DeepThought Forum

[Perception: 12+13 = 25 to check for threats]
[Perception: 11+13 = 24 to see what I can see]
[Perception: 14+13+4 = 31 to watch for tracks of any of the preceding parties]
[Stealth: 14+14 = 28 to cover Pepper's tracks]
[Perception: 11+13 = 24 to look for good hiding/ambush places once we reach the bridge]

Your journey north-northeast is uneventful, other than becoming mired down in muskeg or tangled in underbrush a few times.  Your party pauses at the edge of the forest when you reach your destination.  The delineation between forest and the broad verge beside the highway is so abrupt and even that you suspect it must have been cut with some mechanical or artifice device, or perhaps by warforged.  Across the verge, now coated with a thin layer of fluffy snow, the highway in your immediate vicinity is currently empty, but looking to the east you can see a few drovers, well out of earshot, and to the west, a few travelers far in the distance.   Beyond that, the lightning rail line parallels the line of the highway, the broad stones crackling subtly even now, in the absence of a train.  The bridge arcs over it, leaving enough room beneath for a train to pass; the structure looks sturdy, of stone and of heavy wood not native to this region, but it is narrow, barely wide enough for a person to lead an animal or push a handcart across.  Near the bridge sits a structure, too modest to be called an inn, too domestic to be called a tavern, too public to be called a home - we will call it a roadhouse - constructed of planked birch.  A run-in shed in a fenced paddock sits beside it, hitching rails in front of it, and you smell woodsmoke from its chimney. 

Feel free to do something

[Initiative: 4 + 9 = 13]

[Initiative = 2 + 6 + 2 = 10]

[Initiative: 8+5+2=15

How long did the journey take us?]

From your current vantage point, you don't see any people outside in the vicinity.  The place seems very quiet...well, this part of the country is lightly traveled, yes. so perhaps that's not so odd.  A rime of ice crunches under Oleg's mount's feet as he encourages it toward the roadhouse, and the beast leaves tracks in the dusting of snow and hoarfrost. 

[Any checks you guys want to make?  Are you going inside or looking around outside?]

Quote from: Diogenes on May 27, 2016, 07:12:57 PM

"Right. Let's rendezvous with Leatherleaf's replacement," I say, prodding the lizard forward towards the roadhouse.

"Oleg, I thought our plan was to reconnoiter the bridge and observe the target." I remind the chaplain.

And not stumble into trap.

"Ah, yes. I was getting ahead of myself."

I nod and ride off towards the roadhouse, keeping an eye out for trouble, knowing keener eyes watch my back.

Kol Korran, protect your servant.

[Perception Roll(1d20)+7: 8,+7; Total:15]

Back in the shadow of the trees, I draw my new sword, idly testing the edge of the curved part with my thumb.  "So why're we ambushing our reinforcement again, ma'am?" I ask.

Seems they've been holed up in there for a spell. Still, no use skulking about. As if I could skulk at all in this jangly mail.

I shrug and give the door a try, letting out a cheerful, "Hallooo? Kol Korran's wealth be with you."

[Diplomacy Roll(1d20)+8: 19,+8, Total:27]

A young woman opens the door and peers out.  She looks nervous, but then smiles to see you, after looking you over for a beat.  "Oh, hello," she says.  "Come in and warm up?  Please?  You can hitch your beastie there."  From her accent and dress you judge her to be local; from the damp towel in her hand you judge her to be a serving maid. 

Inside, the small roadhouse's common room is rather close.  There's an older fellow busying himself at the hearth, who nods to you as you enter; he is presumably the proprietor or another worker. There are also three hard-faced people settled at a table, and a fourth seated beside the window, looking out through a small gap in the curtains.  They wear their bulky cloaks indoors, despite the comfortable warmth, and pull slowly on mugs of beer, and they eyeball you up and down.

"Can I get you something?" the young woman asks, with forced customer service cheer.  She very much does not look at the other four guests in the room.

I grin and say, "Oh, a beer would do nicely, ma'am."

I take a seat close to the fire. "I'm supposed to meet someone here. I hope I haven't missed them. Has anyone arrived or left here recently, perhaps alone?"

I pay for my beer with a gold coin.

[Diplomacy Roll(1d20)+8: 12,+8, Total:20]

Her eyes widen at the coin, and she flashes Oleg a nervous smile.  "Oh, no, nothing like that," she says, with forced casualness.  Her back to the other patrons, she mouths be careful.  She gives a tiny wave of a finger to indicate the four cloaked figures, then subtly points to the corner of her eye as she pushes her hair back - they're watching.

"We should go and join him," l say. "Not much point in hanging around out here."