Sandru nods at Lisabett's idea, then nods again at Almar's comment. "I think Lisabett speaks more generally in defensive philosophy. Yes, we are limited to the three wagons, but that gives us a strong defensive triangle." He draws three lines in the dirt with a stick, leaving space between the ends. "And we can build out from there. Talk is that the north is more dangerous than ever, so it is possible that another caravan will partner with us. This is common practice, especially when passing Riddleport. If that happens, then we can utilize your strategy to full effect." He looks back and forth between Almar and Lisabett for a moment. "You two assign duties to the others. You see things differently, yes, but I need you cooperating. Consider this an early collaboration." With that, the Varisian stands and walks away.
"Get the wagons in a triangle!" He calls a moment later from in front of the first wagon. He coaxes the reluctant horse forward.
The camp is mostly quiet. Most of the members of the caravan at least go as far as to introduce themselves. Walthus Proudstump looks utterly out of his element, but he manages to say "hello" to you. He and Shalelu pointedly ignore one another. The Shoanti, Quoaral, says not a word to anyone.
There is a rising murmur when Setomi begins to serve dinner. The other travelers line up, eagerly. And for good reason; the food is prepared exceptionally well.
Lisabett looks to Almar as Sandru strides purposefully away. "Did we disagree?" she inquires.
"We have enough people to form watches in pairs," she observes. "We should consider constructing some manner of addition to one of the wagons that will allow us to post a sentry to watch the exterior for threats without risking a patrol, but that is further down the line than we have goods or means for at the moment," she admits.
"I will watch with whomever you dictate, although I do not believe those in my former company will be thrilled to be paired with me, on the whole."
Almar shrugs at Lisabett's words:"No, no disagreement at the moment. I'm a bit surprised you want to work as a guard, I thought you were going to scout ahead of us... anyway, Setomi is probably going to be our cook, and thanks the gods for that, Sandru will be busy leading the caravan, same for Proudstump, Koya is clearly our healer, and you don't think you'll get along with your former camerades... that doesn't leave a lot of space, does it? I'd say you can do your guard duty with Sorin, I think he'll suited for the task if he's amenable, of course"
Sorin looks around with some consternation at the bustle of activity going on. He is clearly as out of his element (almost) as Walthus is. Until someone gives him something to do, he'll seek out Ameiko.
"Ameiko, is it always like this when leaving home? I've only left home once before and that was a different set of circumstances; I certainly never thought that when I did so I would never see my Father again. I admit that it makes me feel a bit out of sorts. Is that how you felt when you first went adventuring?"
"I applaud your courage if you believe you can dictate a position to Mother Koya, friend," Lisabett says and laughs, showing a hint of dimple on her right cheek. "I should think Brother Holheim's... demeanor may rankle the guardsmen less. It is less difficult to accept aide from one who fights beside you, in my experience."
Lisabett watches Sorin cross the camp, looking out of his element. "I should think that the knight would make an shinning representative of our camp. Though I find his words incendiary at times, it proves he has passion enough to sway, no?" she looks to Almar and smiles.
"If you wish, I will ask the Mother how best she believes that she can assist our endeavors."
Almar answers in a tone devoid of any emotion, just as someone stating pure and simple facts:"Do as you wish, but ask Sorin if he would like to be your partner for the night watch first. And yes, Sorin seems a fine lad to me, I saw how he faced that crazed bugbear the other day. Takes a lot of courage to deal with such a beast. Whatever else he may be, Sorin Nicusor is a warrior worthy of respect. As for Koya, I don't wish to dictate anything. I guess she'll be a skilled healer and I guess she'll take the job, but I'm certainly in no position to order her around, nor I want to"
"Now we disagree. What you call courage I call foolish and dangerous to the whole," Lisabett replies, dropping all pretense of civility with the crude guardsman. "But I am simply wasting breath speaking of my displeasure with the knight with you. On second thought, I believe I will force my comrades to endure my company than pairing with Sorin. They have discipline."
Lisabett affords Almar a salute, then returns to her preparations in the camp.
Lisabett approaches the Mother when it appears that the elder woman has a moment to spare for discourse. "Mother, the captain has left it to myself and Almar to judge which members will suit our needs best," she begins, and flicks nervous eyes to Andres. "He would saddle you with the burden of attending our physical ills, but it appears to me as though you've a greater responsibility of nurturing our hearts in the trials to come. Out of respect for your wisdom and your wishes, I ask which position you would choose for yourself."
As the meal comes to a close, and the various groups break off to converse, Setomi begins to gather the various dirty pots and plates. A large cauldron of water warms over the coals of the dinner's fire. Humming a quiet tune to herself, she set to the task of cleaning and repacking all the utensils from the dinner meal, taking small bites from her own meal as she cleans. Once finished she retrieves her practice book and begins studying some of the more advanced moves, occasionally setting the book aside so that she might practice the moves.
Perception -
Quoaral:
Perception -
"There are many inspiring stories of the dead." Quoaral, the Shoanti, seems to have chosen this moment to break his silence. "They are honored, but still dead."
Across the camp, Koya offers a faint smile to Lisabett. "Raziel is a gifted healer, Lisabett. I would rather focus my attention on my strange dreams, and what they mean for us. If somebody is wounded, though, and I can be of assistance, you will tell me?"
"She will tell you a lot of things." Andres sneers.
Koya stands. "If I have given a satisfactory answer, then let us conclude this talk of responsibilities. And now, I will leave those who keep watch on me. If you will accept my invitation, Lisabett, I would like you to sit with me under the night sky. There is a hill nearby where we may find some solitude." The old woman turns and begins to walk away.
Andres springs up. "When will you tell me more about them?" Impatience is thick in his voice.
Koya turns.
Elsewhere, Ameiko gives Sorin an easy smile. "When I first set out...when I first camped in the wilds on my first adventure, I did not want to sleep. I wanted to continue on through the night. Fortunately, wiser heads prevailed." Ameiko's gaze falls on Lisabett, who stands speaking to Koya Mvashti on the other side of camp. "Here too, it seems." She looks back to Sorin. "Fear not, Sorin. We are in good hands, strange as things may seem."
Almar loks at Lisabett's going away and shakes his head:"I wonder why she could not get along with the other Ulfens... she's got such a nice disposition..."
As Almar prepares to move along with his tasks he meets Quoaral and Walthus Proudstump:"You are both right, Sorin showed courage, no matter how you look at it, he fought like a lion and he's still breathing to tell the tale. And yes, courage is inspiring, especially when you risk yourself for other people. Sometimes you pay the price and deserve honor, some other times you suceed, and still deserve honor. Let's all try to be on the side of the honored living, what do you say?"
Lisabett follows Mother Koya, sits when she sits and tilts her head back and stares up at the sky.
"I believe that is difficult for those who have never before experienced the power of prophecy to... adjust?" Lisabett suggests after a pause, never once removing her attention from the spheres. "The Lady has been a part of my life since before I had form," she muses and a faint smile appears on her face.
After dinner, Raziel ponders the fate that brought him here, on this trip. In part, to aid in catching the fiend that Almar was pursuing, and in part to watch over Koya has he had promised her mother not so long ago.
But at a time like this, he felt adrift, apart from his companions. Church raised, he had spent his whole life in cities. The trip from Magnamar to Sandpoint was hazy in his memory, and even then he knew that it was only a short journey.
Glancing around the camp, he realized that he did not have much in common with any of them, save Koya. He wondered if the Ulfens would leave them once they arrived in their lands. He wondered why Ameiko and Setomi would come on such a journey, although it was possible that Ameiko was stirred to action by the items they had found that related to her family. If Ameiko went after some part of her past, he was sure that Sorin would follow. Sandru too, for that matter. And Koya would wish to see more of the world, so of course she would go.
If Ameiko was chasing after her past, what then about Almar? What would he do after his foe was hunted down?
Raziel shook his head, as if to clear it. Too much pondering, too much unknown, and the thought of his fate waiting out there to pounce upon him nagged the edges of his thoughts. He got up and moved towards Almar.
"What watch should I take, Almar? It should be early or last, so as not to interfere with my prayers and meditations."
Almar looks at Raziel with a surprised look. He wasn't expecting the priest to want to guard the caravan, but after a second the gunslinger nods, satisfied:"Very well, I won't be the one to deny someone the right to do his part. You are going to do first watch with Ulrik, that big Ulfen fellow. I'll do second with that other Ulfen, Andres, while Sorin will do third with Proudstump. That leaves us with the last watch... as Lisabett insisted for a guard role, I'll force her on the last Ulfen. He won't thank me but he might have developed an immunity to our pretty scout bossiness, so it might be worth a try I guess"
After finishing her meditations and kata, Setomi wanders about the wagons, watching and listening to her companions. She overhears Almar and Raziel speaking of a watch schedule and quietly approches them.
"Excuse me gentlemen, but when do you wish me to start my watch?" She looks wide-eyed at the two men, waiting for one of them to respond.
Koya hums in agreement. "You are a wanderer, Lisabett, and you understand that. May the Song of the Spheres bless you." The old woman does not utter another word before she seeks out her bedroll for the night.
Raziel looks at the cook, and then back to Almar.
Giving a shrug, he comments, "She can watch with myself and Ulrick, if you don't mind." He smiles at Setomi. "And if you don't object either."
Raziel then thinks for a moment before continuing to Almar. "Which brings up another point, you did not mention Ameiko. She might also want to stand a watch."
Almar exhales softly at Raziel words:"I didn't mention Koya, or Sandru or even Quoaral, and some others too for that matter. There will be other watches, we'll have some rest a bit more this time and they'll stand guard next evening if they want to. A watch of two people is enough for a caravan of three wagons, Raziel, and travel will be hard, so we'll need to rest. If we come under attack what a guardsman needs to do is just to rise the alarm, the whole caravan will join the defence immediately, but otherwise resting is as important as doing the watch, we'll all need our strength if we want to survive this travel"
1st - Entange, Feather Step, d-Obscuring Mist, Produce Flame
0 - Create Water, Detect Poison, Purify Food and Water, Resistance
On her watch with Espen, Lisabett patrols the perimeter of the wagons, frequently casting on her bodice and shielding the majority of its radiance with her traveling cloak to direct the intensity.
Dawn comes, and Sarenrae's light finds its way to your camp. The night has passed without incident.
Grossly misinterpreting Espen's interest, Lisabett is all too eager at the end of her watch to push ahead before the caravan, taking to the wilds for a time to discover if there were any track left in the night that they should be wary of, such as the wolves Shalelu spoke of.
Raziel seeks out Almar after breakfast, taking him aside for a quiet conversation.
"The Ulfen, Ulrick, sought his bedroll early on, before the watch was over," Raziel comments with a frown. "He may be more watchful when we are farther along, or he may not be a good person to stand watch. Or he may be tired because of something else."
At any rate, I would request kindly that I be assigned another watch partner tonight, one that will keep watch with me. Even the cook can watch better than one who seeks out his bedroll."
There are indeed wolf tracks. It would seem a pack moved through the area last night, though oddly, you do not recall hearing them howl. Following the tracks briefly, you step over a ridge and see the site of yesterday's battle, and find further signs of the wolves. It seems they have deemed the goblinoid corpses an acceptable source of meat.
There are no wolves present at this time, but it seems that multitudes of crows have taken their place with the rise of the sun. The birds caw at one another loudly, fighting over scraps of flesh even though the dead are in ample supply.
"Nothing to report during my watch. Walthus is a decent enough sort though he is prone to being a bit chatty. That might be nerves though; he doesn't seem very comfortable here."
Lisabett returns shortly before breakfast, flushed and breathing what appears to be steam from her mouth and nostrils. A large patch of frost and dirt cling to her neck, and twigs and various vegetation from her braids . Seeing the others up and gathered, she speaks to them, first in her native Skald, apparently addressing Raziel and repeats in heavily accented trading tongue -
"Wolves pass in the night. Crows and they eat what left of goblins and dogs," she sighs and nods to their slight cook. "I will fill the cisterns shortly, then water and feed the horses."
Seeing Lisabett run in and give her report, Setomi quickly asks her, in Skald, "Wait!! Do you wish something warm to eat or drink before you go? Please take some tea and warm oats to fill you before you head off to your other duties."
Once the party have all eaten, she begins to clean the morning dishes and repack them into the wagon.
Almar's stare gets darker and darker as Raziel tells his story:"You did well to report that, Raziel. If Ulrik thinks he can earn his pay by sleeping during watch he's going to learn how wrong he is, the hard way. You won't be his partner tonight... I will be."
Lisabett shakes her head. "Duty first," she declines Setomi's offer as politely as possible. "And fat binds to the gut and hips better if allowed to settle. This summer heat will make the experience unpleasant, but if I do not start to gain weight now, I may not survive the winter."
It is not long after your day's journey begins that you come upon the battlefield of two days past. Lisabett's description was accurate; the bodies of the dead goblins are teeming with crows. Only a few fly away at the approach of the caravan. Most caw brazenly at you as you pass.
After the grisly sight is an hour behing you, the mood of the caravan becomes more upbeat. Walthus Proudstump gives a unsolicited lecture on the nature of algae for any willing to listen. The three Ulfen men start rounds of a marching song well-known even in southern lands, though Ulrick seems more subdued than usual. Caran reveals that he is from Nirmathas and complains of the never-ending war with Molthune. You learn that he lost a brother to the fighting years ago. Quoaral, the Shoanti, says nothing all day.
The road curves inland, and it is not long into the day when the coast disappears from view. The sun has been pleasant for the last few days, but today, it is considerably warmer. That you are farther from the cooler air of the sea is certainly noticeable. Sandru calls for more breaks in travel than he did yesterday.
When darkness falls, you move the wagons into tight formation and make camp. The road is as worn here as it is just outside of Sandpoint, but the surroundings feel wilder somehow. Shalelu stands just at the edge of the firelight, listening. "The wolf song should be sounding from all around us, but it is not. I do not like this."
"Bah." Sandru responds. "I've been up and down this road more times than I can count. Sometimes, there are wolves in the wood. Other times, there are not."
"But Sandru..." the elf continues. "They are here. They have our scent, and their eyes are undoubtedly on us. I do not intend to rouse alarm. We are in large enough number that most packs would not choose to bother us. And yet I cannot guess the reason for this silence."
Sandru looks troubled, but his response is dismissive. "Silent wolves just means we need to listen more closely for them moving in the night. Small pack or not, I don't want them getting any ideas." He stands upon a crate and briefly addresses the caravan. "We're just under halfway to Galduria from Sandpoint. It's about the same size, actually, though I think you'll agree the food isn't as good as the Dragon's. Fortunately, we have Setomi with us." There is a murmur of laughter from the camp. "Rest well. I don't intend to make a four day trip take five, so we'll push hard tomorrow." With that, Sandru steps down and walks away.
Again Setomi starts dinner and gathers all the needed provisions for tomorrows breakfast and lunch as well. When all is ready, she calls the party together for their meal.
As others eat, Sorin will play a well known travelling song on the flute.
Afterwards, he'll attempt to lure Quoaral into conversation. "Hello, as you've no doubt already heard, my name is Sorin Nicusor. You've barely said a word since we left; is the work not to your liking?"
During the day, Raziel is attentive to Koya and readily preforms tasks that she needs. He also uses Varisian with her, and only sometimes gets corrected for his grammer.
After dinner, he approches Lisabett for the continuation of his lessons in Skald.
Lisabett uses Sorin's flute performance as a valuable lesson in the culture of the Land of the Linnorm Kings.
Pointing to the paladin, she says a word in Skald, and then in the trading tongue says "Peacekeeper," and frowns. "The most important function in any village. A title of high honor. The Mother, too," she gestures to Koya and inclines her head in a bow of respect. "They prolong the history of their people, and promote the arts. Rarely do they fight. Loved and cherished by all men at arms, their place is to maintain the illusion that all are welcome, and needed."
Lisabett's eyes narrow and she falls silent a time, and touches her stomach. "Vital in the winter months. Raiders, mercenaries and defenders alike become... feral when snow binds them to the halls. Do you understand?" she inquires. "Many of our young born in the fall months. Bloodlust is highest in summer, when there is not sowing to be done."
"If it was not to my liking, I would have left in the night." Quoaral's face is impassive. It looks for a moment like the Shoanti might laugh, but he does not.
"You play your pipe well." Quoaral continues after a time. "Perhaps I will teach you a song in days to come. Perhaps the woman who so intently watches you play will watch you even more closely when your song summons a spirit, as your flute now pretends to." With that, the Shoanti stands abruptly and walks away.
Night falls and Raziel and Lisabett's lesson comes to an end. The first watch is uneventful. Andres is as cold to Raziel as Ulrick was, but at least he stays awake.
Ulrick himself is slow to rise for the second watch.
Almar personally awakes the Ulfen warrior, shaking him none too gently:"Get up man! There's work to do, you are not being paid to sleep!"
Ulrick smiles at you grimly, but a moment later, he stands and dawns his scale mail.
It is then that you notice several pairs of green eyes peering at you from the darkness beyond the wagons.
Almar elbows Ulrick nodding towards the eyes, then he shouts:"Allarm! We are sorrounded! Allarm! Get on your feet and prepare to fight!"
Whatever this is better to be prepared... "As they say, better safe than sorry"
The eyes disappear at Almar's shout.
The alarm sounded, everybody becomes aware of the threat.
Lisabett, inured to sleeping fully clothed is up from her bedroll like a bolt when the alarm is raised, but rarely sleeps in her bodice. She pulls her traveling cloak around her shoulders to hide her figure and breathes for protection as she rises.
"Sorin, Brother Holheim, to me," she commands, recognizing that the two heavily armored combatants will scarcely have the time to don their equipment.
Setomi awakens quickly and grabs her two swords, sliding quickly into the darkness.
Setomi moves quietly towards the sound, keeping to the shadows and close to the wagons.