A Quiet Night and Day, New Island Map
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Mission nods at Rennick, and begins spreading out his bedroll. He will take the last watch with whomever else wants to watch with him.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
IC: Melani's gruff stance softens a bit as she listens to Rennik's story. Here was someone she could understand. These humans were strange in their ways. While Rennik worshipped some elven god, he was still basically the same as she. She quietly asks him, in Halfling "Do you trust these humans? You have been with them for a while it seems. Can they be counted on?"
Mark
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Garyth feels like he's been on the road forever, certainly much longer than a few days. There's a certain bond, an understanding that forms between men who have faced death together. And so Garyth doesn't feel compelled to fill the night with conversation; anything he might say he knows that his companions will already understand. He simply nods at Rennik's suggestion and offers to take the first watch.
From: Mark
Subject: timeline
Just curious, how long has this group been on the road, game time? I mean for the characters, how long ago did they meet in Overlook?
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: timeline
A couple of weeks, I think. But in our defence, they've been a pretty crazy couple of weeks.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: timeline
I think it's less than that, Twinky.
We got to the mountain in 5-6 game days; spent one day inside the mountain, two days getting out, and here we are.
9-10 Days! Wow! We've been at this a year + now. . .
There has been a LOT of character developement in 9 days. Mission has gone from being extremely uncomfortable around magic to requesting its use on Promise's behalf.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Melani will take first watch with the guardsman.
Mark
From: Dan
Subject: Re: timeline
I hear you. It's hard to slow down how quickly your character changes when days for him is a year for you. I've given up trying :p
From: Raja
Subject: Re: timeline
To be fair, times of great stress can be life-changing in the real world, too. Adding murderous would-be gods to the real world would probably result in lots of people's lives changing... oh, wait, sorry there Dubya, didn't mean to give the game away. ;)
From: Karl
Subject: Re: timeline
From: Ty
Subject: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
The night passes uneventfully.
Garyth and Melani sit the first watch, though Melani spends it hidden high up in one of the trees as the forest edge. Garyth had hoped to have a minute or two to talk to the halfling, get to know her better. She acted so much like Rennik had at first, but now Garyth felt like he and Rennik were almost friends. He hoped Melani would make that transition as well, but it would be harder if she distanced herself from them.
Melani, for her part, keeps a watchful eye on the sky above the camp. No witches appear, leaving her somewhat disappointed. Using her beloved brother's bow to riddle a hellspawn spellweaver with arrows would be very satisfying. She had shot several of the Murrkat during yesterday's ambush, but rather than appease her anger and thirst for blood, it had only whetted it.
Mission has trouble sleeping, so close to his goal. It is possible that in two days, he may be boarding a ship for home. Back to Bannock's Ire, and with his son in his arms. What will it be like to place his son on the mossground? What had his father felt? What would Rigor say when he saw the boy? When he discovered that his grandson was Kaishin, that his line had produced the next speaker for the path? Suddenly, he wants that moment more than any other in his life. He wants to lay his son on the mossground, and see his father's face. Each moment between this one and that is an intolerable eternity. Then Promise, lying on his father's chest, sighs quietly in his sleep. Mission is able to relax. This moment has its own sweetness too.
A few hours pass, and Mission and Rennik take their turn at watch, with Rennik replacing Melani in the tree. Their watch too passes quietly. At dawn, Cadfael arises and begins his prayers. There is something comforting in seeing the priest return to his gentle routine. It seems to say that the madness of the last ten days is behind. Even if it is only an illusion, it is a pleasant one. Sa'id, too, rises with the priest, and follows Cadfael's direction in giving his thanks to Pelor for his life. For Rennik, that is a less heartening scene. It is the natural order of things that people die and return to the cycle. It seems that gods who raise the fallen are violating the laws that they themselves set in place. It is difficult to understand.
After a quick meal, the group moves out, again following Melani's expert lead. Swift progress is made along the forest rim, and by the time the sun has begun to set, the forest edge is moving off to the north. Melani climbs a small hill, and calls Rennik up to her. "Look down there. Do you see? The man road." A few miles away, and down the gentle slope toward the coast, Rennik can see the north-south inland road that joins the human towns of Kantuk and Landfall. He can also see the junction with the westward road to Nesalin. Melani has led them to exactly the right spot for a rapid march into Nesalin. They would be able to stay on the road the entire way, and not come closer than 20 or 30 miles of Overlook. Rennik nods, "Well done, Reth'tenn. Well done."
But he also knows this is the most dangerous night. They are in exactly the place the undead army would exit the woods if they were marching on Overlook. It will be important to find a good hiding spot for the night, and their watches must be extra diligent. He doesn't think the army could march through the jungle and dense forest as quickly as his group traveled through the plains, but they may have sent faster moving scouts ahead. Best to be careful.
[waiting for checkin or convo or whatever.]
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Great map. Thanks for adding the locations of where we are and have been.
Mark