Keep on the Shadowfell [IC]

[Numinous]

[ic=The Premise]The ancient and neglected road that you are on crests a ridge, revealing a stretch of field bordered by thick trees and surrounded by piles of rubble that could have been the foundation of an old settlement.  ridges climb on either side of the road, leaving you in a narrow valley.  A stone marker off to the left bears the symbol of a crown roughly carved into it's surface, reassuring you that you are still on the old King's Road and therefore headed in the right direction to reach the town of Winterhaven.
[note]Poseidon, Kapn Xeviat, Neubert, and Seraphine Harmonium are walking on the road talking amongst themselves on the road to Winterhaven.  Recent dangers from the wilderness make traveling in groups wiser than alone, and so you find yourselves bound by convenience to share the road until you reach Winterhaven, at least.[/note][/ic]

[spoiler=For Neubert only]You have heard that a comrade of yours from the time with the dwarves ventured to find a site of spiritual significance near Winterhaven.  This friend of yours, by the name of Douven Staul, left months ago, and his family grows worried.  His wife requested that you look for him on your journey and impart to him that he is missed greatly at home, should you find him.

On your way to Winterhaven, you met Luminous the Tiefling, whose appearance, while unnerving, spoke of a quiet faith and determination which you found appealing.  You were traveling with him a short ways before you joined up with Brandis and Talis En.[/spoiler][spoiler=For Kapn Xeviat Only]You bear a letter from a past comrade in the church, a young priest of Pelor named Marla.  She stands out in your memory as one of the few who accepted your good intentions before you were driven from the organization.  In the letter, she informs you of raids and killings in the vicinity of Winterhaven, and that her investigations have discovered a blasphemous cult operating in the area.  She says that your old teacher in the church referred her to you as the most likely to help, as the bureaucracy of the church prevents her from taking direct action and interfering herself.

You encountered Roy Culate, Cleric of Erathis, on the road to Winterhaven, although he reminds you greatly of the stuffy nature of the organized church, safety dictates it is wiser to travel in numbers.  Your shared history in the clergy allowed a fragile trust to form, and so you permit his company.  You were traveling with him a short while before you joined up with Brandis and Talis En.[/spoiler][spoiler=For Seraphine Harmonium Only]You are making your way to Winterhaven as it is the nearest settlement large enough to possibly pay you for your talents as warrior and still support such a frivolous endeavor as a play.  You have heard that the Lord Padraig of Winterhaven is a great patron of theater and often gives freely to the talented whose company he finds enjoyable.

On the path to Winterhaven, you witness Brandies stumble out of the woods, delirious with hunger.  After treating him to a portion of your rations, you talked briefly and sense a similar loss to your own in his youthful face, prompting you to join him on the trip to town.  Shortly afterwards, you encountered Roy Culate and Luminous, who walk with you for the safety provided by numbers in these trying times.[/spoiler][spoiler=For Poseidon Only]After several days of travel from Silverpeak, hunger takes it's toll on you.  Stumbling form the forest, you encounter another traveler by the name of Talis En.  He offers to share a meal with you, and afterward you join him in traveling to Winterhaven and the beginning of your quest for redemption.  

Shortly after this first encounter, you join Roy Culate and Luminous, who are heading in the same direction and whose numbers will make traveling safer, especially in these dark times.[/spoiler][spoiler=For Ninja D! Only]After traveling for weeks in the forest, living off the land, you have found yourself tracking kobolds in the region surrounding Winterhaven.  While it is dangerous to travel alone in these dark times, your hatred for dragonkind spurs you on a determined path to drive these dragonkin to extinction, at least in the area surrounding Winterhaven.  For you, killing is a mission, not a passion, and your cold skills leave you to track and eliminate, rather than murder, determined to purge all the scaly kind from the world around you.

The forest in front of you breaks to reveal several kobolds setting an ambush to either side of what you know to be King's Road.  A small group of travelers is walking down the road, unaware of the threat as they talk amongst themselves.[/spoiler][ooc]Let the games begin.  You are all free to act.[/ooc]

[Ninja D!]

[spoiler=DM ONLY]
[ic]Nally notices the kobolds and stops before entering the open area, preferring the cover of the forest over his head.  He crouches slightly, sliding his longbow off of his shoulder into his hand, and reaching for an arrow, all while trying to remain undetected.[/ic]
[ooc]Stealth Check : [dice=]1d20+9[/dice][/ooc]
[ic]Confident that he has not drawn any unwanted attention from the scaled abominations, Nally nocks an arrow and takes aim in his quick yet precise way.  Though for him the action seems slow and deliberate, an onlooker would think it was quick and without much care for the intended target.  This is one elf, however, that does not fire warning shots.  He sets his sites on the nearest creature with a look of disgust, and lets the arrow fly.[/ic]
[ooc]I name the nearest kobold my Hunter's Quarry.  Assuming that they are within range, I'll make a basic ranged attack with my longbow against the nearest kobold.  I'm going to guess that I'm nearer to the one I'm aiming at than anyone else and add +1 for Prime Shot.  If someone else is closer, just take that away from the roll. [dice]1d20+7[/dice]
If I hit, here's the damage : [dice]1d10+4+1d6[/dice]
I'm not used to this and will try never to edit my posts, just make another post.  If I ever for any reason had to, I would include a screencap of the rolls before the edit.  I'll still try to avoid that, too.[/ooc]  
[/spoiler]

[Xeviat]

[ic]Luminous has offered to take point, marching in front of the others. To this point, he's remained quiet, and his natural Charisma makes him appear more fearsome than introverted. He wears his shield, emblazoned with the profile of a raven's head, and his warhammer is hung from his side. His plate armor is blackened and dull. The tiefling's dark hair is long and tied back, and his ram-like horns have been cut off. He is as aware as he can be, watching the sides of the road rather than chatting with his traveling companions.[/ic]

[Seraph]

[ic=Talis En]Talis speaks much to his companions, taking pleasure in Luminous' serious demeanor.  He laughs and jokes comfortably, raising his voice jocundly at times.  He seems to take much pleasure in the company.  He moves in circles around his traveling companions, speaking to each in turn.  He speaks out loud for any who care to hear:

"You see my friends the path is straight and clear; the kingly road unrolls beneath our feet.
The sky is blue, and roses smelling sweet; I tell you friends we have nothing to fear.
No traitorous vagabond seeking pilgrim loot would dare to test our mettle in a fray,
But how I wish they would!  I have today a restless rapier and a hungry boot!
If we by woodland sprites were ambuscaded, why we would have our ready liberty:
At but a show of adroit poesy, such detainers would fly from us elated.
We've not to fear from man, nor fey, nor beast.
Therefore to Winterhaven!  There we feast!"
[/ic]

[Numinous]

[ooc]Consider this roll call.  I want a post from every player before the action will proceed.  That means I'm waiting on Neubert and Poseidon specifically.  If nobody minds, I intend to run the game this way until it causes problems.[/ooc][spoiler=For Ninja D! Only]I'll reveal the consequences of your action to you and the other players after roll call is complete.[/spoiler]

[Neubert]

[ic=Roy Culate]Roy gladly accepts Luminous' offer to take point and allows himself to relax somewhat while travelling in a group.
He smiles at Talis' great mood, though he does not hope for any ambushes along the road.[/ic]

[Poseptune]

[ic=Brandis]"We still have a ways to go, until we reach the Winterhaven. You're wasting a lot of energy running around like that. Plus you're making me dizzy.", Brandis says to Talis En. Plus as loud as you're being you're going to announce our presence to any thief or crook along this path., the dragonborn thinks to himself.

Brandis hasn't been much for small talk so far. He wouldn't be traveling with this group, but the numbers means added protection and one was kind enough to share some food. He looks up toward Luminous wondering if the only reason he took point is to lead them into an ambush. The dragonborn keeps his own eyes open mostly watching the road ahead instead of the Half-Elf prancing about.[/ic]

[ooc]Passive Perception = 16, unless you need a roll[/ooc]

[Numinous]

[ic=The Scene]As the party proceeds down the road, an arrow bursts forth from a grove off to the right and ahead, eliciting a piercing shriek from a small scaled creature that was hiding behind a rock ahead.  Now, it stumbles out into view and collapses with a gurgling noise in the grass.

Now visible are several more of these creatures behind the rubble ahead, clearly disturbed by the death of one of their own.  At least two step out from hiding and brandish their spears menacingly, clearly hostile.

[spoiler=passive insight of 15 or higher only]The creatures ahead are clearly off-guard and distracted by the assault from behind.[/spoiler][spoiler=Knowledge(Dungeoneering) check of 15 or higher]The scaly creatures are kobolds, notorious for their ambushes, cunning, and agility.[/spoiler][/ic][ooc]Initiative rolls, folks!  I'll post a map after I get some sleep and some rolls from everyone.[/ooc][spoiler=Ninja D! Only]Your attack was clearly a success, and so far as you can tell, you remain undetected.  Add 2 to your initiative roll for being aware of the enemy and combat before it started.  The surprise round has already occurred.[/spoiler]

[Neubert]

[ooc]Lets see if I can figure out this dice rolling thing. :)[/ooc]

[spoiler=Initiative][dice]1d20+5[/dice][/spoiler]

[Xeviat]

[ic=Luminous]Initiative: [dice]1d20+0[/dice]
Dungeoneering: [dice]1d20+0[/dice]

"What are those creatures? Someone else appears to be attacking them." (Can I make a Nature check? [dice]1d20+2[/dice])[/ic]

[Seraph]

[ic=Talis En]"Oho! My wish comes sooner than I thought.  Let's on with it then--my rapier is tingling!"
 [dice=Initiative]1d20+3[/dice]
 [dice=Dungeoneering]1d20+2[/dice] [/ic]

[Seraph]

[ooc]Oops, didn't put that in correctly.  I thought it would show which was which.  The first is initiative, the second is dungeoneering.

ETA:  OOC tags.  Wow, I guess it's been too long since I've done this, I'm messing things up all over the place.[/ooc]

[Ninja D!]

[ic]An elf steps out from the trees, a determined look on his face.  He reaches to the quiver on his back and removes a pair of arrows.[/ic]
[ooc]Initiative.[dice]1d20+8[/dice][/ooc]
[ic]Both arrows quickly find their way to the string of the longbow the elf carries, each at a different angle.  He seems to aim at two targets with almost no effort and the arrows fly.[/ic]
[ooc]I name the closest one my Hunter's Quarry.  I attack the two nearest with Twin Strike.
[dice]1d20+4[/dice]
[dice]1d20+4[/dice]
Here is where I'm not totally clear: if my damage bonuses apply when it says 1[W].  I will not include them but if that is wrong, add +4 to each.  The first is damage, if successful, to my Hunter's Quarry target.  The second is for the other one.
[dice]1d10+1d6[/dice]
[dice]1d10[/dice]
[spoiler=Arrows Used]3[/spoiler]
The first non-combat post I make will include a description of Nally, which I will then add to my character sheet.[/ooc]

[Poseptune]

[ooc]Initiative = [dice]1d20+3[/dice]
[/ooc]

[Neubert]

[ooc=Roy Culate]Dungeoneering: [dice]1d20+3[/dice][/ooc]