Furess

[ragnorakk]

You pass through the near farmlands without incident. You follow a slightly raised
road due west while the fields soften under the melt. After the farms and cotters of
Furess, you see no-one on the road that day. You stop at a crossroad as the first
night falls and stay at a roadhouse there at the outskirt of a small village. The next
day, the wind remains cool but the skies are clear. You follow a track leading WNW,
level to the ground, and again encounter no other travellers. As evening begins,
you begin to see the dark stone extrusions of Ryall's Hills - and farther north the
dense treeline of the forest. The track leads to a village with a low wooden wall,
at the foot of the hills.

Would you go to the village? Camp out among the stars? Something else entirely?
(feel free to take retro-actions at the crossroad if you feel talking to people there, or
maybe swinging a black cat by its tail...or something...)

[Toad-Killer-Dog]

"what say we investigate the village friends, doubtless we will find more information on this gnomish disturbance"

[Knuckles Bathory]

"I think a foray into the village, may yield much in the way of information and comfort," even as I speak I crane my head and cup my ear toward the village, listening for laughter or the ruckus of nightlife. I fill my lungs with the evening air, slowly through the nostrils trying to detect the scent of meat or ale. I scope the rooftops for wisps of smoke, and some sense of direction.

[danhem]

"Yes, let's see if we can gain access to the village. But let's be cautious, not all country villages are friendly places."

[apeloverage]

"I could sneak in and have a look around - but how would I know to look at them whether they were friendly?" Ponto muses.

[Knuckles Bathory]

"hmmm, I see and move well in the dark. I do not need a scout, and I can tell by your suggestion, Ponto, that you do not count yourself likely to be cornered by villagers."
"Perhaps, we should pick a secluded site to make camp, find water and good grasses for the beast, and you can scout the village returning to report good news, or perhaps to hide, if anyone chased you all the way back to camp, they would be exhausted and ambushed.. and I should say they would deserve it," I grin with a little twinkle in my eye.

(ooc- if the party will not go to the village, the village might come to the party!)

[danhem]

"I have no problem entering the village, I just think we should be on our guard. No excessive drinking or sharing of information with the locals. There could be gnome spies about. Or worse yet, elves."

[apeloverage]

OOC: are hobbits likely to be mistaken for gnomes?

[ragnorakk]

Jul 4, 2009 14:16:08 GMT -5 apeloverage said:

OOC: are hobbits likely to be mistaken for gnomes?

No. Some wizards and scholars say that gnomes are dwarven dopplegangers,
changed aeons ago, possessed by malign spirits from the deep earth. These same
wizards might be more inclined to mistake a hobbit for a goblin - as these two share
size and build. But it would take willful obduracy to to maintain this error for long.

[apeloverage]

Ponto volunteers to scout out the town, should the party decide to do that.

[Knuckles Bathory]

"Well, if there is to be no excessive drinking , then I will help to set camp, Ponto, your nomination for scout has my vote."
Assuming we choose a campsite before the scouting begins, so the scout knows where to return, I will set my own lodgings near a low tree limb, or in undergrowth (I stick my knife in the ground, sheathed, and throw my cloak over it... tent!). I will assist in the gathering of fire wood, and feed for Modestine, and assist anyone else not finished encamping. I take ration, and prepare to take watch. (ooc-Unless, something else happened)

[apeloverage]

Ponto tries to sneak into the town.

[ragnorakk]

As night approaches, Ponto slinks through the gate. There are two guardsmen loitering in a shelter
just inside the gate - but you manage to cleave close to its exterior, and pass unseen. The village is
small - mostly one-story buildings of wood, some with stone foundations. Torch-posts have been lit.
The villagers seem mostly human, what few you see. There's an inn (the sign before it says "Klathor's"
and bears the symbol of two upright pick-axes crossed). Is there anything in particular you are looking
for - or anything you'd like to do while in the village?
(32 XP for the successful sneaking BTW (total 410))

[Knuckles Bathory]

Having made camp..?..and generally helped out my new companions, eaten half a ration, and relaxed for a moment, I take up my flute and with my blackjack in my belt pack, I wander slow and meandering toward the village, staying off the roadway. At some point half way between camp and village I take my post, concealed by the side of the road... watching and listening for any trouble for Ponto.

[apeloverage]

Ponto is trying to eavesdrop on conversations, particularly anyone who looks important.