" One of Protector Colson preferred maxims was: Never split the party. He sometime added Unless you really know what you are doing."
A pause.
"I don't think we know what we are doing well enough, so I would be against splitting our group."
Relieved that somebody suggested it, Keith pipes up, "Actually that sounds like good advice to me. We have suppositions about what we are fighting but when it comes down to it, we really don't know..."
"Thorgrund and I should stay parallel to the road so we can watch the carts and the others. We can make an ambush of our own that way. We can always follow the tracks later, now that we know where they are."
"To me it sound reasonable. Keep within southing distance and stay together."
Thorgrund listens to the plan and looks at the lay of the land.
He scratches his whiskers shaking his head Nay, there is no way through those thickets with out some major bushwhacking! Not that it can't be done, but that is gonna be tough mining to turn a phrase.
You can tell he really doesn't think chopping a path through the dense hillsides is how anyone wants to spend their day if they don't have to.
He crosses back over the trail looking at the side between the road and stream.
He studies the twenty yards or so from the road to shore. Aye now we're talking as long as we stay clear of the shoreline we should be able to move through the trees nicely. A bit of decent cover from the road and far side yet clear views if trouble starts. We could even scout from this side about fifty or so yards up and be able to signal danger.
Splendid ideas all around! It reminds me of a tale I have heard about a pair of Gnomes traveling with an Lady Ogre...
Keith walks along side the wagons, enjoying the exercise. He tries to keep alert, but the sunny weather lulls him into complacency.
"What a lovely day eh Julius?" smiles Keith, "The glorious smell of grass and wild flowers combined with warm sun, makes one feel glad to be alive! About the only way this could be better is if we where sipping Daquiris on a beach somewhere, attended to by a harem of beautiful young women. There's a pause, and just as somebody moves to chastise, Keith laughs, "I jest! I jest! We don't need the Daquiris..."
Julius too is distracted: "I more of the monogamous kind. One woman at a time. On the other hand I enjoy sweet wine with a pie or a black beer when I am thirsty."
"Come and get some already, Bandits! My Varguthauk and Thorgrund's Vengryn are getting impatient!" Ûzorgráng thinks.
He mutters quietly to Thorgrund, in Dwarven …
And he will still keep alert for trouble.
Shyr visbily blushes at the others words while visibly glaring at them. "Another word out of either of you two along those same lines, and to dfend the honor of my fellow woman I will have to kill you, or make sure you never make comments along those lines again" She say in a tone that could be joking. Or not.
Puzzled look.
"What is offensive in saying that I will not abandon a lover for another at the drop of a hat?"
I think it would be safe fighting bandits than arguing with Shyr! Ûzorgráng reflects with a grim smile.
Perhaps wisely, Keith keeps his mouth shut and finds something very important to be doing by the other cart. Keeping his face carefully neutral Keith considers what just happened, 'I suppose I'd feel vulnerable too if I was in her place, still that reaction seemed a little extreme. I wonder if that is what passes for humor in the convent? And was that a crack in Julius' armor? We'll have to see what happens if he ever goes drinking with Thorgrund or Ûzorgráng, we might see a whole new side of him!'
Syr rolls her eyes "Maybe I was little to harsh, but please, if you want to discuss such things, please do it in a lower tone of voice. Us women may not like hearing we are so worthless to be discarded at a drop of a hat like some cheap piece of junk that no longer holds your curiosity."
"Evidently what I am trying to say and what she hear is very different. What I am missing? Or miss saying?"