-----They then continue to push on through the brush and soon pesky small insects begin to bite, adding to the frustration of the journey.
-----Dilton keeps up his stride in the back of the line. He frequently turns from side to side and looks over his shoulder for unexpected trouble.
-----Suddenly, Garrison yells out in warning! Just then a half dozen spears fly across the adventurers’ path. Garrison dodges two of the small missiles while Sol avoids the two that fly past, almost with amusement. One sails high over Lovan’s head while a last one whizzes a bit closer to his helm. This last one proves to produce an interesting result. The spear sails into the brush to the left of the storm priest and a small cruel angry voice cries out in pain.
-----In the next moment, a scurrying is heard in the brush on both sides of the uninjured party.
-----Sol could not deceive himself into believing he wasn't glad for the first move to have been made. Still, the group was strewn out in a line with attackers on both sides. There was also an unknown quantity with the party, as he considered his companions, and it was with that thought in mind that he decided to start defensively. Stepping off the path, the steel-wrapped Gorian crashed through the undergrowth to take up a position just off to the side of Jeilin, and to Garrison he gestured to do the same with the other side.
-----There he wrenched his blade out of its scabbard and tried to locate the closest goblinoid he could direct his personal attention to.
-----A small gasp is heard from Jeilin as the spears suddenly fly past. Taking a few steps back, she falls to one knee to make herself small and steadies her aim with her crossbow. She looks anxiously from side to side, as well as behind her, for the next movement to present itself as a target to shoot at.
-----Garrison moves suddenly to flank Jeilin. The woodsman hefts his axe as he steadies his stance. He then turns his head to listen to the sounds of movement within the thicket and a pained frown holds his features.
-----“Damn!” he says as he quickly glances at Sol, “they aren’t rushing us. They’re trying to run off.”
-----Sol tries to get a look at the retreating forms, but gives up and calls back to Garrison, "Well, I am not playing that game. Keep on leading us t'th' ruins, an' we'll pay 'em a visit at home." Once he's convinced there are no goblins close by, Sol carefully makes his way back to his position on the path, taking care passing through the brambles.
-----"The vines, maybe they were for slowing something down coming this way," Jeilin comments as she pads along, sparing a glance now and then behind her.
-----And so, they trudged on, making their way through the tangled field. For the better part of an hour they walked and did not meet any resistance, although the occasional sound from the brush gave them reason to pause.
-----Whenever anyone in the party looked back, they saw Dilton bringing up the rear. As soon as he was conscious of someone looking toward him, he beamed a bright smile toward them.
-----Soon Garrison swept away a thin wall of briars in front of them with his axe. He paused as there before them lay the ascending slope of the hill north of the field. The hill was covered with short grass and just a few yards up its slope stood what appeared to be an abandoned guard post. The rotting wood of the small structure stood out like a decaying tooth. Just above it at the crown of the hill were the shadows of more vacant buildings.
-----After a few moments of making sure there was no ambush, Garrison crept out examining the ground that led up the hill. After just going a short distance, the woodsman returned and reported, “They’re here. I see signs of their passing up the hill.”
-----Shortly after surveying what lay ahead, Sol removes his helm and wipes a brow lightly tinged with sweat. Quickly replacing it, he says to the group in low tones, "Garrison an' I are going t'make our way t'th guard post first. Once we reach it, th' rest o' ye begin t'follow. Once we've secured th' area, we'll do th' same wi' what lies uphill." Nodding to the woodsman to head out with him, the warrior begins to head towards the first ruined position.
-----"Mmm," Jeilin nods as she looks a bit distractedly this way and that. "Secure them. Yes." Brushing back her grey hair, she breathes out and again scans the skies above, before finally appearing ready for the confrontation ahead.
-----The rest of the party hangs back just in front of the brambles as Sol and Garrison carefully make their way up the incline. The woodsman keeps as low as he can while his eyes seem to constantly shift from the ground in front of him to the neglected guard post above them and back. The battle axe stays in his right hand, ready for the least sign of trouble.
-----Soon, Sol and Garrison find the way easier if they move back and forth along the incline as they climb. Perhaps the people who once lived here somehow positioned the guard post here on purpose taking advantage of the small steep climb to slow invaders into their village. It really seemed like the perfect place for defense . . . or an ambush.