Café de Nuit

"Well if they lead us in a cave or something I can search there for traps and try to disable them. But if we run into an ambush will be much more difficult. We need to keep our eyes open and look around and on the trees as well. I bet these monkey-men are more than capable to climb a tree and they might attack us from there. We should be very careful."

Isidar looks at Sara, “Since you are good at finding traps I suggest that you scout ahead for any traps that these monkey-men may have left for us. Like the geese that fly in the sky, we will follow you spread out in a V. If we stay about 5 or 6 yards apart, we will be able to come to each other’s aid immediately, should an attack occur.” Turning to the professor, Isidar adds, “Of course, Arnulf has volunteered to stay by your side. Therefore, you two can bring up one of the rear flanks.” Looking at everyone, she asks, “Is everyone amenable to that strategy?”

"I don't know. The forest is vast so I cannot search all of it for traps and if we are spread even in a V some of us might trigger one. Only those who come behind me following my steps will be sure that will not get in a trap. Maybe is better just spread and I'll search for traps only when we find something important, like a trail, a cave entrance, a tree house etc. What do you think?"

Alia remains silent during the tactics discussions, looking nervously at the trees, but she will adopt whatever strategy the group decides on

Dalorna cocks her head to the left, and cups a hand to her left ear.

She turns to the others and whispers-

''I heard a scream.''
Supressing a shudder, she returns to her careful observation of the ground ahead of the party. Treading the verge of the forest, she squints at something in the underbrush.

''Sara, have a look at that- it looks like wire.''

The girl points in turn to several spots where bits of twisted wire stick up from the ground cover.

''Traps?''

Sara looks quizzically Dalorna.

"Wire in a forest?"

Getting closer she gets to one knee and looks carefully down.

"Indeed. Is a kind of trap, maybe set an alarm or is here to injure whoever pass. I can cut it if you want so we can pass. But this is a sign that these monkey men are organized and maybe are more traps in the forest."

As Sara goes to take a closer look at one of the pieces of wire she sees that it is just a small piece(4 inches) sticking out of the under brush and not actually connected to any thing . The piece when pulled out of the under brush looks like it might of belonged to a larger something perhaps a net maybe as there are other smaller pieces of wire twisted on to it on closer examination .

"I think we can pass. I think it belongs to an old trap or something. Better stick to Professor plan, not go far away one from the other so we can see and run to help if needed."

Dalorna keeps her thoughts to herself for now-


Annoying! That was my plan- the Professor was merely agreeing with me. Just because I'm a little bit younger than Sara and she's got a huge bust, she thinks I'm a baby- huh? We'll see about that.

The freckle-faced girl puts on look of grim determination.

''Right, let's go save those children.''


Dalorna speaks a few words in a strange language and twirls about her body a little talisman of some dun-colored material. Replacing the talisman, she advances into the woods, her raven on her right shoulder.

Isidar follows Delorna, but skirts around the bits of wire. “That scream has set my blood on fire. We must save the children! Keep your wits about you and your eyes open and let us hurry!”

Arnulf unsheathes his short sword and grips his dagger in the other when he hears the screams. He does notice the wire but has absolutely no clue as to how to disarm a trap.

"Yes, let's hurry! Let's make the monkey men pay for taking the children!"

Alia follows politely nodding at the expressions of enthusiasm. She, however, spends most of her time glancing backwards, especially as we move deeper into the wood along the carefully laid trail.