Galen and Triat & Tairt are racing neck and neck, deftly dodging trees and roots. Concentrating more on running, the three keep the elbowing and shoving to a minimum. Almost as one they come around a bend in the trail and bolt up gently rising hill. They have all decided to take the hidden game trail barley concealed by the underbrush.
A moment later Galen catches a glimpse of Kveit closing in behind them. It seems both he and his student had the same thought. They are both making their way to the overlook, a place where they train at swordplay together. Why Triat & Tairt are headed this way is beyond him, but he can't concern himself with that right now.
As the four of the burst into the small clearing they are greeted with exactly the sight they expected to find...more or less. Six capsules lay grouped together. Each one recognizes their own as they race to the pile. Triat & Tairt's capsule is on top of the pile, Galen and Kveit supporting it. Upon opening their capsule Triat & Tairt find all the possessions they had stored within plus a metallic, mechanical hand and a round disk with a button in the center. When pressed the finger on the hand act as though they are gripping something. The hand could easily be attached to a pole. Galen also finds whatever items he had placed in the capsule and an additional oddity, a small purple crystal that seems to encase the eye of a strange alien creature. Kviet finds a small synth bag of glittering dust, in addition to her other belongings. If emptied the bag refills when sealed.
Down at the bottom of the hill, Yaru is casting about attempting to sense where his capsule could be. He then remembers his favorite contemplation spot at the overlook is near here. Just as he turns to to find the game trail he uses to get there, Pha comes tearing around the bend. He has made up for lost time. Pha confesses to his friend that he cannot think where to look for his capsule. Yaru informs him that he has located his own and that he senses several magical signatures at the top of the hill. They agree that it could very well be what they are looking for and make the climb.
Not long after they begin climbing they hear a noise. It sounds like a large group of people moving through the underbrush around them. A moment later hushed, but not concealed, whispers confirm that the Clay Rats are moving in on them. It seems that Pha may have to settle his long standing feud with Chaig today. As the pair reach the clearing at the top of the hill theysee their capsules and are surprised to see four other people standing near them. Triat, Tairt, Galen and Kveit all standing at the ready. They must have seen the Clay Rats approaching and figured out they were up to no good since the vast majority of them aren't in the Rite.
Carrick is looking for that spot where he and Kylia meet sometimes. He thinks he finds it once, but when he gets to the divided tree, the rock he usually sits on has been replaced by a tangle of roots and a thorny shrub. It is then he remembers he hasn't climbed the hill yet, so it must be further along. Finding the hill Carrick is positive he has figured it out now. As he makes the climb he is suddenly grabbed by four sets of hands and forced to his knees. He looks up and sees he is surrounded by a bunch of children from the aldiea, and they seem to be facing off against a second group: Triat & Tairt, Galen, Kveit, Yaru and Pha!
:::So, here is the situation. everyone is in a small clearing, about 50 ft across. The clearing is ringed with small trees and shrubs and undergrowth. You are free to move outside the clearing but the unsure footing and the random wrist thick trees may increase the difficulty of some actions. There are eight youths plus Chaig and his lieutenant, Danjeers.
Triat, Galen and Kveit are all ready and armed. You are all at one end of the clearing, none of the Clay Rats are behind you. They will get each get one round of actions.
Pha and Yaru are stuck in the middle of clearing where Clay Rats may surround them still. After the first three act we will roll for initiative for each side. Pha and Yaru can act normally then.
Carrick, you got grabbed. You are being held by three of the Clay Rats. They aren't as old as you so while your size and experience would be an advantage in a fair fight, their numbers negate that and put you at a disadvantage.
The nameless rabble are level 1 threats, Danjeers Level 2, Chaig is Level 3. So the difficulty to act against (i.e. attack) or defend is their level x3 just like with the skill challenges. You are all free to act as you wish of course, but Pha isn't likely to escape the Clay Rats very easily.:::