Act 1, Scene 1: "Through the Undergrowth" (Main Game Thread)

[TristenC]

[Ooc: it is about 2pm.]

Katten and Dran begin to lead the group silently through the woods. For the most prt the group moves with relative quiet, aside from the clinking splint mail borne by Nocturno far to the rear. Even the Minotaur, towering overhead, moves more quietly than he; ranger's training belying his bulk.

Before long the trees thin out and the offending chasm comes into view… or at least the edges not obscured by the rolling forested hills. The Pit itself was home to who knew how many vile things. Things that reportedly crawled and scrambled up from the deep to take what they could from the surface before scurrying back again… The hills themselves and the shallow caverns they hid were home to many creatures, not all of them so inoffensive as the bears and other mammals that dwelt within… and not the least troublesome being Goblins...

Rounding the side of the hill, they move together. The rocky foothills seem to be all but abandoned aside from the occasional cry of a hawk or other raptor. The massive canyon spreads out for miles to the East, and West. Here, at a narrow point in the gorge still over 100 yards wide, an intricately designed rope-bridge stretches across the expanse. The bridge itself is wide enough for a wagon and perhaps a pair of men abreast besides. It sways gently in the center as though a high wind in the canyon moved it. Ropes and living vines wrap about each other like thick cables almost creating a spiderweb-like spray to either side. Beneath the two ends natural rock formations support the landings. The planking is a hardened blonde-wood worn quite smooth with the passage of traffic and time. To those of elven heritage it is clearly of both Elven and Human make.

Peering into the canyon itself they can see the sides form an almost sheer drop of jagged granite, down to a depth of perhaps a mile at this crossing. With the mouth maybe 130 yards wide or so, the depths are still in shadow though it is hardly past midday... One cannot be sure, but there appears to be an even deeper crevice at the bottom...

Stopping, Katten re-acquires the tracks that run back and forth across the one-time road; confirming to her that the previous information indicating the lair led westward was good. Suddenly the group spots a lone figure on the far side of the bridge! It appears to be a human wearing unusual clothing...

[Chris1234]

"Want me to go across?" volunteers Linar.

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What's the approx time of day?
And the prevalent light conditions?

[Nocturno]

"Our Magician friend here seems to like to talk. I could escort him across, in-case this fellow is a problem."

[TristenC]

Katten's sharp eyes suddenly notice something moving in the brush some distance behind the unsuspecting human...
A moment later the Elves and Minotaur spot it too!

[Jenara]

Katten draws her bow, an arrow coming to her hand in fluid motion,. "More in trees. We cover weaker ones." Her face is contorted in a scowl as she sees one of the Menn. "Watch him. Menn trouble." Her eyes had already passed to see the one in the trees.

"He come here." She suggests, realising in this moment she is telling others what to do. "Me cover."

[Chris1234]

"Run, here, now," shouts Linar in elven and unlimbers and strings her bow, always assuming the unexpected intends you damage.

======
Nindja'd!

[Nocturno]

Nocturno will draw his long sword and take up a position in the middle of the bridge at their close end.

[Rivi]

seeing the group on the other end going on the alert Elden will react in kind moving to the middle of the bridge but cautiously approaching the elf with the sword out "well met i mean you know harm."

[Jenara]

"Menn. No trust. Kill trees." Katten scowls waiting on the others to see what they plan to do. Her arrow is trained on the approaching Human.

[Nocturno]

"I agree they kill trees, but we should probably see what is coming behind him. We seem to have the advantage at this point."

[Jenara]

"You watch him, archer cover. Me cross bridge." Katten moves to the bridge, her limbs moving slowly as she keeps her bow drawn, her arrow trained on the Man she passes him, her sharp teeth are visible as are her large ears.

[Sol Mazer]

"I thought I was to go chat it up with him..." Seeing almost everyone enter cautious battle mode, the Elf will take a turn at rolling his eyes. "It's just a man on a bridge- I'm sure he's fine."

Van will follow onto the bridge. He'll say, to Gar, "Is it the rustling in the trees? Did I miss what made the rustling?"

[Rivi]

elden intrigued by the what he could only call cat person and seeing her distrust slowly raises his hands in a placating fashion. once hearing that something was be hind him he will look over his shoulder "wait whats was behind me?"

[ausie]

"We are all a bit twitchy... Go talk to the man calmly and put your weapons away, what is there to be afraid of? There are probably scared of me!" Garroth suggests...

[Jenara]

"Something in bushes. You talk, I find what it is." Moving with purpose she makes her way over the bridge, arrow notched and reasy