"That may be true Barnabus, but I don't see that we have a lot of choice at this point, other than letting the creature go, which I don't think would be wise. We must just continue to follow and be wary and watchful of any surprises."
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"Well that will be good then if we only have to deal with the leader and not the whole pack."
"Thank you Rhasadilara for that warning and advise." "Barnabus, that very well could be true, all the more reason to be watchful as Rhasadilara has suggested. I don't particularly want to end up as some creatures lunch." Calinder smiles as he says this, with a bit of a nervous laugh. "Rhasadilara, do you think he could be heading North to cause problems back at the settlement?"
Calinder completes his morning preparations, packs, and readies his horse. When Rhasa returns and tells them that she was able to find the tracks of the pack and what they indicate, Calinder nods and says, "Thank you for your efforts Rhasadillara. Let us be on our way then and deal with this threat so we can continue we can continue with our exploration of this area."
"My initial instinct is that at least the Worg leader of the pack is evil and had I been better prepared, I may have been able to dicern his true nature. I feel that if if the pack leader had agreed to some kind of truce with us, it would not have lasted, and we would be right back to where we are now." "I also think that had Gorguk still been with us, we would not have even attempted to speak with the creature. My feeling is that at least this one wolf is a threat and needs to be dealt with."
After a night of listening to wolves howling, Calinder wakes and tries to prepare for the new day. Once he has completed his morning rituals, he seeks out Rhasa to speak with he ranger. "Rhasadilara, how shall we deal with these wolves and what precautions do you think we need to take to do so?"
Happy Halloween!
"Okay Rhasadilara, I will watch behind us for more wolves."
"I would then deem these wolves to be a danger to those who may travel these lands or bring livestock here. I do not believe we can leave them here and hope that they will not attack someone. I think they will have to be dealt with now, before someone or something else becomes their next meal.
Calinder worried by the response of the wolf that Barnabus translated for them, tenses and says, "We can try to work it out with them, but just remember we cannot befriend those who do not wish to be friends. Some are fated through their choices to be our enemies." "It doesn't appear at this point this pack is going to be flexible in this negotiation."
Calinder listens as Barnabus speaks with the Worg, trying to understand what is being said by either, and still ready to react in case the situation deteriorates into a fight. When there is a break in Barnabus' conversation, Calinder whispers to Barnabus, "What is it they want?"
Calinder waits patiently as Rhasa and Barnabus try to talk with the leader of the wolf pack. Calinder also prepares to ask Erastil for his aid if the wolves attack or indicate that the Guardians are what they are hunting.
At Rhasa's words Calinder jumps up, throwing aside his blanket and taking a position around the horses, his Morningstar ready for any lupine creature that comes near enough for him to strike.
Calinder reaches for his morningstar which is with his gear near where he is sleeping and wishes he had the opportunity to put his armor back on. Once he retrieves his morningstar, he slips it underneath his blanket ready to swing at any wolf that comes into their camp. He then remains motionless and waits for an opportunity to strike.
Calinder having not been asleep long, wakes at the sound of first the wolves and then at Nilus' whisper to Barnabus. "Nilus, what is happening?"
Congrats, Megan! I'm sure it won't be a problem for us if we have to slow down a bit while you get into the swing of things at the new job. I'm just glad you've found work. Keep us updated and let us know how it's going.
Calinder goes to find Lothar where he was keeping watch and says, "Lothar, since all seems quiet, I'm going to go get some rest. Who was next on watch, do you know? I can wake them and send them out to take the next turn at watch if you would like?"
"That sounds fine. I can take a turn on first and last watch if needed. We can also rest longer if needed to keep from being deprived of too much rest. It's not like we are in any great hurry." Calinder finishes preparing their meal and calls everyone to come eat. Once he has finished he begins to clean up. Once that is done, he checks on his horse and then walks about their camp for a time. He listens and watches for anything unusual.
Calinder helps set up camp and builds a fire and starts working on a meal for the group.
"Rhasadilara, do you think we need to post watches even when the rest of us are not sleeping? If so, I can take my first shift as soon as I have our meal ready."
"I agree, it is disconcerting. Although if they are willing to let us be, I will certainly do the same for them." "I think we should make camp for the night and be extra vigilant in our watch this night."
Calinder enjoys the ride as they move further east, but remembering the words he received from Erastil, he keeps a watch for anything out of the ordinary.
Calinder taking note of Lothar's effort to see anything else in the area of interest says, "Lothar,is there anything you can see that we need to investigate further?" "If there is not, shall we move onward?"
Calinder makes note, in his journal, of the rolling grasslands that they have ridden through today as the group has travelled south-east of the fort. "This area would be good for grazing livestock if I am not mistaken."
"Dyfrig, Seth, thank you for the supplies, your thoughtfulness." "Rhasadilara will you please take the lead and guide us as we begin this exploratory trip?"
"A nice day to go out and seek what's out in the world." Calinder says to himself as he walks to the stables to ready his horse. Once the others arrive and are ready Calinder says, "Shall we venture forth and see what our futures hold."
"Thank you for your agreement with my plan Barnabus, it helps to know that you are in agreement with me. I say we gather up what supplies we need and get an early start in the morning. If my guess is right, Rhasadilara could use some time out in the wilds away from our new 'civilization', and the sooner the better." Calinder smiles as he mentions Rhasa's need for the wilds so she know that it is meant in jest and as an attempt to lighten her spirits.
"We could run our sweeps to the south as Rhasadilara has planned, and then circle around to the north as pay a visit to the Sootscale tribe. It could also be that they have some knowledge of this 'foreboding' danger in our future, perhaps they have heard something we have not." "What do you think about this as a plan for our next trip?"
"Thank you Erastil for the knowledge that you have provided. Now we can hopefully be prepared for this future trouble when it does come." Calinder then seeks out Rhasa and the others to relate the inspiration that he has received. "Erastil says that there is no danger in our immediate future no matter what path is chosen, but he says we are surrounded by danger and that it will come."
"As you say it probably matters not which way we go as we will encounter what we encounter, but I will ask Erastil in the morning during my meditation in the morning. The information I will receive will only be for the immediate future, but may give us an indication of anything in one direction or the other."
Once the group returns to the fort and new settlement, Calinder makes sure that he takes a moment to update Gorguk with the information received at Oleg's and the decisions that were made. He also tells Gorguk of Nathan and his objective to build a gathering place to register and organize those coming to settle this area. He then makes sure that the new settlers that they brought down have what they need and provides any information that he can provide. He then heads to Dyfrig's new tavern to get something to eat and to talk. Once he has a chance to talk to Rhasa he asks, "Where do you think we should explore next? Further south into the Kamelands, or west into the Narlmarches? And when should we go?"
"Indeed Barnabus, our community will grow rather quickly once these folk arrive at the settlement." Riding to Rhasa as she makes suggestions for what should be done during the journey, Calinder asks, "Is there anything I can do to assist?"
Once the settlers were ready to travel, Calinder asks Rhasa, "Which route do you think will be best for moving these folks to the settlement?"
Hmm...one out of four, not too bad I guess for someone that is not real good at coming up with names. I like the idea of naming our city after Kylia as well, something like Kylia's Refuge or of course just Kylia would be good I think. If everyone else is ready to start heading these settlers down towards the fort, I'm okay with that. Cue Frankie Laine singing Rawhide and let's move 'em out.
Calinder laughs along with Nilus even though he's not sure that Barnabus meant his statement too be funny. "Nilus I'm sure that with additional training under your watchful eye and a measure of patience, that we will eventually have a proper fighting force to assist us in repelling any attacks that may come our way." "Perhaps one day our fighters will even lend hand to the Swordlords who have sent us here."
"I have feeling that it would not improve the situation, and I also feel that it will be alright despite how it appears at the moment."
"Dare you go and remind Nilus that he was once such as they are now." Calinder says to Barnabus with a chuckle as they walk by the recruits as they train. "He'll likely say that he was never that way, and not very nicely I'm sure. But I think you are right that we should stay close in case there is an incident."
After Calinder and Barnabus get more information on the needs of the settlers, and inform Nilus about the potential recruits. Calinder says to Barnabus, "Thank you for your help this day, I feel that we are making progress, small progress, but progress none the less." When Rhasa gives her report on the area that Nathan suggested, he says, "I agree that we should do all we can to preserve this area as much as possible." Calinder will continue talking with the settlers and doing all he can to help them prepare for the next part of their journey.
Going back through the discussion thread again, as far as I know we still haven't decided on a name for the settlement. I don't know that it really matters at this point if it has a name, I'm sure there are many places that start out with no name. I'll throw out a few suggestions to start us out; it could be Laketown, Tuskwater City, Shrike City, or how about Bandit's End, although that sounds more like a tavern name. And there is nothing that says we can't change the name later on, I know that's happened a time or two in history.
"Rhasadilara, thank you for working with Nathan to get him the information he needs and for scouting out the new gathering area. If there is anything that you encounter, or that you , Nathan, or Lothar feel that is needed, or must be discussed further, then let us do so." "I will go inquire amongst the settlers for any further needs or concerns, and see if any are interested in becoming part of the militia that is to be formed. Those that are interested, I will send any who are interested to speak with Nilus." "Barnabus, would you like to assist me with gather information among the settlers in the morning? For now I could do with a little rest." "If there is nothing else, I say we bring this discussion to an end and enjoy the rest of the day." "Oh, by the way, did we get Samlor's wife settled in somewhere to rest until we are ready to leave?"
"Lothar and Nilus both have good points I believe. As they have said, we can start with local militia's made up of those settlers that would like to volunteer. Then in time we could start building a professional fighting force and the militia would then supplement the professional fighters. I think if we do it in this way it will be more feasible." "Eventually we will have need to pay all those who serve in positions of leadership and provide community services, so eventually we will need a source of income as a community to pay for such things as soldiers and those that serve, such as Nathan here who has volunteered to help build this new land of ours. So we need to give this some thought as well." "Rhasadilara is also right, we have many immediate needs as well. How long do you think would be required to organize the settlers here to move South? Can the settlers themselves help clean up the area as they prepare to leave?" "Nathan, what kind of assistance are you going to need to prepare and then run the new settler gathering area?" "We can certainly lead this group south, but what about future groups, can they be organized and given enough information to lead themselves, or will we need to provide guides for them?" "Also, remember that we were given this oppotunity so that one day we could lend support to Rostland if they are ever in need, and so that must be our ultimate goal." Calinder falls silent for a moment awaiting replies from the others, particularly Rhasa and Nathan who his questions were directed at, but welcoming information from any gathered at the table.
"Barnabus that may be a very good suggestion. Nathan, you could perhaps ask those who are coming to settle here if they have had any military experience. You may even be able to tell just by sight for a few."
"Yes, that does sound like a good idea and would be fair. Oleg, how do you feel about what Rhasadilara has proposed?" "Nathan, do you feel that would be something you could handle? Would, you be able establish an area for the settlers to come to for information and to be registered, then prepared to continue to the new settlement?"
"Svetlana, thank you for this fine meal." Calinder says as helps himself to some stew. Then sitting, Calinder says, "Shall we get started in discussing what is needed and any issue that need to be resolved? Oleg, I know you have some concerns, would you like to explain them to the whole group?"
"I've asked Oleg if he would ready some food and drink so that we can all sit down and discuss the things that need to be done and changes that need to be made. We can have Nathan join us so that you may meet him and discuss his qualifications." "Shall we return to the trading post and see if Oleg is ready for us?" As the group returns to the trading post and passes by the area where the blacksmith has setup, Calinder will wave at Nathan signaling that he should join the group. Calinder will then seek out Oleg and Svetlana to see if they are ready to sit and discuss the matters at hand.
"Barnabus, I don't think we've visited that area yet, so we'll want to check it out first. We can have them hold north of the fort while we ride ahead and make sure it is safe."
"We may want to find them some grazing land as near the settlement as possible, so that we will be able to provide protection for them and their herd, unless they are capible of protecting themselves."
"I agree Lothar, that is partly why I was here among the tents of the settlers, to find the rest of our group and tell you of Nathan." "He was actually recommended to me by Svetlana, and after speaking to him, I believe that you will find that he has many talents, and is only assisting the blacksmith as a means of helping out." "I believe that he will prove more than adequate to the task of administering to the settlers and others coming to our fair land."
"Rhasadilara, Lothar, I'm glad we have found you. Have you found anything of interest as you have walked among the settlers? And who is this that you walk with?" "Rhasadilara, I believe I have found the solution to the very problem you mention, in a man by the name of Nathan. He is currently serving as the assistant to the blacksmith, but I have spoken to him and believe that he would serve well as our administrative leader here to organize the settlers and see to providing some order here." "I told Nathan that I would have to speak to all of you first, but that if everyone agrees, then he can serve as our administrator here and free Oleg to look after his trading post." "Rhasadilara, Nathan also inquired about a map and information about the area, and I thought that you could perhaps help him with that information if he is to serve us in this task."
Calinder continues walking as he and Barnabus discuss the health of the settlers and their flocks. Eventually he spots Rhasa and Lothar walking with a woman who is unknown to himself. "Look Barnabus, there is Rhasadilara and Lothar." Calinder then waves in the direction of the other two Guardians.
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