Late afternoon, going near nightfall, the adventurers began searching for an area to set camp. Some of the horses began getting odd, ears turning, listening to various noises, some shuffling nervously. All of a sudden, Talthan stopped short and looked strangely into the woods ahead. Kothas motioned for the group to stop. Kethas dismounted and stood next to a tree so that he was hidden from view, if not on all sides at least the side that the noise was coming from. He knew that the warriors had chosen the more dangerous of the two paths since they were certain that their abilities would be up to the task. Kethas wasn't as certain. As he cowered against the tree he reached into his satchel and drew forth a piece of cloth which he passed through the air about him. He closed his eyes for just a moment and when they opened he smiled as two more guards stepped from the trees, their boots crunching the soft soil beneath them. Kethas straightened somewhat as they took up a position to either side of him. Feeling that this path was already turning sour, Da Ghiri scanned the woods ahead, waiting for some movement from the forest or more information from the scouts. He reviewed the rituals for the Hold Person spell in his mind in case a fight broke out. Noticing the nervousness of the mounts, Jardel grabbed his shiny shield from the side of the horse and armed it. With his left hand he drew his simple long sword. Edging Aistlin ahead slowly sideways, he moved up closer to the dense woods, trying to use his shield for immediate cover. Concentrating, he detected the presence of evil within the near range of the woods. Sensing trouble his natural leadership skills took over and he shouted orders. "Be careful and keep to the side of the river. These dense woods are a perfect cover, so watch out and take cover from missiles. We should use our advantage by staying on horseback, at least for those of us proficient in riding." Caladan looked around, while he readied his bow. "Watch out all, something isn't right here." Drawing his sword and readying his shield, Humus prepared for the unknown. While looking all around to make sure that an ambush was not in progress, he edged Valor closer to the trees for cover. He then silently motioned for the guards to position themselves closer to Da Ghiri and Kethas reasoning that they might need a little more protection if they were in the middle of casting a spell and an enemy wanted to get up close and personal all of a sudden. He then took to scanning the area all around - making sure to look to see what Talthan was doing every few seconds. Jardel finally rode up close to the scout Talthan. Pointing his sword towards the trees he warned Talthan of the immediate danger. "Talthan, beware. My senses warn me that a good deal of evil is ahead in the dense forrest !" He directed his loud voice at the unknown force "You there, hiding in the trees, come out and show yourself in the name of King Edmund."
Caladan probed forward ahead yet sat steady in his saddle, so that he had a well aimed shot at any one appearing from the trees. As Jardel yelled, Caladan muttered to himself "Great, there goes our surprise" He knocked a flight arrow to his bow and kept it ready for firing. Kethas turned slowly to face the said trees as he motioned one of his guards forward to investigate. Reaching up he slowly grasped the reins of his horse and walked back into the road while the second guard followed him. As the first guard walked forward to investigate the ringing sound of his mail echoed through the trees. Sighing in resignation Humus moved Valor back to the road, "We are committed now." He turned to the others nearby, "I don't like this. I'd be much more comfortable knowing who or what this enemy is before committing totally. I think that we should stagger our forces to make sure that we are not surrounded. These woods make me a little bit uneasy - especially with something hiding in them up ahead. We don't know that there isn't anything moving around on our flanks right now. Kothas, why don't I take three of our guards and go ahead a couple hundred feet and see what we are up against and cover the backs of the those that have ridden on ahead. Da Ghiri why don't you join us." Da Ghiri nodded and moved to join Kothas and the three guards.
Kothas stared at the woods ahead and barely nodded, pointing to the first three guards to ride forward, "Be careful," he whispered, "I don’t know what could be in these woods. Kethas, Culdat, Kothas, and the rest of you guards, why don't you remain here to cover our backs. I seriously doubt that the enemy would have enough forces to spread themselves out that much. "The horses are in good shape since we didn't press them too hard. Any of them should be able make it to any of the fighting in practically no time should the need arise." Culdat slid to the back of the group to the right of the guard at the rear, attempting to decipher what was going on. Talthan stared into the woods for several minutes trying to dicern what is ahead. He quickly came to a conclusion and spurred his horse back towards Jardel and Caladan. He murmurred in a low voice "We have some company. About 20 humanoids are up ahead probably in some heavy armor. I'm guessing that it could be some dark elves. If they don’t know that they have been spotted we could attack and take them by surprise. The only other alternative is to secure a defensive position but that could leave us unprepared if they have reinforcements with them. I’ll go warn the others." Humus, Da Ghiri, and three of the guards moved up the road a bit, reducing the distance from them to the scouting trio, still quite some distance away. Talthan quickly closed the distance between to the party and warned them of the danger ahead. After hearing Jardel challenge them though, the element of any suprise was lost. From the shadowy wood and into the daylight two small dark figures emerged wearing black chainmail armor tightly over their black skin. Long white hair cascaded down their slender shoulders, true dark elves these were. One, a female, apparantly was in charge. The other was a male and both stood with confidence before Jardel and Caladan with the adventuring group appearing from a distance. The female spoke first, "You humansss, and half-humansss," spitting the words in hatred "are not welcome here. If you wish to survive this meeting with usss, you will have to forfeit all of your weaponsss and money and we will allow you to go back unharmed. Otherwissse ... we will kill every one of you and take the itemsss in question anyway." Both elves stood there smiling, white teeth showing brilliantly against their dark skin.
Kethas stepped behind the guard and to the center of the road so that he was behind someone from every direction. His brow creased in thought as he tried to remember what he had learned of the Dark Elves in the past. Sadly enough, he realized, he knew very little other than that they were outcasts from the general elven population. Keeping the two guards present in his mind he imagined that he could hear a column of troops moving up from behind them, possibly just out of sight. Clouds of dust and and the faint glimmer of light on mail flashed from the distance as well as the army they were scouting for approached. Jardel looked at the two dark elves - pointing at them with his drawn long sword "Well - well - well, dark elves. Now shouldn't you be somewhere else right now ? What noble gesture to let us live, should we follow your decrees. Something your race is certainly not known for. Unfortunately I cannot comply with your ultimatum. It seems you are mistaken who you percieve standing in front of you. We are the company of the Seven. Should our reputation not have reached the depths of the underworld, we'll have to show you and your minions hiding in the darkness behind you, what law and order really means in this kingdom." He maneuvred Aistlin sideways, using his shiny shield to reflect the sunlight directly upon the two dark elves standing there, trying to blind them partially, whilst conversing with them. Noticing himself being there by himself, possibly facing a score or more of dark elves, he nudged Aistlin backwards and turned then into a full gallop to reach the party, thinking it better to make a defensive stand than outright attack. Hearing the drows speech from the distance, Humus became enraged at the mention of surrendering. He snorted and uttered to himself, "Fat chance." His thoughts turned to the 20 or so drow approaching Jardel and Caladan. "They can't possibly hold out against so many for very long." Digging his spurs into Valor's flanks Humus shouted, "Hurry ! We must get up there to help them. Kothas, hold back some to make sure we are not surrounded." As Valor came to a full gallop, Humus yelled "I'm on the leader !"
Noticing that the distance between Jardel and himself was closing quickly and that Jardel was galloping towards him, Humus slowed Valors gallop to a trot, and then to a full stop at the half-way point. As Jardel approached, Humus grinned and spoke with mirth in his voice, "Jardel, it looks like you are going in the wrong direction. The enemy is behind you. You should have known that we wouldn't have let one of our own face the hoards alone." Then he turned serious, "Let us make our stand here. We should be able to hold out until the others arrive. They should get here shortly." Talthan focused a fierce glare on the female drow and yelled from still a distance. "Becaues I’m in a good mood I'm going to give you the oppertunity to leave now. If you don't I shall put each of you to my swords" and with that he drew both of his blades, long and short and prepared for a fight which he estimated was to start shortly. Seeing that they were not likely to get out of this without a fight, Da Ghiri spurred his horse in order to position himself just behind the warriors on the road up ahead. Before the battle began, the little priest produced a prayer wheel which he spun, turning it towards each of his comrades as he chanted. Kethas stepped a little more towards the group, so that view of him was blocked from every direction. The illusionary guard followed him and quickly faded as he neared the center of the group. Within moments, pounding hooves and the clanging of mail and weapons banging on metal could be heard from behind the group. Realizing they might now be outnumbered and seeing Humus charging her at full gallop, the female drow shouted, "You will have it your way this time scum, but we will meet again !" She stopped her retreat for a moment, and turned to meet Humus, "Something to remember me by my darling," smiling she held a palm full of small pointed objects and blew them at Humus as if blowing him a kiss. Valor stopped his gallop as fast as he started it and whinnied loudly. Humus was nearly thrown to the ground from the sudden stop. Blood could clearly be seen around Valors hooves. Upon closer examination the roots within the road were bent up from some magical force to create hundreds of little spikes, injuring poor Valor, and nearly injuring Humus. The Drow laughed as they beat a hasty retreat into the woods, silent in their escape as they were in their waiting. Kothas moved his men up towards the main group, "We were lucky my friends, drow are known for their poisonous crossbow quarrels and darts. They are supposed to render you unconscious after which the drow elves do anything they like to you. Besides, I was about to warn you that a group of them was moving to outflank us, but they have moved on." Then adding as he looked upon Valor, "They are also known for their cruel magick's" he spat. The sun was getting low as the night prepared to overcome the day. Soon, rest was needed for the horses, and possibly camp, unless the adventurers wanted to ride on through the night...
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