Erelis leaned forward after a few seconds and replied " Maybe I spoke too soon, but there is indeed something that brings my attention to the northern forest...a group of characters I cannot interpret."

Nanith�s joyful expression quickly changed to one of concern. " We should move out of view." he said sharply; his head already darting for an appropriate place.

Aramil glanced back towards the trio and motioned for them to stay still and silent. His gaze upon his familiar making it clear that some knowledge has passed between them and he was ill-at-ease. Erelis convinced the ranger and rogue that they should see what was bothering the wizard and he walked over to the bridge.

Nanith piped up as he tagged behind the psionic " We should avoid confrontation at all costs!"
Erelis stepped upon the rope bridge and watched as the mage moved over to wait for them at its head. " Yes we should, but we must know what we are facing first." With that, he grabbed the thin handrails of the suspension and moved forward to see what the elf had to say.

The magician remained motionless except for an extended flat hand that warned Nanith not to follow Erelis's lead. Just as the rogue backed off the bridge, the right suspension cables snapped!! The whiplash of both released wire tension cracked the rockfacings on both sides of the gorge sending a spray of stone chips everywhere. Erelis stumbled on the walkboards and lurched at anything that could support himself and avoid a nasty plunge below! He caught onto the ends of the footplanks and dangled precariously over the wide chasm.

Teflar backed away instinctively as he tried to assess the situation. Aramil looked around with hopeless twists of his head while the psion swung like a pendulum above the stark canyon. Nanith rummaged frantically through his belongings with blurry hands and quickly pulled out a grappling hook and rope. Anchoring it securely on the bridge support poles, the hobbit ordered " Tie this around your waist! The rope will hold you if you should fall!" As the rogue tried to aim his throw over to Erelis, shapes stepped from the northern trees; five in all.

Throw after throw of the lariat missed its mark, but one couldn't blame the poor hobbit; a moving target was entirely impossible under this much duress. Meadows groaned with exertion as he clung to the knotted planks; half his body swung freely under the bridge.

The strange beings melded out of the trees and Aramil turned to face them alone. His face was passive despite not knowing if this was his last stand. His arms were held high and he waited for them to first speak before he would respond. When under the bright sun, what he saw was most startling. Three beautiful maidenlike creatures with light, green hair and tanned skin sauntered out and stared at the atrocity behind the mage through sparkling, emerald eyes. It was clear Erelis didn't have long to hold on before he would plummet into the gorge and it seemed to these wood creatures that they cared less.