Ty Returns, Mission Spots Birds, Rennik and Garyth Leave to Investigate
Subject: He's Back! And now in a new 'stay fresh' pouch!
I am back from Texas.
I was in a hotel that charged 9.95 a day for internet access, and I refused to pay it, so I was cut off from the world. Sorry about that.
Ok. I am ready to write up the next turn, but I would like to get one more piece of info first. I would like to know what Cadfael's response to Garyth is.
Oh, and to answer Karl, I would let Farron cast mount and ride it himself, and let his horse carry the corpse. I'm just not sure a magical mount lets other people carry it.
From: Karl
Subject: RE: He's Back! And now in a new 'stay fresh' pouch!
(OOC) I think that's a jab at my grammar choice, but I have re-read it and will defend it to the death - well, I'll defend it with a good hard weasel bite, at least.(/OOC)
From: Ty
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
Mission is the last to walk away from the fallen man. He has been dead only moments, so there is no stiffness or stink, only the perfect stillness that only a dead man can achieve. Mission knows that there is nothing to be feared in death, it is merely another step on the path of blood and stone. The man's blood has cooled, but the earth will accept him into itself again. The earth keeps no account of sins, and all men are treated equally in the end. He nods once, and utters a short prayer, then follows the others.
Cadfael and Garyth walk side by side for a while, Cadfael slapping him on the back several times, and doing his best to look light hearted, but there is a hunted look in the way his eyes dart about when he thinks no one is watching. It is easy to understand, when so much has already happened in so short a time.
The path is so easy to follow, and the ground is so even, that Farron becomes tempted to conjure his magic mount and ride in comfort for a while. When he mentions this out loud, Garyth says, "The terrain is easy for horses here, it's true. But the farther inland we go, the harder travel becomes. I am not sure how far the lady knight thinks she will be able to take that heavy charger of hers."
Rennik nods his agreement. "I've thought the same. If the mountains are indeed their goal, they'll not be able to take those mounts with them." When he sees that Cadfael and Mission are looking at him curiously, he explains further. "The island itself is mostly flat. The only real rise in elevation is there, at the center of the island. And then it rises fast, very fast. Mount Kessel is near two miles high, and steep as a wall most of the way up. She collects a lot of weather around her. In the center of the isle, it rains almost every day, and the forest is more like jungle. My people can move through it well enough, but you larger folk will have a time of it. And I've not met the horse yet that can forge through that growth."
This silences the party for a time, as each man considers the possibility of traveling such unpleasant terrain in the near future. The two wizards, accustomed to warm libraries and well appointed accommodations, look especially unhappy. The others hear Farron mutter to Sa'id about the advisability of a 'magic hut' when that time comes.
Rennik has such an easy time tracking the warhorse, that he begins to move off the path, from side to side, looking for other, older tracks. He sees that this path is relatively recent, but well used. Often he finds tracks off the path that follow it, showing that parties too large to travel the path comfortably had spread out. The tracks themselves are varied in type; some animal hooves, but mostly human feet and boots. An occasional lighter track, like an elf might make, and a disturbing number of smaller Halfling tracks. "A lot of people going east, these days," he mutters under his breath. Garyth, who is standing nearby, nods and keeps his hand on his sword.
Mission has been trailing the party ever since they left the dead man. He walks like a man lost in his thoughts, but his training keeps him alert even when his mind is occupied. Several times he looks off to the north, then finally says, "Master Rennik. Do you see that?" pointing to the north.
Rennik stops. "See what?" In a moment, it becomes clear what Mission is pointing to, when several birds suddenly take off several hundred yards to the north of the party.
"Birds. That's the fourth time I've seen birds take off to the north of us. It is always that same distance away, and seems to be traveling parallel with us. I've watched, and there are birds to the south of us that are much closer, but they do not take off. Could someone be moving along a parallel path?"
"Aye," says Rennik with an irritated look on his face. "And damn my eyes for not seeing it sooner. You are a watchful man, monk. I would say that that is exactly what is happening."
(Turn 3 takes place immediately following this exchange between Rennik and Mission. Please send your reactions along with any conditional responses you wish.)
From: Mike
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
Garyth's eyes narrow as he looks off to the north. "There's only one way to be sure."
He turns to Rennik. "At least one of us needs to get over there and have a look."
(OOC: How much cover is there? If we're in a forest, there should be rather a lot. Garyth will want to see for himself.)
>
> From: "Daniel Bates"
> Subject: Re: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
>
> "But... there's now way that anyone could see us through the trees. They
> can't be trailing us intentionally. Like Brother Rennik said, there are
> many paths that lead east; surely they are simply on another one? The fact
> that they seem to be shadowing us could easily be coincidence."
From: Ty
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
The cover is sparse. A few trees and bushes by this point, now that you are out of farmland. Howevever, the distance from where the birds are taking off means that there is enough of these trees and bushes to obscure the view.
Visibility is about 50 yards on the ground. The location of the (presumed) other group is several hundred yards.
From: Scott
Subject: RE: He's Back! And now in a new 'stay fresh' pouch!
It's good to have you back-- I was in a similar situation.
I love the game, but darned if I'm paying just to play. . .
:)
From: Scott
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
There is much about this party that Mission does not understand-- but why they have forsaken the hunt for monsters that ARE real in exchange for the shadows presented by a rambling, poisoned, apparent enemy is foremost among them.
And so he is quiet as the party makes their way eastward, having seen how little favor his questions garnered earlier in the day. Perhaps the wereboars seek this tower the man spoke of-- evil drawing evil, like to like.
Perhaps Anileth is-- Mission shudders. That is not a thought that bears further thinking. Here is the path, in front of him, hard enough to walk as it is, without adding caltrops to the path of the future.
He is careful when he points out the flights of birds to keep his voice calm, inquisitive-- though he knows, as well as Rennick, what they might mean.
"Maybe it is just another group of people headed. . .eastward." He does not say, 'to the tower,' but that is implied, and what everyone is thinking anyway. "They have been moving parallel to us for some time--if they meant us harm, they would have moved closer by now. Perhaps."
He grins. "I'd like to make sure."
From: Matt
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
Rennick kicks himself for not seeing the birds sooner. Too busy trying to decipher the many trails and pick up on something of the wereboars.
Then to Garyth.
"I should go ahead, but it would be good if you follow. We don't know how many there are, and if either of us reveals our position we'd best have backup."
He glances at Mission.
"I would suggest that the monk comes with us, but I worry about leaving the wizards with only one strong arm to defend them..." He glances disparagingly at the wizards lack of bodily protection.
Rennik slings his axe back upon his back and straps it in with a leather strap, then draws his bow before proceeding off the path toward the place just ahead of where the birds flew from.
(OOC: He'd be using all his powers of stealth and perception... and he'd also take notice of any strange behavior of animals, or animals not indigenous to the region. If we used Farron's ferret as a scout, they may use something else to keep track of us)
From: Raja
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
All right, I'm not home and I won't be home until tomorrow. However, this is not Sa'id's area of expertise; he will defer to the party's decision and follow whatever course Garyth, Rennik, and Mission settle on.
:)
From: Ty
Subject: RE: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3)
I just need Karl to check in.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: First Day: the hunt; on the trail (3) calling Karl
Mission bites his lip as Garyth follows Rennick north, watching as the warrior's polished armor glints in the sun.
"Cadfael," he murmurs. "Could you ask your god to shine a little LESS brightly on Garyth? A blind man underwater could see him coming."
Mission will keep his ears (and eyes) open for an ambush. He will patrol as stealthily as possible, ranging no more than 20 ft. from the farthest magic user-- thus, if there is Archer trouble, he can get quickly to the enemy while Cadfael protects our mages from melee fighters. If there is a melee attack, he is within Tumbling distance to slip between fighters and our mages and lay down an hurting.