.
From: Karl
Subject From the forest
"Branch and Bough Protect You!" he calls out. "Forgive me, but I cannot identify myself or my party further until we speak face to face. If you are a friend, you will understand why this is so."
From: Mark
Subject From the forest
"Who am I?" The voice is hesitant, unsure. "I am the Friend of the Forest, the Watcher of.. of.. of The Woods, the....the .." here the voice stutters and stops for a bit. When it continues it almost seems like it is talking to itself "I am a failure. The woods die and I can not stop it." The voice stops talking but continues to make odd noises, the creak of wood bending and the rustle of leaves blowing.
Salix and Surin think they may be able to tell where the voice is coming from. There is a small tree, no larger than 30 feet high and around 4-5 feet across. There are only a few branches and they are bare.
From: Derek
Subject From the forest
Mund whispers to to Salix, "What's going on? Is this guy one of them druids from the camp that went missing? Is he an ally, or do I need to get ready for more stomping?"
Allistair whispers to everyone with the Message spell. "Is there another druid out there?"
From: Karl
Subject From the forest
"Not a druid. I'm not exactly sure what, but I think he might be a friend. Take no aggressive action toward this being unless I tell you to." Salix looks at Kal as he says this last.
From: Derek
Subject From the forest
Mund complies and holds his axe up near the blade, in a non-threatening posture. Allistiar is pretty non-threatening to start with, so he just asks his familiar,"What's out there, Sysyphys? Do you smell anything unusual?"
From: Josh
Subject From the forest
Kal laughs as Salix glares at him. "Your memory's pretty short. That spell those druids cast on you mess up your head?"
Silverbranch, check in, distance and time
Subject Location
"Watch out for trouble," Salix says to the group. "I'm going to check this out. Mund, come with me." Salix will approach the tree the voice seems to be coming from. When he gets closer he will say "We are friends. We have come to help the forest. What has happened here? What can you tell me?"
(OOC - I'm a little confused about where everyone is and what we are doing. Also, where are we in relation to the area where we fought the swarm. Also, can I get a knowledge check? If this *is* what Salix suspects, what does he know about it and is there anything he can do to help it?)
From: Mark
Subject Location
Everyone is within the 10 foot circle of protection around Ragnar. They are about 40 feet from the north edge of the clearing. This is the area where the swarm came out of the woods.
I will let Karl know what Salix knows.
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
Mund and Salix slowly leave the area of protection and move towards the edge of the woods. When they get there they can see that the tree has eyes. In repsonse to Salix's questions a knot hole on the side of the tree opens and the voice rings out.
"What has happened?" The anguish in the voice is palpable. "They have killed the forest. Not just the trees but everything. The grass, the birds, the creatures that crawl in the ground. All dead." The creature starts making noises again that sounds like branches breaking.
After a few minutes of this the creature finally gathers itself again. "I am "and it lets out a long, raspy series of sounds, "but am known to the druids as Silverbranch. I am a guardian of the forest." At this statement he starts cursing and mumbling to himself. Salix recognizes the language as the language of the forest and is shocked by the words the creature is using. He is even more shocked to hear that Silverbranch is refering to himself.
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
"Do you know who had done this?" Salix asks.
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
The anger in his response suprises Salix. "Bodentown. Those filthy, fire loving, wood burning savages. We should have awakened the forest and torn down the city when we had the chance. But Gnarlbranch said we could wait this out, just as we have done in the past. But this time was different. Usually they would just come into the woods and cut some trees. A loss but nothing that time could not fix. Eventually, with the help of the druids we would reach an agreement and the cutting would stop."
"But not this time. This time the druids went to negotiate but never came back. The cutting continued. And then something new. We would go to plant seedlings in the areas they had abandoned but the ground was dead. Then the moot gathered and it was decided to remove the interlopers. Many of us went but none come back. Even Gnarlbranch did not return. I have been wandering the forest since them, avoiding the evil that has come."
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
Salix was alarmed at this new. If so many had gone to investigate this problem and none had returned, how could their small party hope to defeat this evil? He said a quick prayer in his head to Obad-Hai asking his protection and guidance.
"Silverbranch," Salix said. "You have been wise to avoid this evil. We have not heard from any of the druids that went to negotiate, and even the Stormfather has gone missing. I am Salix, Wealdward of the Great North Woods, and my party and I are here to help.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about the nature of this evil?"
(OOC - I'm betting not, so assuming the answer is "no", Salix will ask. . . /OOC)
"Our council has not heard anything from any of the druid parties sent to investigate and does not even know if we have arrived safely. Can you get to a safer part of the forest and send word somehow to the council at the main druid grove that we have arrived and are alive and investigating this evil? Also, please tell them all that you know about this situation as well? If you can get to safety and send this message, stay there. We will send word to you as soon as we are able. Perhaps you can encourage the treants farther in to take actions to at least keep this evil from spreading further."
He will say to the group, "There is nothing I can do here. We should get to Boddentown with all haste. We need to see if we can learn the nature of this evil and why it has taken hold of the forest like this."
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
"I know very little about it. It seems to seep into the woods, like an infection. Can you not feel it all about you?"
The creature takes a step towards Salix and Mund. It's leg looks like a tree stump with roots for toes. "You are here to help? Thank the One Tree. Be careful. The evil is not in Bodden town itself, but that is where you must go, I think. Boddentown is also but a sympton of this. They have always been cavalier with the forest but never cruel and wanton on this level. Things started soon after the new "Mayor" took office. Soon after that is when this started."
"I was commanded to stay here, but will do as you say. I fear I will die if I spend too much more time in this area. Already my leaves have all fallen out and I am afraid that too much damage has been done. I will do what I can to report to the druids."
"One last thing. Beware the forest. All is dead here, but there are things out there, that are alive. The evil things of the forest that we and the druids kept in check. They are free to roam now. Head to Bodentown with all haste. The woods are not safe."
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
That's it then. Let's book it to Bodentown!
From: Mark
Subject Check in
I would like a check in from everyone before the party moves on. Anything else you want to ask or do before you leave.
From: Kevin
Subject Distance and time
Would the group have been told approximately how far Bodentown is from the grove they appeared at? Do we have an idea of how long the trip would have taken normally?
From: Mark
Subject Distance and time
The town itself is about 12 miles from the grove. The edge of the forest is about 6 miles away.
From: Randy
Subject Check in
Ranthir nods in acknowledgment and readys himself for the march to the town.
From: Derek
Subject check in
Allistair nods with agreement that they need to get to the town with all due haste. Allistair especially used up most of his powerful spells in that encounter (needlessly, perhaps) and needs to rest and recover, which they probably can't do out in these 'evil' woods.
Mund is also in agreement. "What 'er we waitin' for? Let's get goin!"
From: Jason
Subject Check in
Other than healing and trying to cover his shield again, Ragnar is ready to go. Like Allistair, he's used many of his powerful blessings already, and hopes to have the chance to rest before anything else happens.
From: Jason
Subject Check in
Oh, and Ragnar is willing to use his 0 level blessing Mending to patch up his shield's cover if that's necessary.
Check in, Bodentown or Bust
Subject Check in
I must have missed something then. Did something happen after Salix said, "Let get to town"?
From: Mark
Subject Check in
No I had just asked every one to check in.
From: Karl
Subject Check in
Checks in.
From: Ashley
Subject Check in
Surin checks in. He's following Salix's lead on this one.
From: Josh
Subject Check in
Checksaroo.
From: Mark
Subject Check in
Ok I will get a turn out tonight.
From: Mark
Subject Bodentown or bust
The party watches Silverbranch march southwest deeper into the woods. Salix says a small pray to Obad-Hai that the treant will be safe and be able to reach the druids. Maybe some help would be sent along. The druid turns to the others and says "Ok north to the edge of the forest and then on to Boddentown." The others nod in silent agreement. Even they are taken aback at the condition of the forest. It is like nothing they have ever seen.
The going is slow. The ground is muddy and slippery. Footing is treacherous and before the first mile is done all of companions have a nice coating of mud on them. The mud does not bother Mund. "Hell" he says "We would have stood out if we turned up all clean and proper. Now we will look like we fit right in." The barbarian punctuates his point by falling in another puddle and slapping even more mud on his armor. It takes the party almost 3 hours to go the 6 miles to the edge of the forest.
However, the edge is a strange thing. The party goes at least a mile where it was obviously once a part of the woods but all of the trees have been cut down. What is odd is that none of the stumps have been removed. Usually when towns clear woods they do so for wood but also for land that can be used for farming. That means taking out the stumps. Not so here. There looks to be a band a mile deep and as far as the eye can see where the timber has been cut bu the stumps left to rot in the ground. Salix's rage at this wastefulness is barely contained. He stomps along, seeming to know where to go, while the others try and keep up.
Eventually Ranthir speeds up and walks next to the druid. "Salix, I know this must be bothering you, but you must slow down. Poor Ragnar back there can barely keep up. Not that he would complain, being a dwarf. Even Harp is having trouble." Salix turns and notices for the first time the condition the others are in. He is a little shocked and pulls up. "Ran, I don't know if I am ready for this. Is this how you felt when we rescued Rochelle? I fear I am leading all of you into danger or worse and I am not sure how to prepare." The druid hesitates and goes on. "I must confess something else. I am feeling something I have never felt before. I am glad to be leaving the woods. The place I have lived most of my life and I am happy to be leaving." Salix struggles to maintain his composure and Ran puts an arm around his shoulder. The two keep walking for a while, Salix taking deep breathes and calming himself.
The party finally gets to the edge of the woods and they see a small dirt road leading north and west. "My guess is" Mund says "that if we follow that road we will find Boddentown in a couple of hours. How do we want to do this? Go in as one group or split up and meet in town?"
OODM: The party can discuss how they want to approach the town.
From: Ashely
Subject Bodentown or bust
"Splitting off might be less conspicuous, but we'd need some way to contact the rest in case of trouble. Alley--would that message spell of yours work for us again in town?"
From: Derek
Subject Bodentown or bust
Allistair shakes his head. "No, I don't think it would be useful here. It only lasts a few minutes, and I need to start with a line-of-sight at the begininng. That's why I wasn't able to talk to you, Surin. You were already invisible."
"Considering we have some of the loot from that attacked caravan, I think claiming to be from a caravan that was attacked by ogres is a safe bet. We certainly look beat-up enough for the story to be beleivable, and it would give us a good reason to stay together."
From: Kevin
Subject Bodentown or bust
Harp looks around at the group. He had come to love and trust most of these people more than any one else he had ever know. Well, maybe not Mund, but Salix, Ran and Surin had been steadfast in their support of him from the start. Ragnar was a fellow member of the Order and had shown himself to be utterly dependable - just like a dwarf. But he was concerned about how Salix and Kal would respond when the entered Boddentown. Harp was familiar with the cruelty humans could heap on others. How would Salix or Kal respond if they saw something in the street. They could not solve every problem, could not right every wrong. Could they be prepared for what they might see?
"Maybe a smaller group of us could head into town and scout around, at least for a place to stay. A group our size walking in to town together is sure to get noticed, even if we try to stick to our story about a caravan. Maybe Mund, Surin, Allistair and I can go in, look around, and then one of us can come back for the others once we have found a place to stay?"
OOC: Mark, what time of day is it now? It was really early morning when we left the druids, and now we have spend a few hours making it to this point. Do we have a feeling that we can send a group ahead or is night falling and all of us want to get to town?