The Border
Subject Camp
Bel goes off by himself to look for firewood. After gathering several armfuls, he sits at the fire and begins checking his bow and arrows for flaws ...without finding any.
He then begins sharpening his sword and dagger.
From: Karl
Subject Harp and Salix
Salix considers this. Indeed, he would hope they didn't encounter any Orcs on this trip. But if they did there would likely be battle anyway and it would be good to have the extra strength on their side. Still, he wonders what kind of negative effect giving in to that kind of rage would have on Harp's progress towards patience and control. Best they not find out.
"Sort of an unkind name," Salix muses on hearing Harp's name for his horse.
"Still, we name things as we see them I suppose." After a moment he adds,
"It is good to have you in the group, Harp. I can see that I have much to learn from you."
From: Karl
Subject Camp
Before bedding down, Salix will ask Noctis to keep an eye on the camp as well and to wake him if he sees anything threatening. Since Noctis has spent most of the day sleeping on the pommel of his saddle, he should be rested enough to patrol most of the night. During Salix's watch, he will send Noctis out to circle the perimeter of the camp, watching for trouble.
From: Kevin
Subject Camp
Harp makes his way around the camp, stopping to talk to those who will be keeping watch. He lets them know which shift they have, who they replace and who will replace them.
After eating dinner, he will survey around the camp to make sure that the animals are correctly hobbled and the camp is correctly set up for the evening. He will join in any conversation around the fire but will also prepare himself for the first watch.
From: Ami
Subject Around the campfire
"No wonder they were so easy to catch," says Cai, raising an eyebrow at Surin, "And fat too."
"If I underestimated your needs, Harp, I apologize. I've never before had the honor of cooking for your kind. Next time I'll hunt more. But I'll think you'll find the meal an improvement over the rations in your supplies, especially with the roots cooking in the pot there."
Soon, Ran comes to sit next to her and compliment her on the catch on her tracking skills.
"Thank you," she says. "I'm sure I'll continue to be successful if Surin has befriended all the creatures of the wood."
"You've taken this company in hand well, Ran. It will be good for us to have a leader such as you. But I'm curious. How did you come to know Quarion?"
From: Randy
Subject Around the Campfire
Ran blushes slightly at the compliments on his leadership.
"This company has given no sign of being difficult at all. We have faced no troubles yet, so don't be praising me too highly before I am tested." A slight chuckle escapes from Ran and this is the first time he has shown any level of relaxation since joining the group.
"I wouldn't say that I really know Quarion. I am pretty sure I saw him around when I was growing up here but I don't really know a lot about him. I am very good friends with Heronin though, so if he trusts Quarion then I am sure I can as well. How about you? How did Quarion become your mentor?"
Ran feels some relief at being able to make small talk and to get to know at least one of his companions a little better.
From: Mark
Subject Camp and moving on
The group sets up camp with a surprising lack of problems. Each person seems to take to their assigned tasks without much complaint. Salix and Harp return from the woods with a large supply of firewood, mainly carried by Harp. Cai-Ril returns from her hunting trip with several rabbits that she starts to prepare for stewing. Surin has the tents set up properly in short order, his days as a carny showing. There is some good natured joshing between Surin and Cai about the origins of the rabbits and how hard they might have been to catch. Harp looks at the pot of stew and wonders what he others are going to eat. Most of the birds have been out to feed, but Noctis is just waking up. Salix has to take some time talking and murmuring to the bird before he flys off near sunset. Surin asks Salix??What did you say to Noctis??? Salix replied ??Not much, he was grumpy from having to sleep on the saddle all day. I told him he could go hunt before it got too dark.??
The party members eat their dinner, with only Harp thinking that he could have used another helping or two. As night starts to fall, Harp lets them know what the watch schedule is. The others nod in agreement. Ran then talks to the group. ??Tomorrow we will need to be on the road fairly early. We still have a long way to go and I would like to put as much distance behind us as we can while the weather holds. I figure we can make 8 leagues a day with out too much problem while we are on the main road. We leave at two hours after sunup.?? With that he goes to his tent to sleep. The rest of the party, with the exception of Harp, who has first watch, head off to sleep as well.
The night passes uneventfully. At just before dawn the camp starts to rouse itself. A breakfast of gruel is made and quickly cleaned up. Salix gives a few pointers on the proper way to leave a camp so that it will have little effect on the surrounding area. Easily on schedule, the group sets off.
The next several days are almost boring. The rain on the third day was the only excitement to speak of. The country became a bit wilder, with signs of people becoming fewer and fewer. There were still the occasional town and farmsteads, even the odd garrison in some of the larger towns. However the party was slowly approaching the mountains to the west. The road curved a bit north of west. On the seventh day, around noon, the party finally reaches a fairly large garrison, housed in a stone keep. A small cadre of soldiers on horses comes out to meet them. The five men on horses approach and halt about 10 yards away. They do not look hostile, but they do look wary. The leader shouts at them ??Hail, who you be and what is you purpose???
OODM. If any of you want to fill in Role playing for the trip you can, but I know that some of you are eager to kill something. Warning, these 5 are not for killing. ?? The first encounter should happen mid next week, if all goes as planned. Your group has been able to hunt and buy supplies along the way so most of your rations have been left untouched.
From: Randy
Subject The border
"We are representatives of Knight Captain Heronin Angelwing of Gorn."
Ran leaves it at that, choosing to give only as much information as necessary before he knows who he is dealing with.
From: Kevin
Subject The border
If Harp recognizes these soldiers as members of his order, he will remain where he is. If not, he will scan the surrounding area for a potential ambush or attack from the flanks. He does not expect that to happen, but his military training requires this dilligence.
From: Mark
Subject The border
These are not members of your order. The Order of the Silver Sword is an elite group of Paladins. This would be regular army, and with this post, probably not the highest of quality.
They look like regular border guards.
From: Kevin
Subject The border
Harp, familiar with how his presence is normally taken, will stay at the rear of the group, but will keep a watchfull "overlook" (given his size) to the sides and rear of their location.
From: Rob
Subject The border
Bel looks around, and maintains contact with Ebon. Both are on the look out, Bel near the rear of the party with Fal (probably) and Harp.
Bel scans the wood behind them and to the sides of them looking for an ambush, while Ebon looks ahead and behind at the road, looking for any other people.