Glancing away from Angus towards the others, Pontia cocks an eyebrow at the former prisoner's outburst. So he does care about something more than drinking and wenching.
Hyngrot stares hard at Angus for a moment, sizing the man up before answering. "I'll see what I can find, should be fresh enough to follow."
After a second search of the area, patterns start to fall into place and Hyngrot identifies the woman's tracks.
Daxius looks around thoughtfully. We must make every effort to run this woman to ground. She will know more of this group's heinous activities.
He slings his shield over his shoulder, sheathes his sword and readies his bow for the hunt.
Angus quirks an eyebrow at Daxius' words and mouths to Hyngrot, "Does he always talk like that?"
"Best to hurry, then. My defenses are running low."
"All right, let's move." Hyngrot gives a grunt at Angus's mouthed words, suppressing a chuckle as he turns to the tracks. "I recommend you head off somewhere else. Otherwise you better be on your best behavior. Got enough headaches this day."
You spy an earring shaped like a bat's face on the path.
As you make your way through the forest time ticks away and you plunge deeper into the woods.
Pontia follows Hyngrot's lead.
"At this rate, we won't catch up to her until nightfall." Hyngrot ponders. "We could try moving faster but I risk losing the trail."
"That late already? Let's make for home. Westcrown by night is not safe. We can come back tomorrow and see where the trail goes."
Angus follows quietly behind the others, until Hyngrot mentions that they wouldn't reach her until nightfall.
"I say we keep going. If we stop now, we have to find her trail again, track it, and risk her getting further ahead. As for it being safe, I think you'll notice that we are not in Westcrown."
Daxius looks at Angus, his expression torn. He actually agreed with the man, but had no intention of admitting so. Why, exactly, are you even still here? he asks, more to make a point than as an actual expression of curiosity. He adds, Our quarry will likely stop for the night, and we will catch her then. Hyngrot can see well in the dark, due to his orcish blood, and that is our advantage.
He continues to follow Hyngrot, taking up the trailing position in the order, as he usually does. The added bonus is that he can keep an eye on Angus, who he openly distrusts.
"Just to bug you Mister Sunshine Light-sword."
The tall Ulfen man flashes a grin at Daxius.
"No, but we didn't prepare to spend a night outdoors; we'd planned to make for the city after we finished our business here. Though there's a camp back there, and I have the means to clean it up a bit if we need to stay there."
As he follows the others, Nico would pipe in: "The Ulfe-er, Angus has a point; perhaps we should recoup our strength and head out in the early morning, perhaps pre-dawn? The witch surely must rest herself, and we can still use Hunter's nightvision."
Birds tweet, trees rustle, a light breeze plays across your cheeks. It's a lovely day for a walk in the woods.
Behind you lies a camp littered with corpses, before you a witch's trail.
Not surprisingly, Daxius doesn't return Angus' grin. He turns to Pontia and Nicolai, his jaw set. He is a bit confused by their opinions. We have the advantage now. The witch is alone, and on the run. The longer we dally, the more our advantage fades away. If you value your rest so much, then do what you feel you must do. I will not sit around all day waiting for failure just so I might have a comfortable night's rest. I will continue, on my own if I must.
Bristling a bit at what he felt was a lecture, "We're injured, and some of our resources depleted; I hardly call that 'wanting a comfortable night's rest'". Crossing his arms, he nods, "Still, I'll not have you wander these woods after her alone, as I'm sure she's still plenty dangerous"
Nicolai is pale and drawn, he often winces in pain as you move along after Hyngrot.
Hyngrot has a slight limp and you can see severe bruising down his sword arm.
Pontia, Angus and Daxius are unharmed. Angus is a picture of health, despite having eaten poorly since capture. Daxius is his stoic, unflinching self and Pontia, despite the exertions, is more robust than most folk.
A sparrows song rings overhead.
splashes of blood dry into a stain on Hyngrot's boots.
"Ya know, he has a point."
As quick as flash of lightning, Angus' grin turns into a glare aimed squarely at Daxius.
"I want to continue because I don't want to lose her trail, but I can see that everyone except the two of us is hurt. I also get that you don't like me, but the more I hear you talk and see the way you treat the rest of the people around you, the more you remind of those self-righteous Taldanes. When we find her, the others can keep their distance while you and I rush her. I don't want to fight her, but if we're quick, we can take her down before she has a chance to turn us to toads or something."
"If we're goin' after her, best stay quiet as we move so we don't give ourselves away."
Hyngrot picks up the pace.
After an hour of piercing the forest you begin to sense you are drawing closer, at the same time you can hear the flowing waters of a river ahead.
Your unsolicited opinion of my demeanor is noted. Daxius responds to Angus with a hint of dismissiveness in his tone. He begrudgingly adds, And your willingness to aid in our cause may in fact be admirable, depending upon your motivations. He pauses, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes, then adds, to everyone. I have no more healing to offer this day. I have only my convictions, and my tactical analysis. You've heard my decision for my course of action; you must all make your own as well.
"Angus, we're fighting for something other than revenge, but we appreciate your help. Soldier, remember who-- and what--our real enemies are. Why do you act in a way that drives away potential allies?"
Daxius frowns, his eyes smoldering. I know very well the face of our enemies. It is upon my insistence that we will soon bring one of them to justice.
Moving steadily through the forest you sense that you are nearing open water and soon enough you are treated to the merry sounds of the riverbank.
This however is the midst of a chase and you soon find yourselves on a river bank watching your foe slip down the river on a small, bright green rowboat handled by two (typically) peculiar gnomes.
The river is 15ft wide on average and looks fairly deep.
There are two other boats on the shore, similar in style, one blue and one red. Both boats take two oars and can carry three or four people (five at a push).
"We'll lose them if we don't take the boats. I'll steer one with Scholar and the new meat, Crafter and Soldier take the other?"
Know (nature)
"Sounds good, Hunter!" After a good look, he adds, "This part of the river is roughly 8-10 ft. deep, so let's try not to fall in!"
To Daxius, he gestures "If you don't object, I'll steer - you're a better shot than I with the bow."
"How are you with a bow, Angus?"
Daxius nods at Nicolai's offer, climbing into one of the canoes and steadying it as the other man comes aboard. He takes up his bow once more as he settles in.
"About as good as a Taldane at being humble, but I can try."
Angus scratches the back of his head as he answers and looks more than a little embarrassed at admitting that.
"Here, use my crossbow. You're probably better with it than I am."
"Guess we'll see."
Angus takes the crossbow and loads a bolt into it before sighting down its length.
As the bold adventurers pile into the boats, the gnomes pick up their pace. They begin singing a lusty song as they row:
Row, row, row
like a devil's at your back
row, row, row
or you'll feel a nasty smack
row, row, row
like a demon's on your trail
row, row, row
like you stamped a dragon's tail
row, row, row
etc.
The witch is about 80 feet away.
Hyngrot and Angus push the blue boat off from the shore, Daxius, Pontia and Nicolai set to the water in the red boat.
The gnome's craft seems to zip along the water!
Angus lines up a shot at the witch, but changes his mind and switches to one of the Gnomes.
Pontia bends her back to the oars, but fails to make much headway. This is not the sort of thing that a life of academia prepares one for.
Nicolai sets himself up in the canoe, and quickly works at the oars, giving good, hard strokes.
Str check
Pontia struggles to get to grips with the oars as Hyngrot lets fly a shot that sinks deep into one of the rowing gnomes. He breaks off mid-song with a curse, "Hanspur take y'r eyes, Blighter!"
Nicolai pushes off strongly from the shore but still the gnomes and witch pull ahead as the boats seek to accelerate.
They are now 100ft ahead!
Daxius only has eyes for the witch. He calls out in the most authoritative voice he can muster, Ahoy the gnomes! You are harboring a violent bandit and aiding her escape from the Swords of Light! Desist in your activities, stow your oars, and we will assume you knew nothing of her crimes. You will be allowed to leave unmolested. Continue to flee and suffer her fate!
"Are you gonna talk all day or are you actually going to do something useful?"
Angus almost manages to keep the snarl to a minimum as he shouts at Daxius and begins reloading the crossbow.
"Damned idiot. Gonna get hisself killed if he don't stop that crap."
Hyngrot focuses on the rowing, bringing the boat closer to the gnomes.
Panting, Pontia replies, "If...the gnomes listen...we can stop. Worth...a try." She grimaces as another splinter announces its arrival in her hand. How do people do this every day?