So you all know, there is occassionally some of the game that goes on via PMs. For instance, if someone makes a Spot check that the rest of the group fails on, or someone goes off by themselves and encounters something the rest of the group doesn't know about at the time. I leave it up to you what to tell the others in game about what you've seen or encountered.

Just thought you shold know.

Hey assuming the brigands weren't a part of the illusion I seem to remember not killing my previous opponent. He was lying on the floor clutching his acid burned face but obviously in agony and therefore not dead. But also on a note of inquiry as its written:

In the flurry of clashing blades and piercing arrows you (Virif) see Harl and Jocelyn fleeing the caravan into the northern woods, chased by a flurry of arrows that embed themselves into the ground at their heels.

Does this mean that I was the only one to note Jocelyn's fleeing or did everyone except the merchant note it as well?

1) Everyone can here the dwarf's yells. He's a dwarf after all and can be extremely and obnoxiously loud when he wants to be. No effects are affecting the sound.

2) Virif was the only one in a position to notice the fleeing couple other than the merchant. Kyara was off ahead of the group and the other two were worrying about the brigands to the south of the caravan (the couple ran north). The merchant was worried about not dying when faced with a skilled swordsman.

3) I do fully understand the racial abilities of the characters, and hopefully you can trust me to account for them (though I admit I'm not perfect so I don't take offense to the occasional reminder). In the case of Virif, I have taken that into account with the description I sent him.

4) I will try to do any knowledge skill rolls and such as the party encounters things, but if you want more specifics or want to apply a specific knowledge skill to a specific thing, event or situation please let me know in the out of character text. This applies to Spellcraft checks as well.

5) The guards that were at the rear wagon of completely gone. If you want to more thoroughly investigate that spot for any furhter clues or signs, please do so. The wagon itself is still present, with the splinters of the broken wheel still attached to the rear axle.

6) The brigand that got splashed in the face with acid was in negative hit points after the attack. Thus his cries silenced. As of the current post he may or may not be dead as far as the characters know. Regardless his cries of ceased.

Thanks and hopefully you guys are enjoying this thus far.

If you guys all post early, I can give the update early. I only set Tuesday and Saturday as deadlines. And I do understand if real life takes precedence, but if you think you won't be able to post, a quick PM or something would be appreciated. Also, if for whatever reason people don't post, would you guys prefer I make something up for you to do or keep you inactive?

I like the way the game is going right now. Twice a week deadlines, but if life allows us all to get posts in early, what the heck, why not move things along? But there is time allowed if that isn't possible.

As for inactivity - I would prefer not to be left inactive - to stand around slackjawed in the middle of combat, for example. I would say have us do very basic things that seem obvious. In combat - attack and defend. But probably attack whatever is closest. Don't charge the dragon, for example. And limtied use of spells. But logical stuff. It keeps things moving, but still forces/allows us to make all the really critical decisions.

Being flexible is fine with me too Helps to keep the flow of the story fresh. Being me, sooner is better.

Why haven't you posted again on the main thread yet huh? Sheesh...

And I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying the game so far.

I'm going to give you guys some time to discuss the circumstances among yourselves and find out what information others may know, in character or ooc. One you've decided on a course of action, let me know and I'll continue with the updates. At the latest I want to do my update next Saturday, but if everyone is ready to go on before that then great. Likely the discussion will only take a matter of minutes in game time, and I will answer any questions in game that you would be able to find the answers to (with successful skill checks and all) throughout the discussion/discovery. Alright?

At this point Virif isn't sure what to think. I know that no arrows came from the south side and the girl with this dead guard ran deliberately north. Which as I've stated implies a traitor. So are we looking at the traitor being betrayed by the girl or the pick up guy? Is the girl the real traitor being in on the raid from the beginning?

Also we know that our enemy is an illusionist. Which brings up its own set of questions. Is the dead guard real or illusion to throw us off? Who was the illusionist; a member of the guards, the girl, or an attacking brigand? What are we going to do in order to combat the illusions? I can't cast dispel magic yet. How much of what we are seeing and have been seeing is real? Where do we dare draw the line of trusting our senses? How comprehensive are these illusions? Do they affect all six senses or just sight? (I consider intuition a sense) This is what Virif is wondering and if there are any checks that might clear it up I'll certainly make them with the exception of casting a detect magic spell. I'm coming up with a post to voice these concerns.

1) There were arrows coming from both sides of the road. However those coming from the south stopped firing well before the north.

2) The illusions you've seen thus far have effected at least visual and audio senses. No one actually interacted with the other suspected illusions or had any reason to suspect them until after they were dispelled by the caster.

3) The dead guard (Harl) has been extensively interacted with and can be verified to be real and not iillusory.

4) No one in the group has had particular experience with illusions before, but your Knowledge Arcana can tell you that whomever is casting them is very skilled as they are relatively complex in nature and would likely require significant focus to maintain.

5) The illusion that encompassed you when you ran into the woods dulled the light as well as created the shadows, it also muffled the sounds so it was difficult to discern normal noise and the location of even your friend's voice.

Well, I assume it is fair to say we looked up the tree (cautiously) before moving on. After all, at least two people noted the need for results to tracking in their posts. Did we see anything?

I'm thinking out loud here - we know:
1. The dark elf in the tree was the caster - any ability to say if the timing of the arrow and the disappearance of the illusion go together?
2. Dark elves in the attack
3. The target was the girl
4. The girl went willingly - maybe knowing what was going on, maybe running with her protector
5. Harl was in on it
6. Probably some other guards were in on it as well - the illusion. Also, no other guards are here now, right? bodies or alive?

We should do:
1. Heal - I assume we'd like that before moving much further.
2. Search the bodies for clues
3. As the merchant what he knows about illusionists and dark elves. Also, why would someone want his daughter?
4. Decide if we abandon the wagons to search for the girl.
5. Assuming we go after the girl - how well and where can we hide the wagons. This is probably left to the merchant - More time = better chance to save his investment but also lower chance to find the girl. Let Dad decide.

Assuming we go after the girl -
1. Which way do we go? (Dependent on tree, body search and merchants info?)
2. Does the merchant come with us? Does he even want to? If not, what does he do?

Finally, what time of day is it? Speaking of which, in this world, how muh of a difference is there between day and night?

Comments anyone?

Well a note on the wheel. I noticed that the first post stated three guards unpacked the wheel. Where are the other two now that we know the change was fake? Steelight points out that they were supposedly felled but have disappeared. Does that mean they too were illusionary or were the arrows that felled them illusion? If they were illusionary then we're dealing with phantasms. Also are we a hundred percent certain the target was the girl? Could it have been something in the merchant's possession and the girl will be used as blackmail. Or perhaps the girl is a part of the ploy. I still haven't ruled out that she's the villain.

As for back at camp definitely heal and search the bodies. Based on the description Steelight's using I'm assuming we've never encountered drow before. Definitely brief the merchant and let him make the call as to our next move. That player sense that tells me when the next player character is about to get picked off. The one that keeps me alive with killer DM's is telling me that we NEED to keep an eye on the merchant, and don't trust in the innocence of the girl. So what ever the merchant says I'm taking him along.

The only strange thing that tracking showed was the pair of footprints near one of the trees. Beyond that and the shuffle of footprints leading to the scene nothing notable.

By looking to the trees you (Heironymus) do notice a few small broken branches about 10' up.

There is a difference between day and night. Generally speaking, the white moon is only up during the "day" thus there will be even less light available. Also, the red moon is on a monthly cycle, you are about 1 week into the month, which means the red moon (which lycanthropes are attuned to) will start rising any day now and stay in the sky for about 2 weeks.

Current time is late afternoon.

A search of the brigands (which are the bodies I am assuming you are referring to)shows little. The only thing of significance that you find on them (other than a total of about 18 gold pieces) is a symbol on the breast of each set of armor. It seems the same effect that disguised them as humans also masked this symbol. It is not a symbol any of you (the characters) recognize.

Also Ion, be aware that should you force the merchant to travel with you against his will you risk being charged with kidnapping should you return to any of the cities that may get wind of it (particularly if he tells them he was kidnapped). Not that the merchant's directions are necessarily going to lead to that, but just a friendly warning.

I think I answered everything. Let me know if I missed something.

One other thing to keep in mind. The Drow are not the only dark-skinned elves in my world. There are also the Valshari. They are drow descended (basically) elves that have been beyond the radiations of underdark for generations. They are relatively common to the west. Those who have been taught be people who might be familiar with Illuria would have been told that Valshari (among a large number of other races) are rather prominent in that area. Those that have no reason to be familiar with the Illurian Empire, may or may not have ever even heard of them.

And yes, Drow do exist as well.

Were the tors of the tracks pointed towards the tree oe away.