Rennik Tells His Story, Deciding the Watch Order
Subject: Re: Group Questions
Rennik may not care if the spellcasters get enough sleep, but the fact is, Farron and Sa'id have been pretty much exempt from the watch during this trip so they could get the sleep they need. Unfortunately, what with swamp dragons and flying witches, that plan hasn't always worked.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Mission feels like for the first time in months, he can finally stand up straight. As they make camp, he stretches his long arms, his long legs, his lower back, his shoulders. . . every one of his muscles thanks him. No more skulking in the shadows of the jungle.
He grins to himself. No, now they could skulk in the open plains.
The moment is too much for him. Days in shadow, in Shadow and Sand, now to feel the full sun! Mission removes his shirt to feel the touch of the afternoon light on his tatoos. No wonder Cadfael worshipped a sun god. Here, among all this warmth, Mission could see how someone could devote his life to the god that supposedly provided it.
Promise is quiet and still. As ever. Calmness and peace. Mission digs a finger into the boy's ribs and is rewarded with a little smile. Not much of one. But something. "You take after your grandfather. My father," Mission says. He'd never known Penance's parents-- Penance had been old when she became Anileth. Her mother and father were dead.
Blue eyes, just barely able to focus on Mission's mouth. Did the words mean anything to Promise? Did the Kaishin-child inherently understand more than normal children? Mission settles himself down to feed and clean Promise. What was normal? He'd ask Garyth. Garyth had mentioned he had lots of brothers and sisters, hadn't he?
But by the time he is done with Promise, his mood has slipped on to matters of survival. Melani had said they'd cross the road to Overlook late tomorrow. It had taken them one day to march from Overlook to the halfling's camp just inside the forest; another to get to Gully's Outpost; another to get to the tower in the woods; yet another to get to the tunnel; and still another to get to Mount Kessel. Five days? That was all? Mission rubs his eyes. Surely he was forgetting a month or two somewhere. At any rate, all that travelling had been done on a road. A road that their enemies would surely utilize.
What if the army was just sitting there on the road to Overlook, waiting for them? How could seven people and a small baby and a wolf possibly get by them?
Did Kor Garesh's army need to sleep? Who was to say that they wouldn't march all night? Mission doubts that the undead needed to sleep, but their handlers would. Would they stop in the jungle to camp, like a regular army might, or would they just keep marching?
This time, he couldn't keep his anxiouness to himself. He hefts Promise into his arms, and approaches the others. "Nukaru said that his scouts had reported Kor Garesh's army just this morning. I don't think they could have made it out of the jungle by now-- it took us a full two days, and we move pretty quickly. But the undead don't need to sleep. They could march all night, and the full force of the army could be on the road to Overlook at the same time that we get there tomorrow evening."
Mission bites his lip. "I think we should shorten our camp time. Instead of three watches of four hours each, we should just take two, and leave camp as soon as Melani can see well enough to guide us. I will take one of the watches." He trails off, waiting for their response.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
IC:
Melani looks at the monk questioningly. "Two watches, 4 hours each, Rennik or I on either watch? I would watch with the guardsman."
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Mission shrugs. "Frankly, we've just been having one person on watch, and we've never been suprised yet. I don't see the need for more than one of us to stand around awake."
He gestures placidly with his palms open, "But I've been a fool before."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
IC: "Have you been chased by witches and undead before? An army of darkness at your heels?
What ever your leader decides."
Melani stalks off.
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Mission grins. "Constantly."
OOC: Mark-- make sure that when you 'Reply all,' you edit the TO: field to just be the [mailing list] address.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
[Mission grins. "Constantly."]
Ha!
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; Open sky
Rennik listens to Melani's tale with a grim look upon his face. He had been long from home. How many of his kin had been taken in that way? His cousins? His oath brothers?
"I did not know of these horrors. I fear for my own people, for I have not returned to my tribe in many, many moons."
"I had been betrothed the daughter of our Belneth, a vision of Mielikki herself. My cousins and oath brothers attended the binding ceremony, bringing gifts of rich hides and H'ruggda quills. During the ceremony, a devilboar struck from the woods into the heart of the gathering. We ran for weapons, but..."
He swallows, not wishing to relive the pain.
"She was tossed like a child's doll and fell like a dead branch. I will never forget the sound she made as she hit the earth. But the devilboar merely turned on its next victim, crushing her under its hoof as it bit my closest friend."
"She was not yet in the ground when the madness took him and he killed those tending his wounds and fled into the forest."
He tightens his jaw and swallows again, fighting to keep his voice steady.
"He is dead now, his soul released from the boar's curse by my own axe, but the devil that spawned him still stialks these woods, in the service of those that pursue us. Perhaps Mielikki will grant my wish of vengeance, but for now I have other duties."
Discussion cut short by the need to sleep and establish watch order, Rennik listens to the suggestions of the others. Mission was right that they should shorten watch and press on as quickly as possible, and Melani had a point about paired watches. Garyth had seen the witch by pure luck, but had missed the ambush creeping up around them. An extra set of eyes could go a long way.
At Mission's final comment, Rennik can't help but grin.
"You forget those times when the army of darkness was before us.. and when it was on all sides. But, yes, mostly it has been on our heels these past nights."
After a chuckle, he steadies his voice again.
"But the Reth'tenn is wise in her suggestion, Friend Mission. We are one more now, and have an extra pair of trained eyes and ears. If there is any chance that your son draws our enemies toward us, the more eyes the better."
"We shall camp under the trees of the forest rim to be out of sight from above and from across open field, and either Reth'tenn Melani or I will will keep treetop watch with bow ready in case the devilspawn witch shows herself." And after a pause, "she has much to answer for..."