The Keep - Part 1

[VennDygrem]

Salvana gives Curyll a glare as he passes by her. "Hey, stay outta my kitchen! I don't need MORE strangers infiltrating it, thank-you-very-much. I'll pick up your dishes with everyone else's."

It's clear that she's still cross from the over-night theft.

[Nanshork]

Amnon glares even more furiously.  "One way or another I am clearing out that infestation.  I gave my word and I will do it alone if neccessary."  He then goes to gather his gear, not wanting to deal with this naive and foolish girl any longer.

[Risada]

"So, it's decided.... investigation for main dish, and kobold hunting for dessert? I can live with that..." The gith says, ready to travel. "Oh, and do you guys want me to walk the road, or I follow hiding with Curryl, since I can attack from a distance as well?"

[tallan]

Minharath leaned on his staff and closed his eyes for a bit, going over potential battle situations. <I think it best that I stay with the group, perhaps a bit behind. Stealth is not my forte.>

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Good, let's go then, we're wasting daylight." With that the eager elf slings his backpack over his shoulder and heads for the door.

[VennDygrem]

Your group sets off from Winterhaven, following Aanna's map toward Douven Stahl's last suspected location. The air has a slight chill clinging to it, but you understand that this may be due to the time of day, as the temperature near town is actually fairly comfortable given the time of year. Your surroundings are quiet except for the occasional chitter or tweet from the forest-life. At some times... too quiet. The wind remains motionless, calm and still, thereby adding an eeriness to your journey. As you travel down the King's road, your party grows ever more cautious in anticipation of possible retaliation for the kobold deaths you dished out just yesterday.

Roll a Perception check to keep your eyes peeled.
Gerand follows the group, but is preoccupied attempting to maintain a stealthy presence (and trying his darnedest to keep Amnon from giving away their presence).

As requested, auto-rolling for Flay.
Perception: 1d20=5

[Nanshork]

Amnon pays little attention to his surroundings, his thoughts focused on how to best expunge the filth from this area.

Perception: 9

[Risada]

Golkonda is aware of the surroundings, looking for any potential danger.

1d20+1=18

[Agita]

Aanna leads the way, playing a sort of marching tune on a Cyran guitar while somehow still managing to check the map from time to time and remain halfway aware of the environment at the same time. Truly a multi-tasker.

Perception (1d20+1=12)

Using the Traveler's Chant ritual to give us a speed bump, for what it's worth. Our heavily armored party members are now moving at roughly the same pace as Curryl (yes, I'll keep spelling it that way. Yummy ).

[BowenSilverclaw]

Nice song

Trailing somewhat behind the party keeping up the rear guard Curyll keeps his eyes and ears open while Ouray scouts ahead, circling over Aanna.

Stealth check for Curyll to stay unnoticed: 21
Perception for Curyll and Ouray respectively: 30; 26

Damn, wish those were attack rolls...

[VennDygrem]

@Bowen:

How far back from the party are you trailing? And are you following on the road, or off to the side of the road? The terrain is fairly rocky here, with some thick foliage a ways from the road. It is difficult to follow the party at a steady pace if traveling off-road, due to obstructions, though it is not strictly impossible to follow them this way.

[BowenSilverclaw]

In that case, would it be possible to travel just of the road, using foliage for stealth wherever possible? I'll avoid any rock-climbing and off-road adventures, just staying on the shoulder of the road, using whatever cover is available close to the road, dashing from one bush to the next if that's an option and doesn't hamper my speed too much (1 square of difficult terrain per move is acceptable, being an elf and all )

I was thinking about trailing some 50 to 75ft./10 to 15 squares behind the party, just enough to possibly get a drop on some enemies that spot the party before they spot them.

[tallan]

1d20+8=9

[VennDygrem]

The party travels down the King's Road with Curyll's trusty avian companion flying above, while the elf trails behind, remaining quite stealthy. As you round a bend in the road, the ranger notices some rustling in the bushes, but is too late and too far away from his companions to warn them. Suddenly, war cries break from the underbrush as several small figures dart from hiding places. They are similar to the creatures you fought earlier, but three of them carry longswords and shields, and one is garbed in crimson hide armor, while its face is covered by a bone mask in the shape of a dragon's skull and a pendant prominently displayed hanging from its neck.

Map:

I need everyone but Bowen to place their characters on the road between H and L. Curyll is 5 squares (25 feet) beyond the western edge of the map, and may be at any point from 1 to 21. You can all also go ahead and roll initiative while you're at it. Out of all of you, Curyll alone can act during the Surprise Round, but not until we find out if he's before or after the kobolds.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Not to be annoying, but my Hawk was at the front, helping the party scout
See: http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7519.msg283961#msg283961

Anywho, Initiative:
24

Wanna bet my attack rolls are complete failures

[VennDygrem]

Not to be annoying, but my Hawk was at the front, helping the party scout
See: http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7519.msg283961#msg283961

Anywho, Initiative:
24

Wanna bet my attack rolls are complete failures

Yes, but the hawk doesn't affect everyone else's perception checks. What I mean is, Ouray doesn't affect the surprise round for the rest of the party.
You're still not in an advantageous position. Currently, you might be hidden from the kobolds, depending on where you place your character. However, if you wish to remain hidden, you won't be able to issue your companion commands. It can still use independent actions, such as a Melee Basic attack or a move, but if it has reason to believe you might be unable to issue it commands, it will fly right back to you. Also, when I say Curyll can act during the surprise round, assume that also means Ouray, unless I say otherwise. Ouray acts on your turn in initiative, after all.

How high above Aanna is Ouray, by the way? You said it's circling above, but not exactly how high. That affects how far it can move on its turn.

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Mytos is at I-9, let's say, and has an initiative of 15.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Not to be annoying, but my Hawk was at the front, helping the party scout
See: http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=7519.msg283961#msg283961

Anywho, Initiative:
24

Wanna bet my attack rolls are complete failures

Yes, but the hawk doesn't affect everyone else's perception checks. What I mean is, Ouray doesn't affect the surprise round for the rest of the party.
You're still not in an advantageous position. Currently, you might be hidden from the kobolds, depending on where you place your character. However, if you wish to remain hidden, you won't be able to issue your companion commands. It can still use independent actions, such as a Melee Basic attack or a move, but if it has reason to believe you might be unable to issue it commands, it will fly right back to you. Also, when I say Curyll can act during the surprise round, assume that also means Ouray, unless I say otherwise. Ouray acts on your turn in initiative, after all.

How high above Aanna is Ouray, by the way? You said it's circling above, but not exactly how high. That affects how far it can move on its turn.

No, I understand, but you said Ouray was hanging back as well
Let's go with an altitude of 20 squares for now if that's okay with you.

[VennDygrem]

Fixed it for you.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Thanks