Scouting (Woodhold thread)

Post by **GM-Mike** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:13 pm

Atrum and Rhul depart from the pack, scouting the area, wanting to see if the dark elf "friend" follows. At first, everything seems normal, but as darkness falls, there is the unmistakable feeling of being watched by someone, or perhaps by something. Efforts to locate the mysterious something are unfruitful, but it doesn't shake the feelling, the unease.

But as time passes, as the night becomes its darkest, somewhere in the distance, a thud can be heard...

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:53 pm

Atrum and Rhul keep to the shadows of the woods as they wait, to limit the possibility of someone seeing them, even at night. At the sounds, Rhul places his hand on Atrum's shoulder to get his attention.

Atrum, looking down, sees that sometime in the darkness Rhul has donned a pair of leather gloves, scaled with thick steel like the gauntlets of a suit of platemail. If he were to make a fist, they would make his already strong hands into veritable hammers, effective even in turning aside the blade of a sword.

"Did you hear that?" he asks in hushed tones. "Off in the distance- a sound of something heavy. We are likely not alone."

Atrum Draconus · Post by **Atrum Draconus** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:21 pm

*Atrum puts his fingers to his lips in a shhhhssshhh fashion without making a sound, then points at Rhul and towards the left of where the sound came from. Then to himself and to the right of where the sound came from and closes his hands to meet together in the middle and bolts off as quietly as he can through the woods*

(Using spot to see if he can notice any other movement in the shadows, any branches wiggling more than those around it and to keep an eye on Rhul so as to meet at the area the sound came from)

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:52 pm

Rhul nods once to Atrum and following his lead, he crouches low and moves away to the left, picking his way through the woods as swiftly and carefully as possible, given his size.

Post by **GM-Mike** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:07 am

Through thick brush, the two separate, expertly and near silently navigating through the wilderness, or at least it seems that way to them. As each approach the source of the thud, the utter silence is somewhat unnerving. No breathing, no scampering, nothing.

When at last they arrive, the source of the thud is easily discovered as the body of a dark elf lies on the ground. The assumption is that the body belongs to Goran, as it is the same size and wears the same clothes, but its face has been rendered unrecognizeable, presumably by a mighty blow from a club...

Atrum Draconus · Post by **Atrum Draconus** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:03 pm

*Spot to check and see if there were any other distinguishing traits that would mark this body as Goran*

*Atrum whispers to Rhul*
This doesn't feel right, I don't think this is him, I think he knew he had been made. Or else someone above him found out he had been made. Look for signs of someone leaving here.

Post by **GM-Mike** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:32 pm

Soft tracks can be seen leading away from the scene, presumably by their spacing at a high rate of speed.

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:14 pm

(draws Atrums's attention to the tracks, and speaks to him quietly, in case anyone is near enough to hear the two talk)

"Here's our culprit.... Though I'm uncertain about what or who we might be dealing with. To kill this man, whoever he may be, and then escape us before we can react shows no small amount of talent.

And I agree, destroying the face of this body does seems a little too coincidental. If I wished to stealthily disable someone, I would strike him unawares from the back, not the front.

Do you think we should give chase, or return to warn the.....ahem, others? (he says vaguely, still glancing uneasily at their wooded surroundings)

Atrum Draconus · Post by **Atrum Draconus** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:36 pm

*After looking over the scene quickly and in hushed tones*
Looks like they were ambushed or taken by surprise, either from the thicket here or by someone they were walking with. Looks like one blow to the face. We should follow and try and glean as much information as possible, see where this attacker went. I'll be right on your heels, be on the lookout for traps.

*Atrum follows on Rhuls heels looking for signs of traps or an ambush.*

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:44 pm

Rhul simply nods to Atrum, cracks his neck, and leads the way along the tracks, warily watching the underbrush to either side, as if expecting trouble to pounce on them any moment, but confident in his pace.

Post by **GM-Mike** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:06 am

Through thicker and thicker brush, Atrum and Rhul travel, the trail easier to follow as a path was made, seemingly on the run. The farther they travel, the louder it gets, as the sounds of a blade cutting through weeds and trees and bushes are easily heard. Convinced the sounds of trail making will mask their approach, they continue, though cautiously, until the noise stops all together.

Atrum holds up a hand almost at the same time as Rhul, each telling the other to be quiet. Minutes soundless minutes past, until a voice breaks it, saying simply, "Well, are we going to have a conversation or what?"

The voice is not recognized.

Atrum Draconus · Post by **Atrum Draconus** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:21 pm

*Atrum makes a mouth moving signal with his hand and points at Rhul, then points to himself and makes a 1/2 circle in the air, nods and moves to flank the voice*

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:49 pm

Rhul nods, and as Atrum moves away to flank, he slowly does the same in the other direction, glancing repeatedly to where he thought the voice came from.

His mind is so completely focused on moving through the woods unnoticed that he forgets himself for the first time in many months and drops to a three-point stance, using the knuckles on one hand to further steady himself as he moves in a low crouch, using the other free hand to move aside undergrowth.

Atrum Draconus · Post by **Atrum Draconus** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:27 am

Before Rhul moves off Atrum point at him and makes the mouth moving sign again.

Rhul · Post by **Rhul** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:25 am

Rhul waits until Atrum gets around to the opposite side of the speaker from Rhul, or at least where he heard the voice speak from.

He briefly takes notice that he had fallen back to old habits (his movements), and grimaces a bit, but then sets his face, and stands to make himself visible, his great fists at his side, but still ready for anything.

"Ahem". He clears his throat deeply. "It seems you decided to make an awful mess of someone back there. What might you be looking to speak with me about?