conversations.from: system
conversations.value: ROLEPLAY_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Blaine.Bush: Realms, both wondrous and dire, border the world. One such realm is the Shadowfell. Although not inherently evil, the Shadowfell is fraught with dangers, and the barrier between worlds can be thin. Sometimes the darkness breaks into the light.
  
  Nearly two hundred years ago, a cult of the demon prince Orcus purposely created such a gap, connecting one of Orcus’s unholy Shadowfell sites to the world. Skeletons, zombies, and fouler creatures flooded through the rift into the light of day. The empire of Nerath dispatched legionnaires to eliminate the threat. The empire’s soldiers destroyed the undead, sealed the opening, and built a keep to watch over the location and contain the threat. This is the site known as the Keep on the Shadowfell.
  
  Decades of peace followed, and the village of Winterhaven arose within sight of the keep. Eventually, the great fort fell into ruins and its grand purpose forgotten. Today, it is seen as a harmless tumble of stone and wood.
  
  If only that were true.
  
  _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
  
  Each of you travels to Winterhaven for a different reason, but you all find yourselves traveling together upon the same path. The wind is cool and comfortable. The road beneath your feet is level. An occasional ancient cobblestone peeks through the dirt road, indicating decades of neglect. You notice footprints leading up and down the road, many of which were made by small, clawed feet. Out of the corners of your eyes you glance a fleeting shadow, as if of a slight creature.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  OOC thread:  http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156348 
  Recruitment thread:  http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146192 
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Shadow_Elf: Others on the road might turn and stare at the massive figure walking down the dirt road, off to the right hand side. The minotaur's horns are decorated with bands of wood, all different varieties and shades of wood, and he wears traditional elven garb, though it is sized to fit his massive, muscular build. Across his back, a greatsword is sheathed one way and a longbow is holstered in the other direction. At his belt is a full quiver, and he seems by his posture and muscle tone to know exactly how to make use of both that sword and the bow.
  
  He says nothing to other travelers, preferring to ignore the stares and simply forge onward towards Winterhaven.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: tacocat: On the whole, the tielfing was unimpressed by the village of Winterhaven. In fact, a lot of the world beyond her own estate had done little to impress her. Yet there were always rumors and legends to chase, and local storytellers had lead her here. Stories were one thing, but Kiss craved something much more tangible...
  
  She drifted through town, keeping her broad-hooded cowl over her head, cloak flowing behind her, her dark hair pouring out from the sides. The tiefling, a fiend for extravagance, did little to blend in beyond her dark clothing.
  
   "Hmm?"  She said, turning as she felt a tugging on her cloak. While no one could see it, the imp that clung to the back of the warlock's shoulder was gesturing wildly to the direction of a few odd footprints. Kiss waved dismissively, looking foward as a large hulking figure made its way down the thoroughfare.  "No more of that, Ifrit, it seems I am no longer the single oddity in this place... much more interesting!" 
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: King Tius: Durvim 
  
  The stout and well-armored dwarf that walks steadily down the road throws a raised eyebrow at the teifling and the minotaur. Shaking his head at the sight, his attention is grabbed by the fleeting shadow. The dwarf drops to a knee and examines the tracks more carefully, attempting to confirm his suspicions. He lets out a deep "hmmmmm" as he moves his hand over the tracks, looking up at the two strange beings and remarking:  "Best be on yer guard. Trouble's afoot."
   
   
   Spoiler 
  
  nature:  (1d20+1)[ 3 ] 
  insight:  (1d20+1)[ 18 ] 
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Shadow_Elf: At the dwarf's comments, Haggar turns slowly, and spots the tracks.  How could I have missed that?  the Minotaur exclaims in Elven - he has a gruff accent, almost like a dwarf speaking elven, but the words are well enunciated. He then switches to Common.  Thank you, friend. May I have a look? I take the sanctity of these woods  as a personal responsibility.  He backtracks to the footprints and takes a knee, though he still towers over the dwarf in this position. He examines them as well as he can without disturbing them.
  
   
   Spoiler 
  Nature:  (1d20+5)[ 16 ] 
  Perception:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: tacocat: "Gentlemen,"  she says, no longer able to contain idle curiosity as the minotaur joined a dwarf who seemed to appear out of nowhere. No small feat, given the fact he was completely arm and armored. She leaned over inquizitively, soft leather armor rustling slightly. Kiss bowed when the two took notice of the tiefling, curtly yet politely, as she had seen the servants in her estate do.  "Might I inquire what has become so interesting in the dirt there? I'll confess, there's little of the Winterhaven proper that might interest someone, nonetheless tracks in the dust." 
  
  Kiss looked around.  "... I do hope no one is staring..."  she added to herself as an addendum.
  
   
   Spoiler 
   Perception:  (1d20)[ 19 ] 
   
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Robek: A scrawny human takes up the rear of the group. His long hair and beard, as well as his dirt covered clothes, make him look like a stereotypical vagabond. He stares at the tracks for a second before remarking a quiet, hoarse voice  "Must we stop to stare at animal tracks? Some of us would prefer to get off our feet."  He then sighs, and returns to his place at the back of the group.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: tacocat: Kiss raised a brow with a look bordering on disdain as the scraggly vagabond approached. She watched him, golden-eyed stare never leaving him for a short duration. Not even a footstep tipped her off to his approach, and she would rather not be caught with her metaphorical pants down, be it beggar or bandit.
  
   "I am curious as to what they find about them so interesting. I would not have stopped if it were, say, a local commoner. But these two gentlemen have a look about them...,"  she said.  "Now, I haven't any coin to spare." 
  
  She waved the vagabond off.