Subject: Part 2: On the road 2,261 views

[Shiv]

The following midday the group gathers at the town square. The clouds are a memory of last night and the open skies above gives the air a crisp-chilly taste even though the sun is blazing. A light breeze blows through town, bringing the scent of wetness and snow, lending a sense of urgency to your mission.

Ningjorns rest is slow to wake this day, shops open later than usual, and there is precisous little activity on the streets except for those too young to drink (heavily) or those that abstained (who are very few), who are now tasked with cleaning up after last nights revelry. These small groups of Dwarves, humans and the occasional Salmaradim are moving through the streets, picking up discarded and forgotten mugs, clothes or other salvagables, while piling anything else on a growing pile in the town square, where tonight there will be a new bonfire to rival the one from the feast.

All

SPOILER: Click to show

Please detail in your first post what you did during the morning and when you arrive at the town square. The most pressing matter is to decide on a course of travel, and who will be blazing the trail (i.e. whos survival I will be rolling aganst to stay on track).

[Racer Xonclar]

Itrav woke that morn early enough to hear the silence settle across the town. Stretching himself, he dressed for the cold and set out with his coinpurse in hand. Not that any would see, but in the brief dead silence, Itrav stood still and relaxed. There were no birds covering up noises, no shouting and clashing; enough silence he felt the moment could be afforded. A faint smirk crossed his cold lips, the corner curling up into something that could be mistaken as a cocky grin. It was not as enjoyable as time with cabalites, but a vast improvement from the chaos of the dwarves.

Finally a shop opened, a dwarf likely a bit younger than the one they were escorting handling the store while the older owner still recovered from the festivities. A few odd glances and blank stares later, Itrav left with the added supplies. A week's food. That should be plenty, he thought. I can make it last longer easily should I have to. And this cloth should prove useful if the snows come.

When noon arrives, Bnor would find Itrav simply waiting within sight of the old mapmaker's home, casting glances to the various street cleaners as they get closer. Itrav's obviously dressed to travel, the same fur coat on with a modestly loaded pack.

Shiv

SPOILER: Click to show

the Arms and Equipment Guide actually has a small, one-person tent listed, so I figured I'd go with its entry. 5gp and 10lbs. Three more packs of rations and I figured about 5gp and 5lbs for just a clean white cloth big enough to drap over the tent if needed. I'll update my sheet to reflect this stuff.

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid wakes as the first rays of Amon crest on the horizon, dressing himself for the day, cinching his head and face wrapping tight against the forseen cold. Kneeling on the floor facing the direction of the rising Sun he begins a morning devotion and prayer in the tongue of the Qua'Hib. As he finishes he rises and gathers his things, including the several bags of coins he divided the advance payment up into the previous night.

He passes Itrav as he approaches the store, nodding in passing, and continues on. After completing his transactions he gathers them up, packs them together, and goes to make sure the young barber is awake and prepared and informed of what he needs to have for the journey and when he needs to be near the mapmakers house. Walking out of the hutch with the image of the rather hungover dwarf in his head he smiles. It is really going to be unpleasant for him when he gets on the trail later today.

He approaches the area to find Itrav standing about and proceeds to wait for the others.
Damn cold snow...

Shiv

SPOILER: Click to show

3 things of rations and a insulated sleeping bag of some sort. should run about 3 gold for the rations and =~= 5 gp for the bag. ill look it up later.

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Nu and Bael

To Shiv

SPOILER: Click to show

Bael and Nu leave the village being somewhat playful to be alone and out of the village. As soon as they enter the forest outside the village their demeanour alters and they become hunters.

Bael leads the hunt searching for the tell signs of game as they plan to search out seven cycles of the sun worth of provisions. Nu follows his aia and keeps contact with Lanna in the sky as she offers what little assistance she can from the air. Nu watches for any signals that Bael has spotted tracks and also kept his eyes peeled for any movements as they search.

She treds the earth quietly, not a twig crunched under her step, keeping her body low on the ground as she searches for track and twitching a bit as she senses it nearer, she halts and finds fresh prints of deer. She slowly draws her sickle out of its sheath her fingers slowly clasping around the handle then a grip that turns the blade slightly that the moon was reflected on it, a signal to Nu that she has found tracks.

After Bael signals Nu they follow some deer tracks to a nesting ground and find a herd of deer bedded down for the night. Nu watches the herd and sees an older matron who has seen her days and will not be missed as well as a younger buck that still runs with the herd. He aims for the matron first having the best angle and uses one of his sharp thin bladed arrows to pierce her heart. The arrow flies true and pierces the earth just on the other side of the matron as she lies there. Soon blood pours from her shoulder and ribs opposite sides of her body. She startles as the arrow hits the earth and the smell of blood irritates the rest of the herd which gets them up and ready to run. Nu knocks the next arrow and aims for the buck as two deer of this size will feed the party for more than a week. He paces the male and let fly his arrow but the buck moves suddenly and the arrow pierces his lungs instead of his heart. The buck starts to run as the herd bolts the nesting ground. Bael dashes the same direction but the buck collapses as he can draw no breath. Bael jumps out and straddles the buck wrestling him by his antlers and quickly piercing his heart, she turns her sickle to complete the kill pinning the buck down to the earth. She gently lets it down as she whispered sylvan phrases in monotone manner.

As Nu enters the site, Bael is already performing a ritual to release the buck’s soul and Nu begins the same ritual on the matron’s soul.
Quickly Nu guts and cleans the matron and offers the innards that can't be used to the earth and the scavengers as blessing for keeping the cycle of life. He knows that Bael follows the same pattern with the buck.

She pulls her kill over where her aias is finishing with the matron and brings the second arrow along with her. She offers the arrow to Nu with blood and earth stained hands. Lanna flies to Nu’s shoulder and clenches her talons on him again. She watches as he puts the arrows in a second quiver to be examined and reused or replaced at a later point. Bael playfully rubs her head on her aias neck knocking him a bit, they look at each other then start heading for camp. Bael leads the way back to camp, Lanna follows them. She starts removing the hides from the gifts from the mother. She watches as her aias begins slicing and preparing the meat.

After his aia has removed the hide from the buck Nu starts preparing the meat for cooking.

"Aia, I think we have enough provisions to last all of us seven cycles if we have vegetables or something to supplement. Once we start cooking the meat we should play hunter and food."

Bael grips the soil under her and gives Nu a wicked little grin.

[coyotelaughs]

*Sniff sniff* Bael inhales the scented air of upcoming snow, she finds it a delight but a reminder of the mission ahead. Nu spends a little time with Lanna on his shoulder as he and Bael feed her breakfast sharing the moment together. Nu and Bael finish packing after Lanna is fed her portion. Nu walks beside her as they both carry their packs filled with cooked meat and hide hanging from their backs. Lanna flies high eyeing the path ahead to the town and getting there first. Both the elves agree on buying a pack animal to help carry the luggage, not only theirs but for the whole party as well. They walk in an open shop (more like just opening) to purchase a mule. Not knowing Dwarven, the elves both stare at the squinting shop keeper then at each other. Nu reaches in his pouch to present coins while Bael points out to the animal saying “Mule...please” and a silence follows, after about a minute the shop keeper motions to the animal bringing it to Bael’s hand then taking the right amount of coins from Nu’s hand. They both thank the dwarf and move out. Nu places their belongings on the Mule as Bael caresses the animal talking in sylvan, Nu smiles.

Shiv

SPOILER: Click to show

8gp mule ( phb page 129 )

Lanna reaches the map maker’s home and circles over head as she spots Itrav and Rashid, a signal to both sylvan elves of the presence of their party members. They walk towards them appearing from the forest. Lanna glides down passing Itrav and Rashid then on to Nu’s shoulder. Nu acknowledges her and pets her gently while Bael walks the mule.

[Weasel]

Bnor wakes to a steady pounding on his head. It feels as if someone is 'thumping' his temple to some steady rythmic beat. When his eyes open, he sees no evil musicians or fairies that have mistaken his head for an anvil.

He sits up slowly, and stretches. He carefully massages the sides of his head in an attempt to get the pounding to stop.

"HAHAAhaha!" he belows as he remembers being thrown not once, but twice in the same match. The first time his combatant threw him literally into a group of massed drunkards who in turn hurled him back at the combatant. Feeling the ache in his lower back causes him to laugh again as he finds his feet and begins looking for his gear.

After he has everything in hand he makes his way outside.

"Damn it all!" he exclaims as he realizes he's woken late and is now pressed for time. He quickly makes his way down the street towards the local shop.

Once inside he gets the clerk busy on his needs.

"Need'a weeks worth of rations. Chunk of hard cheese, and salted meat's my prefrence. Need fifty feet of good hemp rope and a couple piton's to go with it." he starts as he points to what he wants, "Take a case of them bolts there. And a replacement string.. no, no the heavier one. Yeah that one there."

Once his order is placed on the counter, he leans in close.

"Whad'da ya have in the case of hurlin' axes? Don't bother with no junk, I'm talking quality steel here."

After a bit of shuffling, the clerk produces three axes and makes a claim how each would be an excellent choice.

"Hmph. I'll take this one.. but only outta necessity mind you. Usually wouldn't look twice at this lot, but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

After failing to negotiate on the price and paying the full amount, Bnor gathers his things and exits the shop. He heads straight for the mapmaker, and sees his group standing near.

"Just take me a minute." he says in passing as he pulls the rope for entrance. After the door has opened, Bnor disappears within and hopefully exits just as swiftly.

"Got it!" he says with a grin. "Sorry for the wait." he says even though he still has time to spare. "Nice mule ya got there." he says stroking the beasts neck, "Everyone ready?"

SPOILER: Click to show

I think that should be 15g. I'll adjust sheet... sometime.

[Shiv]

And so the group gathers.

Glorgar is in high spirits today. The tall dwarf is smiling and chatting, his demeanor much less restrained from last night. You have distinct feeling he was being careful around his boisterous mentor Zvordjien, and now that he's out of the masters gaze the young dwarf is grabbing the opportunity to spread his wings a bit.

"It's simply stupendous isn't it?", he chimes brightly. "The sun is out, the birds are singing, it truly is a day for adventuring no?"

Glorgar is wearing a large green bandana today, keeping his blonde locks slicked back and tumbling down his back. His beard has been turned into orderly rows of corcscrews. Either he did not drink, does not sleep or is a magician to have managed such a feat so close to the festivities last night. Beyond his meticoulously groomed exterior Glorgar is wearing a heavy leather cloack, rimmed with fur, and thick wool trousers and a sweater, both dyed green. Setting down his heavy pack on the ground he casts a sweeping glance at the group.

"Well gentlemen -and woman- my life is in your hands. Now what?"

[Weasel]

"That it is, Glorgar. Hopefully you'll think the same a few days down the trail..." he says giving the man a pat on his shoulder.

After setting his pack on the ground and feeling the sun high in the sky, Bnor unbuttons the first two buttons of his thick woolen shirt. He pulls out his winter cloak, and refolds it before tying it to the top of his backpack. He quickly re-laces his boots and ties them tight, and then reaches for his backpack again.

"We set out, of course." he responds to Glorgar as he waits for the others to make their final preperations, "No songs will be sung of our departure, and no final farewells from broken hearted maids... my regrets for both! Would make this much more exciting, no?"

When everyone is ready, Bnor sets a good pace knowing this part of the country as well as any.

[Black_Hawk]

Rashid bows to those assembled, acknowledging the party and their charge. After Bnor finishes his speech he nods and sticks his hands in the sleeves of his loose winter traveling garments.

"Methinks that you will want your portions of the advance. I divided them up into the proper amounts, sans the part needed to pay for the map." He reaches into a pocket and produces the pouches of coins, tossing one to each of the party members, and a second one to Bnor.

"The amounts are the same, the coin in the second bag given to Bnor is the amount he paid for the map he acquired for us a while ago." Rashid removes his pack and makes sure everything is in its place, with both blanket and sleeping bag secure as well as rations stored. He then checks the cases strapped, one across his chest and one on his left leg, to be sure they are secured and ready to be opened should the need arise, adjusting the string of daggers also strapped about his person.

"Should you all be ready, I am prepared to depart as well." Looking about and gesturing to the snowfall and accumulation of such he grins. "It would be unwise for me to lead to our destination, I shall admit." He nods to the elves and to Bnor. "It would be for the best were either of you, sers and madam, to lead. I have heard much of elven woodcraft, be it in this snow or otherwise, so i am sure that we shall keep on track with Bnor, Nu, and Bael at the lead."

[Racer Xonclar]

At Glorgar's bubbly comments, Itrav merely states plainly and dryly, "The day certainly beats walking in a blizzard."

The slender poles sticking out of his pack, likely the stakes or supports for a tent of sorts, shift to one side as Itrav snatches the tossed coin back out of mid-air with a movement a bit more crisp than really needed. "Thank you," he said dryly. This sounds about the same as the other bags. I'll count it once we're moving...

Taking up the rear, hands stuffed in to the pockets of his coat despite the noonday sun, "We are taking the path by Yrm's Crossing, yes?"

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Bael passes a quick look at the party, checking out how they are dressed and what they bring, then gives Glorgar a nod of acknowledgement. She strokes the mules mane as Bnor compliments him. Bael is suddenly stricken with enlightenment as to what name she'd be calling the mule. She whispers it to Nu with almost a giggle. Turning back to the party taking a step forward tugging on the mule slightly (common) "This is Ikrah, please call him Ik. We can share Ik for bringing our luggage. I will be behind Bnor as he leads party with my aias to follow, maybe Glorgar could be next with Rashid then Itrav as he says takes rear. Glorgar will be Ik's company, please take care of him." She walks to Glorgar and hands him the reins placing her hand on Glorgar's shoulder shaking him a bit with the force she creates with little effort and slightly smiles at him.

SHIV

SPOILER: Click to show

Ikrah means MIGHTY beast

[coyotelaughs]

As my aia and I arrive near the map makers home, we see that the rest of the party has already arrived and I nod greetings to everyone. Gracefully, I snatch each of the two coin purses that Rashid tosses, from the air, placing each of them into my belt pouch for safe keeping. (Common)"Rashid...." I bow slightly in thanks.

As my aia whispers her idea of what to name our mule I laugh and whisper how proud I am of her choice. I look on in pride as Bael informs the party of our name for the mule and hands the reigns to Golgar to care for. I smile at how easily she shakes his solid frame as she grips his shoulder.

(Common)" Follow...... Bnor and my tae." I fall into step behind my aia and stroke Lannas breast as she stays on my shoulder, having already flown ahead to see how our path looks this mornning for our journey.

I easily pace myself so that I am able to see both Bnor and Bael and the rest of the party when I look back keeping my ears open and listening for anything out of the ordinary.

[Weasel]

Bnor snatches both bags out of the air, and gives an appreciative nod.

He takes the pack off his back once again, and finds an appropriate place for the coin. Once strapped back up, he answers the dark elf.

"That we are, Itrav. Bit out of the way, but we should avoid trouble by doing so."

Turning to Bael, he gives a smile before he addresses him.

"I'll take the first leg if ya don't mind. May need you to take over after a time. If your willing."

[rainbowpalmcakes]

Bael turns to Bnor as he speaks, then answers;

"Unn" with a nod

She passes Nu and gives Lanna a stroke as well then slides her fingers down Nu's scarred arm. She follows Bnor as he moved on.

[coyotelaughs]

As Bael strokes Lanna's breast, Nu whispers my tae into her ear and then smiles as they prepare to head out. Once the party is moving, Nu takes on a very attentive attitude with hand comfortably wrapped around handle of his bow as if it is a part of him. Even in the snow, he leaves no trace of his passing upon the ground, so light are his steps.