Chapter 1.1: Willowdark (Xaar, Thorolf, Jean)

Your adventures will go here!

As Xaar sniffs the air, a cacophony of scents assault her trained nose. The damp rot of vegetation at the edge of the lake to the north. Sweat and spices flutter from the various homes. Fresh dirt and unwashed masses from the west. The slightly sweet smell of wildflowers and grasses drifting from the east.

Rapidly the town fades away as you move east. The grass goes from barely above the sole of your shoe to very quickly brushing up to your knees. Small flowers dot the landscape and you can see the swirling stars above you, not a cloud in the sky. The moon is nearly gone, the barest sliver in the sky. Far off in the distance, you can see the black mass of the mountains rising into the sky. Their tops are rounded and smooth.

You don't hear much of anything abnormal, at the moment. The rustle of grasses in the light breeze, and crickets.

As you all walk, you do hear the faint sound of a scream coming from the direction of the village. You can't be sure if it's a scream of horror, terror, anguish, or cheer. You can barely register it as a scream.

As you all continue your movements, skirting back towards the town, keeping to the extremities of the land, you move through some areas of brush, careful to mask the sounds. Xaar, you hear the faint sounds of steps off to one side. Peering through the night, you see two squat kneeling figures in the brush, about 30 feet away. Arrows whistle through the night.

Xaar, you feel nothing at all by you, but see an arrow bury itself into Jean's thigh and Thorolf's shoulder.

Jean, you got drilled with an arrow, right in the meaty part of your leg. Take 7 damage.
Thorolf, an arrow is now lodged in your shoulder. Take 7 damage.

COMBAT! You were all surprised by the attackers, but you win advantage. You're up!

Xaar rushes in, decrying the bravery of their assailants, one of them topples as she plows into the stout dwarven frame. At the moment, they do not appear to be frightened.

Jean's rapier slides in between the non-toppled dwarf's side, causing a welt of blood to begin running down the sword.

Thorolf's arrow sails through the air, burying itself in they eye of the same dwarf Jean stabbed. A cry pierces the night as he crumples to the ground, body twitching uncontrollably.

The toppled dwarf rises from the ground, drawing his sword as he goes. He takes a pair of swings at Xaar.

Both swings hit, biting into Xaars forearms, dealing 10 damage (5 if you are currently raging)

Thorolf's arrow thuds into the dwarf's shoulder spinning him just out of Xaar's reach.

You vile Tellurians will all taste the bite of Markindale steel! he seethes through his teeth.

The dwarf tries to resist, and just barely fails. His shortsword is pulled free of his grip barely. Seeing his number up, he throws his hands into the air.

You've got me! Don't kill me!

Are ye blind or just stupid? There's this little war on, if you hadn't noticed! he says, far more sarcastically than you would expect someone in his position would.

As the dwarf is going off about a war being on, you catch a faint echo of sound on the breeze.

Soldiers, civilians, don't matter. You aren't us, you're in Telluria, you are a target. he spits on the ground near your feet. As you look around, he sneers. You couldn't even spot us until we ventilated your friends there. What makes you think you'd spot anyone else that came with us?

Fine, you want it that way, I'll answer you. Thug. My captain sent me. There was only two of us right here, Rolf and me. The company has 400 people. Dunno where they are right now. Somewhere else, clearly. he says, clearly shaken.

Xaar's axe bites deep into the dwarf's chest, sending a fresh gout of blood into the night air.

Gah! What in the Light are you doing, woman!? He cries out, fingers plucking at the wound. He stays on his feet.

The dwarf looks at all of you and turns to run away as you bicker.

Going to fast forward you guys just a tiny bit since it looks like you were readying to head back to town.

As you make your way toward the town, you take a circuitous route, looking for more scouts as you go. It slows your progress somewhat. Right around two hours after you initially left Genevieve's place, you find yourselves quietly approaching the jailhouse under the cover of shadows. As you get near, you notice a significant lack of guard presence, both at the barracks as well as at the jailhouse door.

As you make your way into the jailhouse, you see the Sheriff sitting at the duty desk, looking pensively at his steepled fingers.

Oh, hello you three. Come in, quickly. I assume you are all working together with your - ahem - cousins? Family business perhaps. Just a bowshot in the Dark you see. He turns to look at Jean. You've the mark of a soldier about you. I'm a bit light in the way of guards after a fracas near the tavern tonight. I'm officially deputizing you for the night. No need to draw a uniform or anything of that nature. Your duty for the evening is to stand this watchpost. We have three very criminal persons in the back. Your responsibility and authority only last while you are physically in this jailhouse. When you step out, that all fades from you. Please check on your charges before you settle in out here. You other two, you may wait with your friend if you choose. the Sheriff says, a small smirk forming on his lips. Without waiting for a response or acknowledgement, he leaves the jailhouse, a ring of keys sitting on their hook behind the desk.

Locking this thread. Please return to the main thread now that you are all reunited.