The Quest of the Missing Quill

[JadedDM]

"Maybe," Gaheris answers Jasmine, while kneeling down to examine the tracks. "I found a trail that leads to Trevsville, but I think it might be a fake. It looks like it's been tampered with. Might be someone is trying to fool us into going the wrong direction."

[Just_Ice]

Benjamin chimes in, obviously unconcerned of the possibility that no one will be interested about what he has to say.

"There's no way to know that for sure," he poses, strumming with some excitement, "I have no issue following up on "maybe" or "perhaps", personally- if you take no risk, you will never see what they do not, after all."

He shifts his head as to point to the readying guards.

"Now, if you'll wait for me, I'm going break a short fast."

[Haahque]

All characters (common area)
The four soldiers all get up, ready their things and exit the inn, taking the road to the east. As you all know, that road ends in a T intersection with the main road between Trevsville and Fort Trevis. The road that some of you seem to be inclined in following is a more direct road to Trevsville, both Gaheris and Zurgo had found tacks following it.

(OoC: I plan on posting the next post tomorrow. It will include a time skip and either an encounter* or you arriving at your destination. I have so far heard from almost everyone, and it seems the general consensus that you will travel together as a party and most people are willing to go in whichever direction that leads, the one(s) that stated a direction said they want to go to Trevsville.)

(* Note that encounter does not necessarily mean combat, but it might)

[Haahque]

Everyone (On the road between the Ichabodd Inn and Trevsville)
After a few minutes you’ve all had your breakfasts, packed up anything you need and made any other small preparations for your trip. After a short discussion you decided that following the tracks to Trevsville was the best lead you had so far, so you set off in that direction.

The Ichabodd Inn is situated, very inconveniently, about three hours walk away from Trevsville, meaning the town is too far away for the patrons of the inn to “swing by” and pick up a few things, however it is a good distance to make a day trip to, or perhaps to pick up lunch if you’re marching from one to the other. Many of you are familiar with the route between the inn and the town, and might even recognise some of the farmers’ fields while you walk by. It’s usually a pretty peaceful walk, occasionally you might notice a farmer in their field or pass by an imperial patrol or another traveller, but the majority of the time a person would be alone on the road while they walk.

This is why, after two hours of walking, it strikes you as rather odd that a small group of robed people were huddled in a circle in the middle of a field, ignoring the cows around them while they talk. What was even more alarming is that two of them didn’t wear robes, or look alive. One of these was a rather bulky fellow while the other one was merely a human skeleton, animate and carrying some crude sword and shield. Fortunately Benjamin’s elf eyes notice this group a long way off, and it doesn’t appear that they have any idea that you’re here.

Benjamin makes a perception check (1d20+8): 26, notices the undead at a range of 500 feet.
Undead make a perception check (1d20+?): ?, Does not appear to have noticed the party.

[Vrindlevine]

Ishan holds up his hand motioning the group to stop. "Looks like undead, maybe necromages. I don't recall there being any cults around here but its been awhile."

He rubs his eyes where he's rubbed them with squint to keep the sun out. "I can probably lead us around but maybe that's not what you had in mind. I'll leave it up to you."

[HorizonsDream]

"Why would they be in the middle of a field?" Jasmine asks curiously. "Are you guys wanting to avoid them?" She couldn't hide the tiny disappointment in her voice at the idea of avoiding a fight.

[Just_Ice]

Benjamin cleans a string and whispers, "'Twould make for a better song were we to strike while they are unawares. Or maybe just a more interesting mistake. Either way, I have a tune that those who are brittle of bone do not care for in the slightest. For now, however, I believe I'll keep out of sight like wandering ragmuffins should."

Ben will attempt to hide in whatever foliage (probably some tall crop) is nearby while the group decides what to do.

[JadedDM]

"I can try and get closer," Gaheris offers. "See if I can overhear what they are saying or figure out what they are up to. If they are dangerous, we might be able to get the jump on them. If not, maybe we can slip past them without a problem."

[Haahque]

Jasmine, while willing to go around the undead, does give off the feeling that she'd rather face them then flee, Ishan seems rather cautious about a random group of cultists on the side of the road, while Zurgo clearly would like to engage them while Benjamin and Kanock remain undecided. However, while most of the group discusses if they want to engage the cultists, Gaheris decides to scout forward since he wants some more information on who they are, what they are doing and why they are here. To this end he stealthily slips into a wheat field to get a closer look at the cultists.

Unfortunately, as Gaheris draws closer the cultists seem unnaturally perceptive, perhaps with some sort of 6th sense they seem to realize that danger approaches, most of them look around cautiously while one of them stairs strait at Gaheris's spot, he doesn't seem to have seen the rogue, but chances are he'll be spotted if he tries to move any further.

As a group, the cultists slowly start walking towards the group. Although Gaheris didn't get close enough to identify the cultists purpose or pick up on any conversation, he did get a closer look at them, enough to see that the non-robed cultist was actually more of a stitched together body, mostly of rotting flesh. There are six cultists in robes, none of which have any visible armour and for weapons he spies a couple of viscous looking daggers amongst the group, but nothing as large as a sword or axe.

Gaheris makes a stealth check (1d20+9): ?
Benjamin makes a stealth check (1d20+6): ?
Gaheris makes a perception check (1d20+5): 16, must get within 100ft to find out what they’re up to. Cultists on high alert when he gets to 200ft.
Initiative: Jasmine 23, Benjamin 19, Gaheris 16, Undead 15, Kanock 14, Ishan 9, Zurgo 2
Jasmine, Benjamin and Gaheris get to act before the undead in any order. After they post, the undead act in my next post, then all characters get to act in any order.

Ok, let's see how the map looks, is this workable or should I try to find a better solution?

[HorizonsDream]

"Looks like they saw him," Jasmine says as she draws her swords. She moves forward quickly, hoping to get to Gaheris before the undead cultist do.

[Haahque]

While I can easily enough guess what you want to do, for future reference it would be nice to include more specific details, for example:

"Looks like they saw him," Jasmine says as she draws her swords. She moves forward quickly, hoping to get to Gaheris before the undead cultist do.

Double move: Move to C6.

[Just_Ice]

Benjamin stalks through the high shafts of oat, suffering poor visibility but noticing Jasmine moving forwards swiftly. Thankfully, he sees a small building nearby.

"A barn, is it? Perhaps they have something of use, or a better view. I'll not waste too much time there, however," He plans aloud.

[First Move: Move into barn, Perception check. grab any supplies and take a look from vantage point.]

[Second move: continue east if no animals, people, or objects of interest are found, otherwise hang on to it.]

[keymeister16]

"either way, perhaps after we go say 'hello' to them we can inquire then into our current mission. i'm best suited to deal with what bleeds, i'll leave the undead to more capable hands" Zurgo smirked, unsheathing his axe while stalking forward.

(double move D5)

[JadedDM]

Gaheris will make a double move north to take cover behind the barn.

(OOC: I assume that means I cannot attack, as well, but if I can, I'll fire my bow at the nearest target.)

[Haahque]

Sensing he’s been spotted, Gaheris swiftly makes his way through the wheat field to hide behind a nearby barn house. His speed however, comes at a little cost of stealth, and the cultists are now sure that there’s someone out there. Some of them move towards where they think he is, while another one sees a glint of steel on the road and heads in that direction. Finally, many of them cluster together while one casts a spell that covers that whole group in darkness, hiding them from sight.

Jasmine double moves to C6, Benjamin double moves to D10, Gaheris double moves to J3.
Enemies move. One enemy casts darkness, which hides many of them from sight.
All players get to go this turn.
For sake of speeding up the running towards each other which will take a few turns at this distance, I’m going to say that for this turn (only) both the players and the monsters will get twice as many actions (2 standards, 2 moves, 2 swifts etc.). Zurgo has already declared 2 move/standard actions (by moving to D5), but he still has 2 more he can make. Benjamin's already stated his intent for this turn, but he can change it if he wants.