Auranghzeb
Whatever your reasons to flee the barbarian king's invasion and the rise of the cult or Erythnul, you find yourselves at the threshold of the Stagnant Woods looking for what once was called the Middle Road: a well traveled road that crossed the cursed woods from North West to South East. But the Stagnant Wood is a haunted place, or so the stories go. A millenary hunting ground hallowed to  Yeenogu  the Hyenna-like god of the savage Gnolls, the woods were deemed to dangerous and supernatural centuries ago and a new road was traced skirting the hallowed wood. The Wisem road, originally called Wise Men road.

Yet, the rumors are that a few folks from raided villages have been venturing the woods where the superstitious Barbarians do not go. Quiet but certain rumors of a growing community that opposes the Barbarian King have drawn you here.

Why? That is known only to you.

Why would a Savage Orog of the depths, an Evil Walking Tree, a heritor of demons, a child of Quiron, a big eyed Uldra, and a  Human with weird hair  venture this far and in such a colorful company?


***

Dawn is breaking, you traveled by night to avoid detection and now stand at the edge of the Stagnant Woods, the division is clear and even the Volodni can feel how the air and roots and moss inside the Woods are different of an impenetrable density trapping light. The trees are not particularly tall, rather wicked oaks and twisting acorn trees with thorny bushes climbing around mossy stones. There's not a rich soil, it is thin and rocky and the dark-green leaves of the acorn trees look almost black as you move in looking for the remains of the old Middle Road.

For Rolf, the trees are too close together, his speed reduced to that of a heavy armored knight. But the others do not have it easy.


What do you do?
Metastachydium
Lients Miter stands somewhat to the side, a pace apart, a spindly thing, tall and lean, slanting to the right and back ever so slightly, like a young tree reaching for the light, heedless of shallow roots that struggle to hold its weight in a soil too thin. She turns, the loose shirt of steel scraping, link against link and fabric against the hard planks of the shield hanging as though precariously from her back, her mane rustling softly as the needles of true pine against the bark in wind.

She's nothing to say yet. This is what she expected they'll see, a thicket that doesn't want htem, true to the rumours – which is just as well: once inside it'll be between them and the king's men, even as they have to struggle through. That's for the best to explore; and a way back to strike fast might show itself when she needs one. Besides, there will be talking, if she knows the warm folk. They talk and talk; and she better make use of the silence before. Perhaps she'll then see or hear more. Find one who  knows . Make it matter when she has to speak.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Swift action activate Senses aura (+1 to Listen, Spot and initiative to everyone within 30'), if you'd prefer me not declaring it was already active;
Listen:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ]  and
Spot:  (1d20+10)[ 27 ]  to see if there's any kind of animal nearby
 
Postmodernist
Kaleus spat into the harrowed soil outside the cursed wood. An ill-wind blew through his mane of hair, blowing a lock over his one blue eye. He pulled it back, monetarily conscious of the Volodni looking at him like it was somehow  weird.  No matter, in this company, he imagined each looked stranger than the other. The thought made him smirk.

He watched the leafbrother scan the road for danger, eyeing it for marks.

 "I'm not much for trailcraft. My people were mostly sailors." 

He looked up to the stars, trying to see if he could identify any of the major constellations in this part of the north as day broke. The morning sun had yet to burn off the mist, but he could just make out the Celestial Caribou twinkling, its horns pointing northward. As his neck cranes upward to regard the sky, his companions can see runic tattoos and ritual marks of scarification peeking out beneath his mail. Despite his barbarian demeanor, his armor is meticulously well kept, the chain links gleaming with a dull matte shine that contrasted with the silvery shimmer of his mirthal bracers. He weaponry and kit seemed unorthodox - a massive club barnacled with a nightmare of jagged teeth, and a strange javelin with a bone-barbed point.

The witch-hunter had come to the resister's camp a few weeks back, and had fallen in with them. He had arrived alone, smelling of smoke. He said he'd accepted a bounty on the Barbarian King's pet sorcerer. The bastards of the Erythnul cult had already ravaged his homelands, so it was fortuitous that business and pleasure overlapped. Or perhaps it was Fate. It made little difference to Kaelus.
paddyfool
Rolf is intent on searching out any tracks of others entering the wood, or trace of a road that may once have done so.  A large single bladed axe hangs at his side, a powerful bow and quiver at his back, and he wears an arming jacket faced in studded leather with a hanging skirt around his equine parts.

 ”For my part, I know something of the ways of the trail, but am accustomed to more open terrain than this. My people live in open plains under open skies for preference.”   
  Survival with track feat  - (1d20+8)[ 16 ] 
BelGareth
Angab walks as quietly as he can in his armor of dull black, almost like it was covered in soot that never washed away. It was an old armor, ancient, with strange flickering runes that glowed at strange times. He moved on, walking like a clanking sentinel in the silent night.

Reaching the edge of the woods, Angab frowned, he did not know why they had stopped, it was just a wooded area. Sure, it scared the horde, and that was why they were here, but why did they stop? this was their goal, was it not?

  "Urk nar thrak? Ushnar krak throk, uruk thrak nar lok?"  
   "Why did we stop here? This is what we came for, why do we not move in?"   
 
 Spoiler 

He always speaks in orcish.

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
Alhallor
Whisperrime has brought her sled, full of provisions at the edge of the forest, she arrived with the other assortment of people who already seemed like a load of fun. This day alone had been better than entire months.

The small fey with her white-interstroked-blue skin frees her horses from the reigns and sets them free for now. They usually return to the carriage-sled when they get hungry or they do not. It doesn't really matters all that much.

Whisperrime looks at the woods, who are not known to her, but she must have heard something about them, if she could only remember...

 
 Spoiler: Knowledge(Nature) and Survival 
 (1d20+10)[ 16 ]  For anything peculiar about the woods.
 


When she passes Angab, she barks back at him.

 Some need ij agna, nart they bi agh molva. Ka looks tek kulknej need ve baj our own agna. 
  Some need a road, or they fall and break. But looks like we need to make our own road.  
 Looks like the road ends here. Take some provisions from the cart if you want. A present should we find this rumored community. Normally I'm the one getting presents, I hope they realize what this means. 

The Uldra says with a slight mischieveous chuckle while packing some goods. Whisperrime seems to be clad in a sheet of ice chiseled roughly in the form of a knee-length shirt.

 Oh 

She's seemingly barking at Angab again.

 Pack things tek offering tor community. Jeg some tor lat too.
 Pack things as offering for community. Take some for you too.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
In the sledge are a 100 rations and 4 Healer kit's as a present for the community. Whisperrime will be taking 4 rations and one kit, you can freely decide if you want to take something else with you or not.
 
Armonia13
Vetur walks within the middle of the group, keenly conciousous of the varied people around her. It had been a few days since she came across this party on the Wise Man's road, a welcome sight needed if she was to escape her pursuers for good. For months, Vetur Drekasystir had been lucky enough to evade those bastard followers of Bahamut who decimated the sect of Tiamat she followed. She fled all the way from the east, never gaining more than a few days rest before a paladin or war priest would close in on her, forcing her to kill and run before reinforcements arrived. Ironically, it was thanks to the Barbarian King and his cult of Erythnul causing so much turmoil that she may have escaped them for good.

Vetur tightly clutches her holy symbol in her hands, a trinket she picked up from one of the pursuers she killed, now a part of her disguise to help blend in among the refugees. The tall trees of the foreboding woods cast dark shadows across the off white priest's robes she appears to be wearing, making Vetur seem gloomy and anxious. She glances back at Angab, the fearsome looking paladin and the true cause of her current dread. In her heart she is certain that if he were to find out her origins, her true race or religion, he would not hesitate to cut her down. Afterall, it's a Paladin's duty to cut down demonfolk like her, or at least that's what Vetur was taught. The tiefling would have passed over joining this group entirely, if not for the strange sensation of kinship she felt coming from the Volodni Lients. Regardless, this group will serve its purpose as well as any other. If they manage to find rumored community within this haunted forest, perhaps Vetur will be able to plant a new seed of faith for the Almighty Mother of Dragons.

 "I'm in agreement. Stalling for too long is of no help to anyone. We must move forward if we are guide others to safety." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

I'll have used Endure Exposure on anyone who accepts it, claiming it as a blessing from Bahamut. I'm also disguised as a Human priestess and Adept of Bahamut, with my Hat of Disguise hiding my Tiefling features.
 
paddyfool
Rolf frowns a bit while he tries and fails to follow what’s being said, then quietly asks Whisperrime in Sylvan:

 ”Pardon Leats, vitili sotan rema lavallate samat vet limo Leats?” 
   Pardon me, but can you translate all that for me?    

Once he’s caught up, he thanks her and takes a healer’s kit for himself, plus another four rations (or two, at his appetite). On his shoulder, his eagle quietly watches the whole exchange.

 “If we can’t find any road or trail or trace of refugees or others entering the wood, we will indeed have to forge our own way through… Kyrie here can help keep us on a straight bearing by flying up from time to time to check our progress.”  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Rolf will happily accept a “blessing of Bahamut”
 
Auranghzeb
At the edge of the woods where you are there fauna consists mostly of small birds of different kinds nested in the twisted branches of the acorn trees and oaks. Whether there's something bigger, it is unknown right now and there aren't any tracks of larger animals. No broken branches nor droppings in the first hundred yards. But the woods could be home to boars with all those acorns and probably large insects and vermin.


The sledge cannot go inside.


 
 Spoiler: OoC 
I love the writing so far, but I need more actionable decisions of the "We do this" kind
 
paddyfool
 ”So… we haven’t found a trace of the old middle road from the outside of the wood, or any other trail that enters the woods.  Let us treat this sledge location as a base and try a foray into the woods then, marking our progress on the ground as we go, and see if we cross any form of road or trail on the interior.” 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Kicking myself a bit for not putting a compass on my character sheet or asking about the availability of maps in character creation. Ah well.
 
Metastachydium
As the Deep-Orc and the Horse-Man speak on, urging quicker movement rashly, Lients, back still bent, eyes still set on the treeline, raises a hand, a gesture stiff and slow, and yet oozing impatience. And her mouth opens… To emit a drawn-out trill, then short, quick, sharp cries – the song of birds.

 
 Spoiler: Bird-Speak 

   Old road of the two-legged beasts; from sun-set to sun-rise; narrow stretch, harder ground, fewer trees; two-legged beasts in the forest; have you seen it? Do you knw it? I take these beasts elsewhere; you'll tell me where?   
 


They shall not travel the  Wise Man's  Road; but they need not be fools about it, fast as the fool strides.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Sorry about the dealy; I was waiting for confirmation that there  is  someone to talk to. Call of the Beast is active, and the Tree talks to the BIRDIES!
 
Postmodernist
Kaelus squatted beside the sledge while the others quibbled in strange tongues and communed with the birds. The Northman rebuffed Vetur's offer of Bahamut's blessing.  "Magic works strangely on me. I wouldn't want you to waste Bahamut's favor on one who cannot accept his blessing. I'm happy to enter the woods, though if we abandon the sledge, I doubt it'll be here when we return. And if you leave any rations behind, you can be sure beasts will get into them." 

Kaelus picked a few rations from the pile, but left the healing kits alone, confident that he wouldn't be able to use it meaningfully. He pondered the wood, trying to recall what he knew of the place.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Knowledge: Geography  (1d20+3)[ 11 ] 
He is also trained in (+4) Arcana and (+1) History if either of those is appropriate, but I went with Geography, as it seemed to make the most sense. He'll also take 5 rations from the pile.
 
BelGareth
Accepting the offer of magical aid, he moves to the cart and takes a few rations and a kit. Then turns to look at the others, but gets annoyed.

  "Uruk thrak."  
   "Lets move out."   

And then he moves into the forest as best he can, trying to avoid breaking anything.

 
 Spoiler 

Takes 10 rations and 1 kit.

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
Alhallor
The Uldra nods towards Rolf and translates as best as she is able too. When the tree begins to sing she is utterly entranced for a moment, that really looks like a grand time.

Regarding the rations she just shrugs, having already lost interest in them. There are woods to look into after all.

Whisperrime waves away the offer of protection and laughs a little.  I would be a bad winter fairy if I couldn't stand this little cold. 

The uldra stays behind Angab, mostly that he clears away most of the underbrush with his bulk.
Auranghzeb
 Day 1: moving into the woods.
1 Hour in 

Abandoning the sledge and the wild horses, you venture into the stagnant woods. The volodni chirping like a bird communicates with the local inhabitants, their minds are simple, but can relate enough about their lives:

  Food is good. Beware of earthmounds and bees. Berries are yummy!   
 
 Spoiler: Birdspeak(beastspeak) 
It will be moslty general impressions and within what would be reasonable.
 



Your knowledge of the area is limited, according to stories nobody has stepped inside the woods in generations (human generations). But if the information and rumors that brough you here are mildly correct, you should not be far from the middle road if you travel east-south-east.


The centaur and the orog do so, pressing in and marching as they can through branches and rocks.

For about a mile, a difficult mile, you see the same flora and the ground is similarly hostile. But the canopy is less dense and trees are sparse in some parts. Eventually, it comes into view. The rocks give way to a stony road, paved by the ancestors of the valley's ancestors. It is barely visible at first, but soon it becomes evident enough. Despite the roots ripping it out in sections, there's a road. Sometimes completely cut off by a tree but starting right around it. Not only that, as it winds southwards, you notice certain spots were the sides of the road have tiny walls of stone that one day centuries ago gathered rain water.


Besides the trees, dense bushes with nasty looking thorns surround the road. Brilliant red berries shine in hefty bunches among the dark leaves.
Armonia13
Vetur follows near the rear of the pack, semi-confident she can cover it effectively and cut off any who try to ambush from behind. The mile trek forward was painfully tedious, but well worth it when the road finally appear before them. Settlement or not, this is at least a good sign they're on the right track. As they pass by the berry bushes, Vetur is reminded of her hunger. Not having anything to carry the offered rations in, and not being very strong either, she allowed her pride and general distrust of the others to dissuade her from accepting any, and she was regretting it. Deciding to have a little snack to help her, she points her finger at a particularly juicy looking bunch and uses the magic of her necklace to pluck them from the bushes, avoiding the sharp looking thorns. Once they've returned to her now open palm, she takes a look at them and tries to recall if this was a type of berry that was safe to eat.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Gonna use my Hand of the Mage to cast Mage Hand and pluck some berries. Survival roll  (1d20+7)[ 9 ]  if needed for this. Know Nature roll  (1d20+5)[ 8 ]  to see if I recall anything that would stop me from eating these berries.
 
paddyfool
Up at the front, Rolf asks Kyrie to fly a short patrol overhead, and tries to measure his pace at the same as Angab, with whom he makes a short attempt to make conversation in Sylvan, Elvish and Common.

 ”So, do you speak man-speech?  Or the words of elves?    Or the words of the fey?   

If he gets no response, he points to himself and says  “Rolf” , then gestures politely with an expectant expression for a response.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Going to have to invest a couple of skill points in learning Orcish at some point, I feel
 
BelGareth
Angab’s heavy boots crunched through the thick undergrowth as he pushed his way through the dense forest, every step in his full plate armor echoing with a metallic clank. Sweat beaded on his brow, but his expression remained stoic. Twigs, leaves, and other debris clung to his once-pristine armor, and his ancestral waraxe weighed heavily on his back.

After what felt like hours, he stumbled upon an old, overgrown road. The cobblestones were cracked and weathered, nearly swallowed by the surrounding earth, but it was a road nonetheless. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the thick, twisted vines of thorns encircling the path, their barbs long and wicked, glistening in the muted light of the forest.

Angab grunted in disdain, wiping away a clump of leaves stuck to his chestplate. He muttered to himself in Orcish

  "Thraka duzhmok... karn thogran."  
   "This cursed forest... always something in the way."   

He studied the thorns for a moment, his waraxe shifting on his shoulder as he adjusted his stance, contemplating his next move. There was no telling what kind of danger lay ahead, but the road—dangerous as it seemed—was still a path forward.

With a gruff snarl, he lifted his chin and spoke

  "Uruk thrak."  
   "Lets move out."   

Turning to Rolf he responds

  “Urk nar mok? Ushnar arak Kord, mokshar orak krugarak throk."  
   "He asks if I speak the tongue of men, elves, or fey."   

He then gestures to his chestplate with a heavy, gauntleted hand before continuing, his voice a low growl.

  "Ush rak nar. Mok urk mak sharak, gar uzrak mok urk."  
   "I speak many languages, but I choose to speak my native tongue, as it is sacred to me and my people."   

Angab’s eyes would narrow slightly, making it clear that his choice was not up for debate. His language wasn’t just words—it was his identity, a symbol of his loyalty to his tribe and their sacred traditions.

 
 Spoiler 

He's not moving out, just stating his desire.

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
paddyfool
Rolf looks on in mute bafflement, getting none of what is being said.

  Mé agat níl smaoineamh cad leat dúirt.  Mo ainm tá rolf.  Cad tá mise? 
    I have no idea what you said. My name is Rolf. What is yours?  

(Speaking slowly, with a shrug and some gesticulation to try and get his meaning across).

His attention meanwhile is largely on keeping watch over the surrounding terrain, and monitoring the road ahead for any sign of passage as they walk.
BelGareth
  "Nar goth uruk."  
   "Not that one."   
 
 Spoiler 

He doesn’t speak elven, lol

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
paddyfool
Rolf shrugs again and focuses on the road and forest ahead. Time enough to learn names and languages later.
Postmodernist
So far, Kaelus liked the dryad best. At least her songs had been pretty compared to the guttural prattle of the others. They were making too much noise, and it put him on edge. Despite that, the group looked  formidable.  The centaur and the... orc looked terrifyingly strong. He knew the fey and the treemaiden were deceptively powerful despite their appearances. These lands crawled with legends of their sylvan trickery, and he was certain they'd prove assets. The priestess seemed a bit less immediately useful if it came to blows, but Kaelus once saw a shaman raise a boy from the dead; there was power in that faith. Indeed, it warmed the others against the hyperborean chill.

Pondering the strange stonework, he wondered if they were the aqueducts, or gutters, or perhaps sewers of some ancient civilization? He had heard of such things in his travels, and the kingdom that built this road had long since faded into memory.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Shot in the dark Knowledge: History roll to see if I know anything about the stonework.  (1d20+1)[ 13 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Making a grinding noise that is likely hard to mistake for anything but a sign of displeasure, even to the warm ones, Lients turns to follow the loud Orc. Danger seems to bide its time for now; but he could have waited until she knew. She doesn't move without sound herself, but as she sways about, moving between the trees, long, slender limbs flowing through or above the underbush, her noise is more a rustling of stiff branches brushed together softly and without force.

That the road is found is neither here nor there for her; they were looking for it, so it is good, and even her companions might proceed more quietly now. But it is a thing of old enemies, nonetheless. Distasteful. The Pinefolk looks about, making good use of the sudden halt to see for certain none were lost so far and none lag behind (not even the fairy or the man with the weird hair, little as she can make of either just yet) or act as they shouldn't; and she even pays some token attention to the last notes of the Horse-Man's talking to the heavy Orc. She looks between the Deep One and Vetur eyeing the berries.   Good for you.   she then grunts morosely to both, looking at Angab, but carelessly picking a few berries and popping them into her mouth. The birds said enough on that. She calls out to them once more, all the same, in rapid, shrill whistles.

 
 Spoiler: More Birdsepak 

   Danger? Danger? Two-legged beasts?   
 

  Can you talk to yours?   she then asks the Horse-Man.   I can. Say if you need me to.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

More looking about, now for DEADLY EARTHMOUNDS and the like, with Spot:  (1d20+10)[ 11 ]  and
Listen:  (1d20+10)[ 16 ] ;
and some more talking to BIDIES.
 
paddyfool
 ”Actually, I can’t exactly speak to Kyrie, although we have a degree of understanding. She comes when I call though.

A little help in giving her further directions might be gladly appreciated. Sometimes I feel like I’m just her favourite perch…”  confesses Rolf.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Mea culpa time: I hadn’t looked at the Animal Companion rules all that closely, and didn’t realise I was bound by the Tricks mechanic, and hence my character’s rather low Handle Animal skill in giving Kyrie directions.  Maybe ignore all the things Rolf said Kyrie could do previously.

Let’s say Kyrie’s bonus trick as an animal companion is Come. It’s a good place to start.
 
Alhallor
Whisperrime was happily trading along. Of course there was the occasional stumble, probably masked immaculately with a twist of her body. And the underbrush was pretty thick and petty as she was she probably freezed an innocent thornbush just by touching it for a while.

The discussion of Rolf and Angab was pretty funny and having finally found the road and even some berries (she immediately ate a handful without thinking about it.) Lifted the uldra's mood immensely.

Walking towards Rolf she mentions, a bit curiously.

 You must be a mighty magician, assigning languages to peoples. I do speak the tongue of man, the wee folk and the green skins. Because they are all a particular case of interesting. I'm kinda surprised giving you're name away so freely, but if you give yours I shall also give mine, My mother named me Whisperrime and I'm currently not powerful enough to defy her words. 
Auranghzeb
Vetur thinks the berries are healthy and recognises them as Brigthberries, a sweet tasty fruit.

Kaelu recognises the stonework as seasonal gutters used to irrigate the forest cleverly according to the volume of rain and the altitude required by different plants.

Lients notices that even if the woods look wild, the distrbution of trees is to regular, at least around the road there's a clear influence of man made forestry.

  Birdspeak No danger no danger two legged beasts, like birds of the ground! No danger, some yelp, some build nests with stone!  
 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Remember that information related by birds is relative to their knowledge and experience. A big predator may not be DANGER to a bird if the bird is not part of that creature's typical menu, etc
 


Lients senses tastes the berries, a waxy sour flavor. Nothing else to her.

The orog's heavy armor and the centaur's hoofs make ryhtmic clear noises in the cobblestones.

Make a spot check everyone.
Alhallor
The Uldra's eyes were easily distracted by shiny berries, suddenly appearing roots and in general she wasn't really attentive.

 
 Spoiler: Spot 
 (1d20+1)[ 7 ] 
 
Metastachydium
The Pinefolk nods at the Centaur, seemingly all but unconcerned with whether he can tell or notice her doing so, her countenance distorting into a brief snarl of disgust even, for the moment – albeit not at the Horse-Man's expense; this forest has been broken in the day; and who they seek are breaking it further, it would appear. Sometimes one must work with dry and weak soil, she has to remind herself. Life demands that much. A quick and thankful
 
 Spoiler: Birdspoken! 

   No danger, good! No danger! We go!   
 

is twittered back at the feathered ones. At least they are not afraid. But Lients Miter knows to lend trust with hands not quite as generous.   Move slower, now. Make less noise! The birds speak. Others are ahead, of your sort.   she cautions the rest, and the loud Orc and the large Horse-Man in especial. Even the true beasts are danger when fearing danger; and the crafty races startle with more caprice yet.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Spot:  (1d20+10)[ 12 ] 
 
paddyfool
Rolf gives Whisperrime a friendly but slightly perplexed look as he processes what she said to him.  ”It is a pleasure to meet you, Whisperrime. I am no magician…   he cuts off suddenly as Kyrie squawks and they fix their eyes upon a sight he happened to block Angab’s view of, a sight of…

(To be continued)
Auranghzeb
Ahead, beyond a bend on the road, the cobblestone rises broken by the roots of trees. But there's also something else... a mound of recently dug earth accumulates around a the ancient road and a sulfur scent permeates the air.

If you simply stopped the rhythmic steps of the Orog and the Centaur, you could perhaps hear something...
paddyfool
 ”Huh,”  says Rolf eloquently, as he slows to a halt and looks around.   ” “Someone, or something, has been digging around here. And what is that smell?” 
Metastachydium
  Quiet. Careful.   Lients warns the Horse-Man and all that will listen besides.   Earthmound.   she points at the structure cryptically.   It worries the birds. There's more in the woods.  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Listen (because I can take a hint):  (1d20+10)[ 19 ]  (with +1 from Aura which everyone else also still has); as well as
Knowledge (arcana):  (1d20+2)[ 7 ] ;
Knowledge (nature):  (1d20+2)[ 6 ] ;
Knowledge (planes):  (1d20+2)[ 13 ] ; and
Knowledge (religion):  (1d20+2)[ 7 ]  on the odd chance any of those can tell the Tree what in the brimstone-pits of the hells this is
 
Auranghzeb
Lients quiets the group and with her literally  green ear  she feels the surrounding. Yet, her knowledge of this situation is limited, not the woods she is used to.

There's a rumble and a slight tremble under the cobblestones as of something big burrowing its way right under you!



What do you do?
Postmodernist
 "Scatter!"  Kaelus shouts, as he dives toward the stone escarpment, hoping that it provided some limited cover, or at least deterred this creature from burrowing toward him. The shadows coalesce around him as he maneuvers away, the  forest's gloom churned up like a ship cutting through seawater. As he dashes toward cover, he draws his harpoon and makes ready to throw it at any threatening monstrosity that emerges.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Kaleus will run behind whatever cover available, draw the harpoon as part of his move, and ready an action to huck it at any baddies that emerge. Swift adopt Child of Shadow stance for 20% concealment. He will also hexblade's curse that baddie ASAP as a free action.
 
paddyfool
Rolf moves straight forward, his hooves drumming loud on the stones.   "I'll draw it out - stay clear!"   he shouts, axe in hand and a fury in his eyes at the creeping, underground things of the world.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Rage, rage, against things that burrow in the night... or day, for that matter; also move, and ready a full attack.  Rolf gets a +2 Morale bonus to attack, damage and STR and CON checks, 8 temp hit points and furious counterstrike... and -2 AC as well as the usual restrictions to actions, for the next seven rounds

Roll initiative:  (1d20+4)[ 8 ] 
 
Alhallor
 Of course you are no magician.  Whisperrime winks towards Rolf, she knew. All the really mighty magicians were... Well not shy but had a certain something about them. She didn't knew why Rolf decided to help them but it seemed like a good thing that he was here. They would still need to pull they're weight of course but it made Whisperrime's heart a bit cooler.

With the strange earth mounds and even the rumbling under her feet Whisperrime started to dart around on the cobbled street and started laughing.

 You wanna catch me? Come here, here! 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Weird Full-Defense-action for 21 AC.
Also Initiative:  (1d20+2)[ 18 ] 
 
Metastachydium
Lients Miter sounds a low, grinding grunt and shifts herself, off of the road, pulling her bow loose. The birds were right, of course. She inspects the scene as it unfolds, sternly, at the ready. The Horse-Man is brave indeed, she has to note, the Man with the Hair clever, and the Winter Fairy  terrifying , as Fey are. What her thoughts might be escapes the Pine; and she wishes not to dwell on it much.

How well all that will serve them… She will see. For now, she will do as the clever one does and be ready, as the nature of the matter calls for it: not as the lookout, but as the prtector.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Initiative:  (1d20+4)[ 5 ]   PLEASE ADD A +1 TO THE ROLL OF ANYONE ELSE WHO STRATED WITHIN 30' OF THE TREE AS WELL, THANK YOU  (Senses aura);
whenever it comes to that, Lients will  actually  do as Kaelus does and
move action moves off the road, drawing the bow;
standard action readies a shot should anything emerge from below; and, as a bonus,
swift action switches her aura to Vigour (fast healing 1 up to half hp to anyone within 30' of her)
 
Armonia13
Vetur jumps in surprise, but quickly composes herself when the others take action.  "I've got your back!"  Rushing forward and to the side, she prepares to unleash a breathing of freezing air at whatever pops out of the ground, hoping the ones she didn't bless don't suddenly get in her way.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Initiative  (1d20+3)[ 14 ]  +1 if within 30ft of Lients.
Gonna move 30ft towards the mound while trying to position myself so that it's 15ft in front of me, and Lients, Whisperrime, and Kaelus are not.
Then I'll ready an action to breath an Entangling Frost Breath at whatever pops out of the ground, dealing  (1d6)[ 2 ]  cold damage(DC 18 Reflex), and entangling anyone hit for  (1d4)[ 2 ]  rounds. Rolf and Angab are immune to this.
 
BelGareth
The Orog stayed quiet while they walked; well, he tried his best; he wasn't speaking, at the least.

He raised an eyebrow at the discussion of the stones, but this was why he wanted to be in a group, he needed the expertise of others to assist in his survival, that was a tenet of his people, groups were better than solitary hunters, and this was....a group.

He readied his stance, waiting for the oncoming enemy, whatever it was.

 
 Spoiler 

Initiative  (1d20-1)[ 0 ] 
   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
Auranghzeb
The rumble quits for a micro instant as several of our heroes try to get the attention of the burrowing creature, then the cobblestones explode from right under and an ant headed creature the size of a small horse rears half its body right next to the Uldra and snaps its huge scyte like maws!

 
  (1d20+6)[ 11 ]  Damage  (2d6+7)[ 15 ]  

Everyone is up, consider yourself close in range.
Postmodernist
The creature bursts through the earth, a nightmare of claws and mandibles. Calling upon the ancient power within his blood, Kaelus utters some words from an ancient tongue.   "Gladiz zurzum kuluz,"   he intones, his voice echoing across the cobblestones unnaturally. Before even seeing if curse has taken hold, the northman hurls the barbed lance at the insectoid beast, hoping to pierce its carapace and hinder its movement.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Free action: Hexblade curse. Creature must make a DC 13 Will or take -2 to savers, attacks, damage, skill checks, and ability checks for 1 hour. Standard: Hurl harpoon for  a whopping 10 , which I assume misses unless there are additional benefits the team conveys I'm not aware of.
Move: move to wherever there is cover and a line of sight to the creature. Draw the longbow as I move and get ready to shoot.
 
paddyfool
Rolf wheels around and turns straight back towards the creature, his eyes ablaze with wrath as he charges them down, and brings his axe down with a great two-handed sweep from on high, aiming at the creature’s head:

 
 Spoiler 

Power attack at -3, charging:

To hit:  (1d20+12)[ 26 ] 
Damage if hits:  (1d12+18)[ 29 ] 
AC down to 15 if he swings back.
5/7 rounds of Rage remaining
 
Armonia13
As the insectile beast emerges from the ground, Vetur exhales her dragon breath. What looks like blue flames spew forth from deep within the Dragonfire Adept, her neck glowing with draconic power as she tries to slow down her foe. Regardless of her success, Vetur moves to get into the creature's blind spot, perhaps to prepare some flanking for her melee-oriented allies.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Frost Breath Attack, DC 18. 2 damage on a failed save, half on success, and becomes entangled as long as it takes damage. Entangled lasts for 2 rounds.
If I'm outside it's reach, I'll move to position myself for flanking with Rolf or Angab, whoever is easier.
 
Alhallor
When the cobblestones explode and the massive creature lunges for the Uldra it's only met with excited laughter.  Do you call that a catch? I'll show you how! 

Whisperrime takes a stumbling step back and follows suit with Vetur, gently blowing over her outstretched hand which transforms into an ice-cold wind that bites into the unfortunate ant creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
5 foot step back, I may still provoke an AoO but Whisperrime doesn't care that much for her bodily safety.
Winters blast for  (2d4)[ 4 ]  Cold damage, Reflex save against 15 halves that.
 
Metastachydium
The tree is quick to know she has made the wrong choice; her fellow-travellers, faster than herself, descend upon the freshly emerged foe – and she is ill-trained for finding a mark so concealed with a good shot. She has fought alone for too long, perhaps. Still, without a sound, she lets the arrow fly.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Shoot the buggy thing:  (1d20+3)[ 8 ]  (the -4 for shooting into melee factored in) for  (1d8+3)[ 11 ] 
 
Auranghzeb
As the creature emerges, the swift counter attack ends the encounter with violence! The centaur charges through and rips the creature's head from its insectoid body! A trail of acidic goo splashes around.


The body slips into the tunnel below and as it does, the ground under the uldra and the centaur caves in!
BelGareth
Angab was ready for violence! His war axe held tightly in both hands; he looks right and then left.

  "Ushnar krak goth?"   
  "Where did it go?"   
 
 Spoiler 

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
paddyfool
 ”Hah!”  yells Rolf as he leaps for safety from the collapsing ground…

 
 Spoiler 

Reflex save against DC 16:  (1d20+10)[ 28 ] 
 
Postmodernist
  **** the gods, the centaur is strong. He smashed right through that monstrosity,"   Kaelus thought to himself as he moved over toward the collapsed tunnel, snatching up his harpoon as he moved over.

 "What was that thing? Are you alright?"  he calls out to his vanished comrades.
Alhallor
The delighted laughter of the Uldra changes to a high-pitched shriek when the tunnel collapses suddenly under her and she's not fast enough to jump to safety. The shriek sounds somewhat delighted overall.

 
 Spoiler: Save 
Reflex:  (1d20+3)[ 10 ] 
 
paddyfool
Rolf’s moment of triumph is spoiled by immediate concern for Whisperrime breaking through his rage. He starts back to help, then pauses as he remembers how the ground collapsed beneath his weight.

 ” Somebody help her! I’ll watch your backs in case there are more,”  he calls out.

 
 Spoiler 

I hope this isn’t too much thought to display while in a state of Rage. EDIT: I probably could have worded it better, as partly I was thinking the rage would push him to look for additional threats while other instincts would pull him to help an ally.

4 rounds of it remaining.
Ready action: move to intercept any threat.
 
Metastachydium
 
 Originally Posted by Metastachydium 
 She has fought alone for too long, perhaps. Still, without a sound, she lets the arrow fly. 
 

…or, rather, would, if there were any need to. But there wasn't. The bow is silently stowed away.   You fight.   the Horse-Man is told, with a nod that is true and as forward as his blade. He knows his trade; good.

The Pine, drawing her sickle instead ventures forward, every step cautious and measured, towards the hole even as she speaks. This lot may be worthy (even the fair one, perhaps); but the ground just prove more treacherous. Reaching into her pack for a length of rope, she bends forward in a stiff, odd angle and looks past the edge.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Switching back to Senses aura (+1 to perception stuff and initiative);
switching to totally not the little cold iron sickle, but the big one (she's not unnerwed by the weird fairy, no, why would you think that?)
and then Spot:  (1d20+10)[ 29 ] ;
andthen Listen:  (1d20+10)[ 24 ] 
 
BelGareth
Angab watches as one of their own motley crew falls into the pit, and barely anyone moves to help.

  "Gor urak mokh, urk nar ush rak dur."   
  "Give me that rope, and I can pull her up"   

He says moving to assist, stowing his weapon to free up both hands.

 
 Spoiler 

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
Metastachydium
So could she, if it looks safe, Lients reckons; but without a word, she tosses the coil to the Deep-Orc. His footing looks firm; and she'd rather not hold the rope with one of the Fair Folk on its other end. One never knows.
Postmodernist
Kaelus, late and abashed at his response to the danger, left his cover to grab the end of the rope with the Orog. The Karsite suspected his contributions would be limited, but many hands made light work, even if Angab's arms would be doing most of that work.
paddyfool
Rolf patrols a small perimeter around the rescue operation, alert to any new threat, while Kyrie circles overhead.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Rolf’s Spot:  (1d20+8)[ 13 ] 
Rolf’s Listen:  (1d20+8)[ 28 ] 

Kyrie’s Spot:  (1d20+16)[ 26 ] 
 
BelGareth
Angab grunts as the rope is handed to him, and then the strange human assists. He pulls on the rope.

 
 Spoiler 

  Str Check  - (1d20+6)[ 15 ] 
   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 
Auranghzeb
Inside the cave in, the Uldra sees this is rather a complex system of tunnels, Ankeghs are truly useful to keep the ground fertile with their detritus and their tunnels.

The rescue operation is easy and soon you are on your way again. Following the old pebblestone road makes the road quite a breeze compared to the dense forest before.

About two hours on, you find yourself with a fork on the road...

Straight ahead, the paved road snakes around trees, but it is clearly better kept and even restored in some sections, the heavy marks of recent wheel cart traffic is evident.

to the west (a right turn from your perspective) there's a dirt road recently opened through oaks and briars. the packed dirt has deep marks of wheels and footsteps coming and going.

The footprints are boots from medium creatures.

Where to?
paddyfool
Rolf has been quieter than usual on the journey since the fight, through a combination of the backwash of exhaustion after he let his rage go, concern over whether he might have frightened his new companions, and an increased tendency to look out for further threats. He looks at the options before them and makes this suggestion:

 “Shall we try the newer, mud road? If there has been something new being built at the end of it, it might be useful to know what it is?” 

Kyrie was dozing on his shoulder, opens her eyes a little at his voice then closes them again when she sees little of interest.
Alhallor
Whisperrime looks around a bit before letting herself pull out. There were living in quite an interesting little ecosystem out there.

When continuing travel, the Uldra whistles joyfully. When confronted with the fork in the road she takes a looks at the two paths, contemplating a moment, she takes a stick from besides the road and let's it fall. Letting it point straight ahead.

After Rolf's comment she adjusts the stick with her foot to point at the mud road.

 Exactly what I was thinking! That would probably be where our rebellious friends were hiding. 
Metastachydium
  That's both or neither.   The tree says, bluntly.   These are busy roads. The one's like the other.   The tree rustles on, with no strong feeling to be seen or felt, on the bark or in the voice.   I'll follow yours, if you move quickly.   she offers, still, a quick limb motioning towards the fresher wound on the forest floor, the dirt path.
Postmodernist
Kaelus ponders a moment, trying to recall if he knows anything about these woods.  "I am also inclined to follow the new road, though there could be many reasons someone might track off. We should remain cautious." 
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Kaelus has ranks in Knowledge: Geography, and I'm gonna use it!  (1d20+3)[ 14 ] 
 
BelGareth
Angab, slightly annoyed at the stalling,

  "Uruk thrak, nar krak dur, mokh ush gorak."   
  "Lets go, we're wasting time, and I'm hungry"   

And then moves off.

 
 Spoiler 

   Angab, the Reckless    Orog Paladin
 Level  4,  Init  -1,  HP  36/36,  Speed  20
 AC  19,  Touch  9,  Flat-footed  19
 Fort  +9,  Ref  +2,  Will  +2
 Abilities  Str 22, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 15
 Condition : Fire resistance 5 and Cold resistance 5
 Special : Strength Devotion [1/1/day], Smite Evil [1/1/encounter], LoH [8/8/hp's], Turn Undead [5/5/day]
 Flaw : If damaged in combat you suffer a -2 penalty on attacks rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks until you damage the foe who caused you harm.
 