Chapter 8: The Vanishing

[aine]

Isolde looks at her companions before addressing the men,
"Whoever or whatever killed the newcomers has got the children up on the tor. Now I reckon you have your own ideas about what's up there but it doesn't change the need to creep up there stealthily and try to rescue the children before we maybe lose them altogether. How one would do that I'm afraid I don't know; I'm a teacher not a red indian.

"But the poachers amongst you have the knowledge and the soldiers would best know how to deploy the men here. I suppose I'd best go with the group who try to rescue the children; they'll probably need comforting. I'm going to start walking up through those trees now because I can't move as quickly as you in these skirts. And hopefully I'm wrong about the goblins."

She turns and starts picking her way up through the tussocks and rocks towards the wood.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm no very sneaky," says Alexander, "but I'm a good shot with a shotgun. I'll go with the soldiers and hunters."

OOC,Do I have my shotgun with me?

[HoneyDog]

One villager steps up, a big, tough looking farmer.

“There’s only one way up the tor in these conditions” he says. “Through the trees. The far side would need ropes at the best of times to make it with a reasonable chance of success. My son is up there, so let’s get moving.”

OOC,I was remiss in getting you all to do an inventory before you left, so please do one now – weapons are allowed within reason. It’s reasonable to assume that the party might have bought weapons in pursuit of Ursula. There are a couple of shotguns in evidence among the gentlefolk; most have cudgels, the gypsies are armed with knives.

[Mr. Handy]

"Right, I'm with you," says Alexander. "I've got some rope, but I don't think we have time to go for a climb, and we'd be at a disadvantage to whoever's above. At least the trees will provide cover."

OOC,In addition to my shotgun and extra shells, I'd like to bring my tools, a lantern, and rope.

[Philulhu]

OOC,[b]FitzWilliam[/b] has his revolver and walking stick, which he can use as a club if required.

”Come along then,” snapped Captain FitzWilliam as he set off in the direction of the trees, setting a brisk pace for the others to follow.

[Rooter]

Percy follows. He is unarmed except for his notebook.

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam glanced at his companion. ”They say, Mr Stringer, that the pen is mightier than the sword,” he said. At any other time, Stringer might have assumed it was another put-down, but FitzWilliam sounded genuinely worried.

He passed him the stout walking stick. ”Just in case it turns out to be hogwash, eh?”

[aine]

Isolde carries nothing extra than a small hip flask filled with brandy and an even smaller pair of binoculars given to her by her astronomical father years ago. She is wearing plenty of clothes though and feels rather warm on the pull up the hill.
"I can't believe we may actually see some real pixies; if it wasn't for the children this would be rather quite exciting!" She says in a low voice.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander also can't believe they may actually see some real pixies, though he doesn't say so.

[HoneyDog]

McKenzie stops the sleigh at the edge of the trees and clambers out with Smith. The party heads into the trees.

The oaks are gnarled and stunted, in fact it is a wonder that they can grow at all in the poor soil of the moors. The ground is uneven and strewn with boulders, slowing progress.

The snarling and roaring from the hill above gets steadily louder.

OOC,All roll Spot Hidden.

[Philulhu]

Spot Hidden (25%),[dice]0[/dice]

Captain FitzWilliam wondered if it was time to make an appointment with his optician. His vision certainly wasn’t as sharp as it was in the Natal...

[aine]

Spot hidden,(25) [dice]0[/dice]

Isolde is too busy looking to see what the gypsies and village men are doing to notice anything else.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander sees something.

OOC,Spot Hidden roll (60% skill) going through the trees: [dice]0[/dice]

[Rooter]

Spot,45%[dice]0[/dice]

Percy is also too focused on traversing the uneven ground with the aid of the captain's stick to notice much else.

[HoneyDog]

Alexander,The trees are moving in the wind, but Alexander notices something strange – some of the branches are moving against the wind, and seemingly towards members of the party!

[Mr. Handy]

"That's a bit odd," says Alexander. "The tree branches are moving toward us, but the wind is going the other way. I'd, um, give the trees a wide berth."

[HoneyDog]

As Alexander voices his warning, several branches whip out, targeting the people moving through the trees! They flail wildly, sweeping their limbs with murderous intent.

OOC,Roll Dodge! If successful, you can move to safety, but if unsuccessful they branches connect; roll 1d8 for damage.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander barely manages to get out of the way of the tree branches, having been forewarned.

OOC,Dodge roll (20% base skill) to avoid the tree branches: [dice]0[/dice] Damage: [dice]1[/dice] CON x 5 roll (60% stat) to stay conscious: [dice]2[/dice] Can I please have a bonus to my Dodge roll, as I passed my Spot Hidden roll and saw it coming?

[HoneyDog]

Mr. Handy,Okay, that's fair. +10 for your dodge, so you pass. You should revise your post.

[aine]

Dodge,(20) [dice]0[/dice][dice]1[/dice]

Isolde stumbles over a sudden root and is whipped across the back by a large spiked branch of ash. Luckily her thick clothes protect her from too much damage but she still falls to her knees.
"The druids! This must be their magic or the pixies can control nature! We can't hope to make it through these trees!"