Garyth Ready to Go; Rennik's Approval
Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind
Garyth's eyes widen momentarily, a little shocked at Munch's intensity. But he recovers quickly and grips the soldier's arm in return. He nods approvingly. "You men do me honor. I'll not forget this," he says.
With that, he dismisses the men to get their mounts and gear.
OOC: Unless anyone else has something, I'm ready to go.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind
When the men have dispersed, Rennik approaches Garyth and takes him by the forearm firmly.
"You make a good chief for your people, Friend Garyth. You lay your life at their feet to spare them from the dark things, and your men gain great honor in fighting by your side. I, too, will stand against the darkness by your side, and when we come victorious from the mountain, the head of our enemy held high on a pike, our peoples will be friends as we are."
He pauses briefly and releases Garyth's arm.
"Mielikki has favored us this night. May she smile on us again as we throw our lives at the beast in the darkness. I wait on your word to guide you and your men back into the wilds."
With a slight inclination of his head, the halfling turns and walks off towards Tichenor, crouching beyond the perimeter of people in the shadows.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind
Nice to have Rennik back.
Welcome Back, Farron
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one
Back? he thinks. He tries to concentrate but all he can remember is the wraiths, then cold darkness. He vaguely remembers something about a ship, but that doesn't make sense at all in this context. "I don't feel very well," he says weakly. "Will we be camping soon?"
Farron will rest as much as possible. If anyone looks at him he'll either have his eyes closed, or they might catch him staring at Sa'id, apparently lost in thought. He will take the time to study his spellbook enough to replenish his spells, but other than that he will be doing (and demanding of others) as little as possible.
(OOC - Sorry for the shortness of this. I've had terrible email problems at home since last week, and I've been unable to do much at work except work. I'll try and get back into the game ASAP, but don't let me hold you up. Farron wouldn't have much to do that isn't inner monologue at this point, anyway.)
Almost to Gully's
Subject: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
What dim sunlight manages to get through the heavy cloud and tree cover finally fades, and the forest is plunged into darkness. Kasen calls a halt, and Farron nearly collapses with relief. Only through a massive effort of will has he managed to remain on his horse for the last few hours. He swings his leg over his horse, and then his knee buckles, and he falls on his back. Sa'id rushes over, mouthing a quick cantrip for light.
In the dim witchlight, Farron's face is gray and haggard. He had survived the wraith's attack, but something vital had been stolen from him. Sa'id knows that his friend's vitality will return, but it will be a slow process, and he will be very weak in the meantime.
Kasen rubs down Storm, and then begins gathering sticks for a fire. Father Dominic's friends had provisioned them well, and a few moments after the fire is started, the smell of roasting meat and potatoes fills the air. Farron surprises all three of them by being ravenously hungry. Kasen, with a soldier's simple practicality, says, "A man who can eat almost always gets well. It's a good sign."
Sa'id looks up at the canopy of leaves and cloud overhead. He would give much for even one star. How far to the trading post? It can't be more than a day, can it? Last time they had gone southeast, and then turned north. This time they came overland, straight east. That should actually reduce the time traveled. Tomorrow then? Are they even on the right path?
[stopping here for RP or whatever. Next turn from me will be the following day. Please check in. Gracias.]
From: Ty
Subject: Leaving the town behind; back to Gully's
Garyth sits on his borrowed horse, watching his men gather up the last of their gear and provisions. They are quick and professional; no wasted motion. The will all die in the temple, something says to him. You will watch them die. The lucky ones will not go under the red light, but none will survive. And after you've watched them die; watched their souls ripped from them by the light, then you will die too, screaming forever. "Talk all you want. But we're coming for you, demon." He hopes no one can hear him talking to himself, but it feels good to confront his fear head on. Maybe they would all die, but they would die fighting. A soldier can ask for little else.
Rennik is stripping excess gear from his pony. Someone had loaded it down with cookware and tools. He curses as he cuts away the extra baggage. A month ago, Garyth would have found him a comical figure. Not any more. Now he worries that some foolish townsperson will come and try to lay claim to the pony and its cargo. There will be nothing funny about the fierce Halfling unleashing his temper on some hapless peasant. But Rennik finally gets the pony stripped of almost everything, then swings awkwardly into the saddle and rides over to Garyth's side.
Garyth nods at him. "How long?"
"Two days. We won't need the horses after that."
Right. The jungle. No taking horses into that. No reason to save their strength. Leave them in the barn where Elise had left her heavy charger.
The Falcons form up around Garyth, and Osred says, "Ready to leave at your word, Captain." Pensive sadly adds, "Melani never came back. I hope she is well, and gets our message."
Rennik laughs, "She is one of the Reth. They move through the forest like cats. She will probably beat us there."
Garyth turns his horse. "Let's move them out, Sergeant. Rennik, you have the point. Vincy, watch our backs."
Rennik trots off to the west, setting a hard pace.
[stopping here for RP or whatever. Next turn from me will be a short camp the following night (you guys have already been up most of this night, so Rennik will push through the next day).]
Pensive and Elvira; Farron's First Meal
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
After dinner, and after assuring himself that Farron is going to be all right and doesn't need attending to, Sa'id stretches out on his bedroll. He'll do his best to get a decent night's sleep apart from whenever he takes watch.
OOC: I tried to write a turn with more content, but I've just got nothing.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind; back to Gully's
Pensive pats his horse's neck and says, "Two days, friend Horse. And then, I won't bother you to crate me around any more."
"Thistle," says an old voice.
"Hello, Elvira," Pensive says, nodding to the old woman.
He sees her glance at the horse, the saddlebags. "You leaving?"
"I am." Pensive notices that her sling is hanging loosely-- unthinking, he reaches out to adjust it, retighten the knot. "How's your wrist?"
"I saw wildmen today," she says. "Wild creatures, red eyes, and bushy hair. . . rumor is, they're going to take us to safety."
She was talking about the halflings. Pensive says, "They're friendly-- well, not really friendly. They won't hurt you, though."
"Ha. Like to see 'em try." She pauses, looking him over. "You're too young to step out to them woods. You should stay here, with the town. It's a foul master that makes his boy follow him on to. . . death." The last word is spoken softly, as if she barely dared say it.
Pensive smiles. "Death follows life. Life and death, they do not matter. They happen, like night and day. What matters is the hope we create between each sunrise."
"You been listening too long to your priest, elf-boy. Life matters. Death, too. You get old, you'll know. You'll learn to claw at life, suck it dry." Elvira's eyes widen-- Pensive feels a stir from the mountain. But the old woman shakes it off. "I'm old and bitter," she says, with a little chuckle. "Too many cold winters.
"Well. Looks like your Lord is leaving you." She nods toward the departing line of Falcons. Pensive sees Garyth and Rennick trotting at the front. "No kiss for an old woman? For luck?"
Pensive touches his fingers to his lips, then presses them against her cheek.
"That will have to do," he says, and lifts himself into the saddle.
"I guess so."
He follows the men into the night.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
Sorry I haven't responded yet. I've been swamped at work today.
What's Farron's status? HP? Does he have CON damage?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
I don't have my notes with me, but yes, Farron still has quite a bit of Con damage. His HP are very low right now. Unfortunately, Con damage comes back at a glacial rate. But if you can hook up with Osred, he can fix you up with Restoration prayers.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
Yeah, I just wanted to know so I understand how he might be feeling (physically) at this point. I'm imagining lost HP would just make him sore (depending on how many HP lost, of course) but lost CON would actually make him feel drained, lethargic, or weak.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
The smell of the meat and potatoes breaks the gray haze that has plagued Farron's mind all day and replaced it with one loud command: "EAT". So he does. He can't remember food tasting this good. He is acutely aware of every facet of the meal, the savory flavor of the meat, the texture and juices as he chews and swallows, the satisfying slide of each swallow as it heads toward his filling stomach. It is several minutes before he notices Sa'id and Kasen watching him, a mix of concern and almost-laughter in their eyes.
"A man who can eat almost always gets well. It's a good sign." Kasen says.
"Forgive my lack of manners," Farron replies. "I don't think I've ever felt this hungry before." He speaks the second part through a mouthful of meat and potatoes. By the time he finishes, he notices that the others have already stopped eating and set out their bedrolls. His own is also laid out, not far from Sa'id's, but he hadn't noticed which of the others had set it out for him. He tosses an inedible piece of gristle into the fire and slowly moves over to his bedroll.
Farron looks toward Kasen, who appears to be looking out into the darkness, his back to the fire. Sa'id is lying back on his bedroll, his eyes closed. Suddenly Farron feels tired. Almost as tired as he felt hungry before, but thankfully not quite.
"You don't think she'll send more tonight, do you?" he says, loud enough for Sa'id to hear, but mostly to reassure himself.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The wizards plus one; almost to Gully's
"You don't think she'll send more tonight, do you?"
Sa'id looks up. It's hard to say. She hadn't sent any the night before -- maybe she didn't know the outcome of the battle, maybe she couldn't track them anymore, maybe she didn't have enough power, maybe, maybe, maybe...
"No, I don't," he replies firmly.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind; back to Gully's
OOC: Don't have much RP for Rennik here. He's back in his element and focused on finding trail. Nothing special, just being a bloodhound is all, up ahead. Plus, I'm working on setting up my classroom, so I'm a little too pressed to be flowery. :)