Darl
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Darl
Having done what he could to protect the rest of the group, Darl forges on ahead on his own. The glowing dual orange moons provide ample light for him to travel by. As he travels, he thinks about what his next plans are... {OOC: ...and shares them with the GM.}
Joe - Administrator
Re: Darl
Having done what he could to protect the rest of the group, Darl forges on ahead on his own. The glowing dual orange moons provide ample light for him to travel by. As he travels, he thinks about what his next plans are...
His first priority, of course, was to attempt to catch up to the wagon party before they reach Chisel Town, assuming that was their next destination. The wagon had a full day's head start on them, he knew, and though they should easily have been able to make up some ground with the APC, they had not taken advantage of the opportunity ... instead, they had dragged their heals, keeping pace with the blasted horse. Not that he had anything against Gerard ... but it certainly felt like an opportunity squandered.
That said, the wagon could not have been moving much quicker than they had, this day. If you guessed it a two days journey, it was possible that the wagon would arrive in Chisel Town tonight ... but with a bit of luck on Darl's side, it might also still be on the road. If they stopped to camp again tonight, he might even have a chance to overtake them. Darl wasn't necessarily the fastest traveller of his kind, but he was quick enough ... and given his endurance, he hoped to make up some of the time that they had lost today.
Of course, if they were on the road, they had probably found themselves a nice little shelter, like the cave he had just left ... and there was a good chance that he would pass them without knowing he had. After arriving at the town, he'd likely have to try and bribe a guard or something to find out for sure ... if they arrived this evening, he may be able to track them down before the trail grew cold tommorrow; and if they hadn't arrived yet, he could hang around and wait for them the next morning ... in either case, he'd cross that bridge when it came to it.
But first things first, it was time to log some miles. Ramping up to a brisk pace, he starts off; carefully watching the sides of the road for any signs of trouble, ambush, or wagon tracks having recently left the trail as he goes.
- Jeremy/Darl
His first priority, of course, was to attempt to catch up to the wagon party before they reach Chisel Town, assuming that was their next destination. The wagon had a full day's head start on them, he knew, and though they should easily have been able to make up some ground with the APC, they had not taken advantage of the opportunity ... instead, they had dragged their heals, keeping pace with the blasted horse. Not that he had anything against Gerard ... but it certainly felt like an opportunity squandered.
That said, the wagon could not have been moving much quicker than they had, this day. If you guessed it a two days journey, it was possible that the wagon would arrive in Chisel Town tonight ... but with a bit of luck on Darl's side, it might also still be on the road. If they stopped to camp again tonight, he might even have a chance to overtake them. Darl wasn't necessarily the fastest traveller of his kind, but he was quick enough ... and given his endurance, he hoped to make up some of the time that they had lost today.
Of course, if they were on the road, they had probably found themselves a nice little shelter, like the cave he had just left ... and there was a good chance that he would pass them without knowing he had. After arriving at the town, he'd likely have to try and bribe a guard or something to find out for sure ... if they arrived this evening, he may be able to track them down before the trail grew cold tommorrow; and if they hadn't arrived yet, he could hang around and wait for them the next morning ... in either case, he'd cross that bridge when it came to it.
But first things first, it was time to log some miles. Ramping up to a brisk pace, he starts off; carefully watching the sides of the road for any signs of trouble, ambush, or wagon tracks having recently left the trail as he goes.
- Jeremy/Darl
Re: Darl
{OOC: Assuming that the traveler stops at dark, the total journey on foot is actually three days, not two. In other words, about 35 hours total.}
Being well rested, Darl finds the brisk pace to be exhilarating in the cool (relatively speaking) night air. It feels good to be out of the cramped ATV and stretching his legs. He occasionally stops to investigate possible tracks leading away from the main road, but they were all dead ends. They slow him down some, but that's probably better than missing his quarry altogether.
Many hours of travelling have seen Darl well into the foot hills leading around the mountain range that flanks Chisel Town Garrison. The moons have set and the sun has risen on another clear day. Another twelve hours, or less, of travel at this pace he should reach the town.
As Darl drops down into a ravine between hills he spies yet another side trail...this one, however, appears to be more promising. The distinct wheel scrapes of a small wagon can be seen straddling the path. Could this be his quarry?
Being well rested, Darl finds the brisk pace to be exhilarating in the cool (relatively speaking) night air. It feels good to be out of the cramped ATV and stretching his legs. He occasionally stops to investigate possible tracks leading away from the main road, but they were all dead ends. They slow him down some, but that's probably better than missing his quarry altogether.
Many hours of travelling have seen Darl well into the foot hills leading around the mountain range that flanks Chisel Town Garrison. The moons have set and the sun has risen on another clear day. Another twelve hours, or less, of travel at this pace he should reach the town.
As Darl drops down into a ravine between hills he spies yet another side trail...this one, however, appears to be more promising. The distinct wheel scrapes of a small wagon can be seen straddling the path. Could this be his quarry?
Joe - Administrator
Re: Darl
IC:
"Hmmm ..." Darl thinks to himself, studying the tracks. "If we assume one days travel gets us to the cave, and the second day's travel gets you here, this could be where they pulled off the road to break camp last night ..."
While not a guarantee, this seems reasonable enough that Darl decides to adjust his direction; turning to follow the trail left by the wagon tracks ... at least as far as he's able to track them.
If, perchance, there are any of the pillars as they saw near the cave; or if the lay of the land allows otherwise, he will attempt to climb to a higher vantage point in order to get a good scouting look down the direction the wagon appeared to take before blindly heading down them himself. When he does head down, he will do so warily ... not only to scan for any potential ambush or attack situations he might wander into ... but also because, if their quarry was down this trail, he wanted to see them before they saw him.
- Jeremy/Darl
"Hmmm ..." Darl thinks to himself, studying the tracks. "If we assume one days travel gets us to the cave, and the second day's travel gets you here, this could be where they pulled off the road to break camp last night ..."
While not a guarantee, this seems reasonable enough that Darl decides to adjust his direction; turning to follow the trail left by the wagon tracks ... at least as far as he's able to track them.
If, perchance, there are any of the pillars as they saw near the cave; or if the lay of the land allows otherwise, he will attempt to climb to a higher vantage point in order to get a good scouting look down the direction the wagon appeared to take before blindly heading down them himself. When he does head down, he will do so warily ... not only to scan for any potential ambush or attack situations he might wander into ... but also because, if their quarry was down this trail, he wanted to see them before they saw him.
- Jeremy/Darl
Re: Darl
Darl has been walking through the foothills of the nearby mountainous range for quite some time. If this were any other planet he would expect to see mountain streams and smell the evergreens in the air as he passes under their protective canopy. Since this is Wormwood, however, he finds himself walking among the pillars where trees should have been. The stands are thick and the pillars are tall enough in this particular area that they could easily be called a forest. Some even resemble large leafless trees out of a nightmarish story; the largest reaching twenty or thirty feet into the air with gnarled limbs and bodies.
Darl finds it easy to travel off the main path and stay hidden in the surrounding area. It becomes difficult at times to see the trail through the pillars, but Darl manages not to completely lose it. After about ten minutes he can hear voices coming from up ahead. Moving stealthily and staying hidden he climbs a small hill to get a better vantage without being seen, keeping the voices to his left.
Finding a good spot on the hill, Darl looks down into a small clearing and can see two women sitting talking to each other. One of the women leans against the wheel of a large two wheeled wooden cart; the head of a small child nestled in her lap. The cart appears to be designed to be pulled by a small horse, but it's small enough that two people could pull it as well.
At first look, there is no sign of the men that Darl is looking for, but the rest of the description that Gerard gave seems to match the group in front of him...assuming that the other children are around somewhere as well. He sees no sign of a potential attack, but the pillars make it difficult to see much without moving around the outskirts of the clearing to get a better view of all corners.
Darl finds it easy to travel off the main path and stay hidden in the surrounding area. It becomes difficult at times to see the trail through the pillars, but Darl manages not to completely lose it. After about ten minutes he can hear voices coming from up ahead. Moving stealthily and staying hidden he climbs a small hill to get a better vantage without being seen, keeping the voices to his left.
Finding a good spot on the hill, Darl looks down into a small clearing and can see two women sitting talking to each other. One of the women leans against the wheel of a large two wheeled wooden cart; the head of a small child nestled in her lap. The cart appears to be designed to be pulled by a small horse, but it's small enough that two people could pull it as well.
At first look, there is no sign of the men that Darl is looking for, but the rest of the description that Gerard gave seems to match the group in front of him...assuming that the other children are around somewhere as well. He sees no sign of a potential attack, but the pillars make it difficult to see much without moving around the outskirts of the clearing to get a better view of all corners.
Joe - Administrator
Re: Darl
Darl slides down the hill slightly, in an attempt to remain out of sight while preparing his next move. Reaching into his backpack, he retrieves the blanket stored inside. Staying low, he inches his way back up until he can once again see the wagon; but just barely.
Hoping to surprise the women and draw out their companions without making his own presence known, he places the blanket on the ground in front of him before beginning a quiet incantation; adding in a series of complicated gestures to complete the ritual as he casts. Upon completion of the spell, he watches as the blanket disappears ... then looks back over the crest of the hill towards the wagon expectantly; hoping to find the blanket has appeared on the ground between the two women - which should certainly surprise or unnerve them, but hopefully in a non-threatening way. (OOC: Teleportation: Lesser)
Hoping to surprise the women and draw out their companions without making his own presence known, he places the blanket on the ground in front of him before beginning a quiet incantation; adding in a series of complicated gestures to complete the ritual as he casts. Upon completion of the spell, he watches as the blanket disappears ... then looks back over the crest of the hill towards the wagon expectantly; hoping to find the blanket has appeared on the ground between the two women - which should certainly surprise or unnerve them, but hopefully in a non-threatening way. (OOC: Teleportation: Lesser)
Re: Darl
Darl looks down at the scene below and waits...and waits a little longer in hopes that something...anything...happens. Nothing does. No blanket, no gasps of surprise, no shouts of startlement, nothing.
{OOC: I saved the die roll just in case it failed to prove that I wasn't fudging the roll. The target for the roll was 80%: Teleport Lesser: Blanket (1d100=97) }
{OOC: I saved the die roll just in case it failed to prove that I wasn't fudging the roll. The target for the roll was 80%: Teleport Lesser: Blanket (1d100=97) }
Joe - Administrator
Re: Darl
"Oh, festering soul-warts!" Darl curses. While the spell was never a guarantee, it was still good for four out of five casts.
Turning back to his pack, he rustles around looking for something else he might use. Pulling an oversized shirt, cut in the human style, he repeats the process ... hoping this time for a better result.
Turning back to his pack, he rustles around looking for something else he might use. Pulling an oversized shirt, cut in the human style, he repeats the process ... hoping this time for a better result.
Re: Darl
Darl looks down the slope with anticipation, hoping that the shirt appears where he wants this time. Just after he finishes the last words of the incantation the shirt magically appears in the clearing below...just where Darl wanted it. (Must have twisted the wrist instead of splaying the fingers the first time.)
For a moment or two nothing else seems to happen and Darl begins to wonder if they didn't see the shirt. Finally, though, both women look at the shirt and then look quizzically at one another before the each stand up at the same time. The skinnier of the two women, with sandy brown hair tied up in a bun, looks up into the sky. Seeing nothing that direction she begins to scan the surrounding hills and pillar stands. A look of fear and confusion crosses her face.
The other woman, seemingly the more practical of the two, quickly goes to the wagon and retrieves two swords. Her round face above a stocky body has a look of dread and resignation as she hands one of the swords to the first woman. She whispers instructions to her and the two circle around the wagon quietly gathering the children, their bodies drifting in and out of site as the Wormwood pillars block Darl's line of site.
The two men described by Gerard have still not made an appearance and the two women don't act as if they are trying to make contact with them.
For a moment or two nothing else seems to happen and Darl begins to wonder if they didn't see the shirt. Finally, though, both women look at the shirt and then look quizzically at one another before the each stand up at the same time. The skinnier of the two women, with sandy brown hair tied up in a bun, looks up into the sky. Seeing nothing that direction she begins to scan the surrounding hills and pillar stands. A look of fear and confusion crosses her face.
The other woman, seemingly the more practical of the two, quickly goes to the wagon and retrieves two swords. Her round face above a stocky body has a look of dread and resignation as she hands one of the swords to the first woman. She whispers instructions to her and the two circle around the wagon quietly gathering the children, their bodies drifting in and out of site as the Wormwood pillars block Darl's line of site.
The two men described by Gerard have still not made an appearance and the two women don't act as if they are trying to make contact with them.
Joe - Administrator
Re: Darl
Darl watches carefully, looking especially for any signs of the women glancing towards potential hiding places that he can't see ...
... but after concluding they are alone in the area, and making no effort to try and contact anyone else, he figures it's time to head down and see what, if anything, he can learn. Had the men come here and left the women, and continued on to town on their own? If so, had they taken the orb with them or left it here? Or were the women sent here with the cart, in order to serve as a decoy for anyone who might happen to have been tracking them?
In any case, feeling fairly confident that the rest of the party was elsewhere ... he decides to first spare a bit of energy to peer into the past before actually revealing himself to the women and children below. (OOC: Retro-viewing on the clearing.)
- Jeremy/Darl
... but after concluding they are alone in the area, and making no effort to try and contact anyone else, he figures it's time to head down and see what, if anything, he can learn. Had the men come here and left the women, and continued on to town on their own? If so, had they taken the orb with them or left it here? Or were the women sent here with the cart, in order to serve as a decoy for anyone who might happen to have been tracking them?
In any case, feeling fairly confident that the rest of the party was elsewhere ... he decides to first spare a bit of energy to peer into the past before actually revealing himself to the women and children below. (OOC: Retro-viewing on the clearing.)
- Jeremy/Darl