"Oh no, we got them all Fritz." He says with confidence.
"Blienka, Valisia, you with me? Let me see if I got this right...
I am a fighter wading into battle is what I prefer,
Blienka is a monk and can dodge most attacks,
Valisia is a summoner and has her trusty Keizelia,
Selena is a scout of sorts and has good survival skills,
Sly is a friend, likely fey of somekind, but fast, he is our runner,
Krafnik is a holy warrior focusing on bow,
Jorne is a sword and shield fighter,
Abinius has good survival skills,
Jenya has a pistol and good survival skills,
Fritz and Aurora what skills do you bring to help and what do you specialize in? If you have not said where you prefer to fight in a battle please state it so we can get you in a group accordingly.
We will be exploring for the next few days but no foraging. We have plenty of supplies and I am sure you have plenty of rations as well. Does anyone not have a horse?
Blienka and Valisia are you fine being the other two leaders or would you prefer to travel with me?"
Jenya nods Yup. I almost never get lost out in the open. As long as there's a starry sky to guide by. As long as I can stay 20 feet or so away from a beast or a raider Misfire takes care of hurting them pretty bad she indicates her pistol.
Aurora replies to Krazok
"Since I'm not quite sure what your asking.
I do hunt by myself, so I am good at stalking my prey and noticing it.
I heal quick, and I don't need weapons just my fists and tail.
And I'll show you the thing that tends to shock hunters at times."
She looks around and spots the large great sword on Krazok's back.
"Mr Krazok, May I have your great sword? And I won't break it."
He pulls off the secondary weapon strapped to his back and offers it to Aurora.
He pulls out his map once Aurora is done showing off, and discusses with Blienka, "Excellent. That is fine we can see what we will see to the South before the North then. We will cross the river and explore 25 and 24 in about a day perhaps a bit more. Then split off and explore in three groups 18, 23, and 31. Then 17, R, 30 and we can meet up where R, 23, and 30 meet up on that night. Blienka your group should likely take 18 and 17, likely best shot at finding that unicorn."
"Groups, Jorne would you keep the keep here safe.
My group: Sly, Albinius, Jenya
Blienka's group: Fritz, Krafnik
Valisia's group: Selena, Aurora,
Just a suggestion."
Aurora shows she can almost wield the massive sword with two-hands even with her thinner arms.
She then returns the weapon back to Krazok.
"I've never used one before, so I can't really use it as a weapon.
Unless someone trains me in how to use weapons."
"I surprised a large muscular barbarian I ran in to when I clubbed an ogre with it's own club."
Sounds fine to me. Looks like you guys have mapped quite a lot of the place already. Jenya says looking over a map with all the mapped areas highlighted.
"Sounds good to me as well, looks like we'll be travelling together again Jenya." Albinius smiles at Jenya before turning back to Krazok.
"I'm afraid I don't have a horse. On my own I prefer to travel on foot, it makes it so much easier if I happen to spot an interesting plant or animal. I don't want to slow you down however. Do you suppose the bandits here have a beast I could borrow?"
"Well, lets get a move on then. Selena and Aurora, do you have mounts? Kezelia, please bring my pony." Valisia, hefts her small pack up, ready to go. "Let's get these lands explored, and then get things settled around here. "
Aurora asks
"What is a mount?"
"Very nice Aurora, I could train you to use any weapon you like. Once you set your mind on one we can start training. A mount is typically a horse which helps someone move faster than on foot. My mount being an exception is the Axebeak over there." He points over at a large bird the size of the horses. "Jorne by chance do you have extra mounts? Otherwise we will have a group on foot, until we can get mounts."
Jorne nods, "Krafnik please make a prayer for the latest losses. I will stay here to watch the fort and begin work on repairing it. We do have two extra horses, I would be fine with lending them to further the goal of the exposition. Selena if you don't have a mount you may use my personal horse."
"I don't need a horse, I can keep up with them on foot. Plus I like the workout." She smiles showing her pernounced canines again.
Albinius makes his way over to one of the horses Jorne indicates and begins gently stroking it on the nose.
"Hello there old girl, looks like you and I will be going on a little journey soon. How does that sound to you?"
The horse whinnies appreciatively before rearing up in fear as an adder pokes its head out of one of Albinius' pockets.
"Easy there! Easy old girl! Credincios is a friend, he won't hurt you"
Aurora replies
"Thanks, Krazok. I'll take you up on that offer when we get back, though I'd first need to learn more about the various weapons that exist. And also thanks for explaining the mount thing, as I've been surviving here alone for a long time."
Fritz nods to Krafnik and hoists his sword high. "To the fallen!"
What was respect for the dead returns to his original mirth at Krazok's mention Fritz may have a preference other than for battle. He brings his swordflat sternly against his breastplate with a loud clatter. "Never! Battle itself is my specialty. I was born from it. I've endured through it. I've trained others for it. The glory of Gorum guides me to victory in it. I will not be sidelined from the challenges to be faced!"
As the groups are arranged, he looked to his new partners. "I have an anticipation of greatness. Let's make it happen."
after Krafnik finishes praying quietly for those lost he stands and brushes himself off and says simply, Evil does not have beauty for its grace and protect and preserve it but instead twists it at best and destroys it at worst. I will not stand idly by while evil seeks to drink beauty for its selfish, destroying ways.
Blienka looks to Fritz and shakes her head:
Combat is the last resort. The Eternal Rose would see a world of beauty. War is the destroyer of beauty. If it is necessary, then so be it, but we must always seek the alternative if it is possible.
Fritz guffaws. "I brush back no alternatives, yet in most cases, strong steel finds solutions in threat rather than use. And it is not true to say there cannot be beauty in war."
His expression settles. "In our journeys, I'm sure we'll have ample chance to find which works when."
There's going to be plenty of both I figure if we're going to settle the land. Jenya opines But I think we'd better get to finishing exploring the place first yeah?
"Since it is late, let each of you take your time to rest and we will set out early in the morning. Jorne, Selena, and Krafnik will keep first watch. Then I will take second watch. Anyone want to take third and fourth watch?" Krazok asks.
He takes off his bedroll and sets it next to the fort wall but about 20 feet from the gate. The mounts on his far side. His Axebeak comes over and nests next to him.
"I'd be more than happy to take fourth watch" Albinius replies "I always do like to watch the sunrise and I can have breakfast all ready for you all when you wake up. Nothing like a good breakfast to start the day right."
Aurora replies to the question
"I'll take the last watch, so I can exercise myself awake for the rest of the day."
Everyone wants to see the sun come up. I'll take the third. See the stars off.
The night goes by quietly.
Fritz took the second watch, shoring-up their numbers where they were short.
"Say, Krazok," he intoned, "what would you say the largest threat to this place is? If people are slow to learn the Stag Lord has been killed, they may stay away as birds with a scarecrow."
Huh. So that's what you guys meant by frog meat....
"The largest threat to this place, you mean this fort? A massive animal of some kind likely. Perhaps the lizardfolk, though unlikely, or a wandering giant. Most folks would likely stay away from this location."
Krazok pulls out some slabs of meat and has Albinius cook some of it up or helps him do it, then tells Jenya, "We killed some massive frogs and have been eating well off their meat."
I am ready to explore when my team is and he gathers his possessions into the saddle bags ready to go
After helping cook breakfast, seasoning the frog's meat with spices from his bag, Albinius makes ready to ride.
The groups mount up and head out together. Krazok in the lead, he gets to the river and stops. "I think it would best to cross here any suggestions?"
The skunk river here feeds into the lake, it is probably about 300 feet across but seems to not have much of a current.
Krafnik says with some small words I might inspire more skilled riding across this more difficult crossing but the water looks low enough here to cross
Valisia begins the day as normal with prayers and a quick mental preparation of magic for the day, followed by calling Kezelia from her home plane to join in the day's adventures. She dons her armor and cestus and grabs her pack and supplies.
Feeding and mounting up on her trusty pony, she is ready for action.
Once over the river Krazok gives directions. Valisia take your group to the right and head South, Blienka just head straight South, and my group will go left and head South. Filter down through this area and we will meet up at the South part around noon.
A few hours into exploring Krazok's group finds a strange cottage, it has blue smoke coming out of it.
"What do you think, mark it and come back or send Sly to find the others as we wait?" Krazok asks.
Fritz set-out to hunt for his companions, endeavoring to show them he was willing to pull his weight on their expeditions. His success allowed him to feel useful and excited for the time ahead.
He laid some of the game before Blienka. "Please accept this offering as a gesture of unity for the road ahead. Our approaches may be different, but our aim is common." The half-orc could be eloquent when he was in the mood. Much of it had to do with speeches for morale in Lastwall from the officers. Unfortunately, most of those speeches were just before a majority of men marched to their graves.
The latter part was one Fritz often omitted from his thoughts, mainly because - perhaps in hubris - he believed that scenario would not apply to him.
"Alright then, lets go merry band of explorers."
Valisia and Kezelia move ahead with her new companions.
"What do you think, mark it and come back or send Sly to find the others as we wait?" Krazok asks.
Well either's good. Don't think the person in the cottage is botherin' anybody. I say come back later? Unless someone else really wants to go on in and knock.
After Aurora's Morning stretch and breakfast she mounts the horse given to her
"I just hope that nothing bad comes our way as we explore."
"What do you think, mark it and come back or send Sly to find the others as we wait?" Krazok asks.Well either's good. Don't think the person in the cottage is botherin' anybody. I say come back later? Unless someone else really wants to go on in and knock.
"It really depends. There's no sense in the entire group investigating if it's just a couple of charcoal burners with some weird herbs. Is it worth trying to get a closer look before we make the decision? Jenya has a good point about there seeming to be no urgency here though so I guess we could just mark it and move on but I admit to being curious about who might be in there."
Doesn't hurt to knock and see. I'm not a good talker though
"Well, Aurora, out here there has been a lot of weird stuff. Its pretty wild and woolly so far. But had some good meetings too. We met a toad guy, and we rescued a thylacine. Someday I will ride in its pouch.", she jokes.
"Hey, so when trouble does appear, It makes sense to have a good plan. Before, Krazok just waded up and smacked it, if I enlarged him. I'm not altogether sure it will work on you Aurora since you are fey. Selena, what do you do in battle? Perhaps you two could circle around the foe and whittle it away, while I support with spells. Kezelia is not a strong combatant, but she can assist as well."
"Marked it, we will come back with the whole group." He states as he pulls out the map and makes a note. Then pulls his reigns to lead this Axebeak away. "Sly come here I have a mission for you."
"Marked it, we will come back with the whole group." He states as he pulls out the map and makes a note. Then pulls his reigns to lead this Axebeak away. "Sly come here I have a mission for you."
The little lizard climbs easily up the Axebeak's barding and nods in agreement with his request and is off like a lightning bolt.