Drelsh nods, offering a hand to the man again. "Thank you, the help is much appreciated." He turns to the others. "You are all dismissed for the time being. Don't drink too much and make sure you can get up early."
Hot food and a stiff drink is just what Mike wanted after the trip. Not having to deal with a pack of wolf's sweetened the deal. Pulling up a chair to the table he sips on his mead in between spoon fulls of the stew as he listens to the rest of the group talk among themselves.
Ulan let's out a chuckle.
"Excellent, off duty!"
The dwarf grabs a mug of local ale and drinks it with surprising speed. Ulan had been looking forward to being relieved so that he could partake in the local beverages.
With a belch, he raises his almost-empty glass to Drelsh.
"Not to worry, Doc! It's only frothy water after all. We'll be fine for the morning."
He finishes the ale and considers his clumsy words. He nods to the bartender.
"Sorry, nothing personal lad. It's just I got me the taste for harsher brew. Got something a bit grittier?"
|
"I'm always happy to play some tunes. But first I'll eat a bit if you don't mind.", Aldras says to the innkeeper with a big smile.
After partaking in the food provided by the innkeeper, Aldras takes up his lute and starts playing some merry tunes for the patrons in the inn.
Aldras will spend most of the evening playing the lute, from time to time sipping on his ale in between two songs and talking to the patrons when he takes a break.
Bryn drinks one tankard of beer and has a second with his supper he sits up and listens to Aldras play for a while. He tries talking with the other patron to see if he can gather any more information about the area.
He goes to bed early enough that he gets plenty of sleep before they start out in the morning.
The talk in the inn is that of simple farmers and craftsmen - much like yourself. Aldras is a talented performer who keeps the locals, and his militia squad, entertained through the night. He even manages to get some tips from the other patrons! (total of 23 silver pieces - pretty nice haul considering the small size of the village and their rural nature =)
The night passes without consequence. Breakfast is simple but filling, and the squad is ready to ride shortly after the sun rises.
|
|
After having his fill of the breakfast, Aldras says to the innkeeper "I had a marvelous evening yesterday. Hope I can return here soon, but then maybe not while on militia duty."
Aldras will then go prep his gear and horse for today's travel. While waiting for the rest to get ready to go he'll make random conversation with anyone willing.
At the performance Drelsh actually gives a rare smile, tapping his foot with the beat of the music. He nurses a dark beer while sitting by himself, leafing through a book.
Drelsh wakes everybody early, pushing them outside for an early start.
Nope - I answered it. =) You are only issued the short spear and the armor. Anything else comes from your 'life savings'.
Nothing can keep winter away. Well that's what Mike thought as he got on his winter garments in the early morning. Double checking that he had everything packed he headed out for breakfast and see what this mornings orders are. He made mental not to see if the village had the parts to make a short bow if they had time to look. Maybe that dwarf Ulan can help him get it together and save him a lot of money.
Proposed riding order for the day:
Drelsh..........Mike
Aldras..........Bryn
......Lambert.......
Ulan............Breggel
Everyone ok with this? Will post next inject tonight!
"Aldras, where did you learn to play like that? Your very good." Bryn says once they have gotten going the next morning.
Lambert is quiet throughout the night, eating little, drinking less, and barely uttering a word. He rises surprisingly early in the morning, and gets ready quickly and with a surprising efficiency. On the road, he proceeds along as quietly as the day before.
After riding for a bit Mike looked over at Drelsh who's riding didn't seem to be hampered at all from his leg injury. He practiced some thrusts from horse back while striking up a conversation with his temporary boss. "So, Drelsh what is the story behind that injury of yours?"
Drelsh lets his horse trail back a bit so it follows Mike's, then swings his good leg over so he's riding side-saddle. "During the battle of Sans de Gourge I was one of two medics in the fighting, so we were stretched pretty thin. Harry and I tried to stay behind Carrion Hill while the battle was going on, but then our commander got his belly split open by a sword. He was a big man in a full suit of armor, so even back then when I was stronger I couldn't budge him, even if I thought it was a good idea with that stomach wound. So I sat down and started stitching him up right there. Enemy archers saw me and started raining hell down once they saw what I was doing. Took three arrows sitting there, one in the shoulder, one in the arm, and one in the leg. After that a few good men ran over and covered me with their shields, but I was hurting from those wounds. I couldn't hold my hands steady or raise my right shoulder so I had to let the commander bleed out while I tended to those arm wounds. I let the leg wound sit, deciding to deal with it later since I didn't need it at the moment. Saved his life but that arrow in my leg festered." He pulls up the pants leg, revealing a fist sized chunk missing from his leg. "Lucky I didn't lose the whole damn leg. Rolled back over the hill and took care if it quick." After a moment the realization set in - he cut the chunk out of his own leg in the middle of the battle.
Mike whistled in amazement as he looks at Drlesh's injury. "Your not kidding about being lucky. Well for what it's worth i'm glad you made it out of that situation. Did this Harry fellow make it out too?"
Drelsh grunts as he pulls his leg back over. "He made it through the battle but I never saw him or the front line after that. He had an old lady and two girls back home, I always hope he made it back to them in one piece. Or at least two."
Mike gives one more thrust with his spear before giving it a rest and pulling out a piece of trail jerky. "We will have to raise a toast to the both of you when we get back to Daggermark." Mike looks forward down the road wondering if the rest of the trip is going to be as uneventful as it has been before looking back to Drelsh. "So what kinds of things in these parts can threaten the caravan?
"Well wolves can be a threat, but the locals are aware of it and large groups usually scare them off. Most likely the biggest threat would be bandits, gods forbid."
"Well lets hope that they will be as scared as the wolfs if they are out there."Mike spits out a particularly tough piece of jerky. "Makes me wish I put some of that stew in a pot. If I had my dads bow I would get of gotten us some game for tonight's meal.
About midmorning you pass by a travel site, one of the many campsites set up along the Trade Way where there isn't an inn or homestead. There is a small group of human and half-elf hunters crossing the road near the site, heading to the east towards the Misty Forest. They look to be following the trail of some animals.
Drelsh slows his horse, then turns slightly back. "Aldras, go talk to them and see what news they bear and what they hunt. Mike, come with me to circle the area. Bryn, Lambert, circle around the other direction and do the same thing. Ulan, Breggel, stay with Aldras. Keep each other safe. Meet back here in ten minutes." Drelsh trots over to a tree, taking out his dagger and gouging a large "X" in it to mark the spot. He gestures to Mike, then begins heading to circle around counterclockwise.
"Well I can usually tell when something I make isn't good because my grandfather smashes it flat an makes me do it again."Bryn says to Aldas. "though sometimes I think my grandfather just assumes it isn't any good." Bryn frowns at the back of his horses head for a minute before asking "Is it pretty hard to learn to play those?" indicating the lute.
Mike leaves most of his gear up in the branches of the tree Drelsh marked taking only his spear and hunting knife with him. Snapping the reigns he sets pace with Drelsh taking position just off his left side. "Expecting something?he asks Drelsh.
"Nope. But I've learned you rarely expect things to go wrong. Rather have a little unnecessary scouting than get jumped."
Breggel stretches and nods to Drelsh.
"Aye we will watch out after him, never fear."
He hefts his hammer and straightens his armor before moving off with Aldras.
Scouting parties - roll Perception and Survival checks, please =)
Aldras - you're up with the hunters...
Lambert opens his mouth as if to say something when Drelsh barks out his orders, but stops himself before uttering anything. Instead he simply closes his mouth and shrugs before glancing towards Bryn and setting off as instructed.
|
|
"Not to difficult once you know the basics. If we get the chance this evening you could give it a try and I'll teach you the basics.", Aldras replies to Bryn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm on it Doc.", Aldras replies to Drelsh when hearing his orders.
Aldras goes over to the hunters with Breggel and Ulan. "Good morning all. We are from the Daggermark militia and are patrolling this road. We were wondering if you had any news about the area."
After a short pause Aldras continues, "We've noticed you seem to be tracking some prey. Is it something that might be dangerous for the travelers on this road? If needed we might be able to offer some assistance."
Bryn nods at Lambert and also sets off in the direction indicated by Drelsh. He keeps a few yards distance from Lambert as they cirlce the area.
The hunting party waits for Aldras and the dwarves, waving as they approach. "Hail and well met! Yes, we're on the track of some wild boars - the inns around here pay good money for those, especially with winter coming. We did see some signs of an orc hunting party a few days back, south and east a bit. We were pretty far off the road here so you're not likely to be able to find them on your own. Glad to see the militia still patrolling the roads, though. We have to keep going or risk losing our prey. Be safe, gents!" The hunters move on, clearly intent on their business.
The scouting parties find signs of the animals the hunters are after, but nothing else of interest.
Drelsh frowns at the mention of an orc hunting party. "I doubt we could take on a batch of orcs. I'm thinking of returning to report what we have learned. Thoughts?"
"Aye, we should head back and warn the town of orc movements", agrees Breggel
"How far is it to the Way Inn that the commander order us to patrol too? I don't think going back without completing our assigned task would be a good idea." Bryn says. "but I agree we aren't up to taking on any orcs and Daggermark needs to be warned that signs of them were seen this close to the town."
The Way Inn is about 100 miles south - 3 days riding.
"They did say the tracks they found were a few days old. Those hunters were fallowing the roads and game trails to here and didn't run into them. I don't think there is much if any danger to us. I vote we continue on until we get something more solid."Mike wasn't happy with the situation but he didn't want to risk having his duty extended and having come all the way back out here.
Drelsh frowns. "I don't like orcs milling about. We still have a few days ride ahead of us, keep your eyes peeled for those green bastards."
"The hunters said they found the tracks a few days south, which is the direction we are headed."Bryn says thoughtfully. "Did they say which direction the orcs were headed?
Bryn manuvers his horse back into formations. If we run into those orce we don't stand a chance. he thinks as he looks around at the lightly armed squad.
You pass the rest of the day riding in tense silence, broken only by occasional breaks for rest and food. You do not see anyone else nor do you encounter any dangerous animals or creatures.
You reach another campsite shortly before sunset and decide to stop for the night. The campsites are maintained for the use of travelers. All that is provided is a fire pit and a stack of firewood, but they are well known to travelers along the road and there is always a small water source nearby. Travelers are expected to replace any firewood they use - but there are plenty of sturdy bushes and trees nearby.
Ulan helps carry some firewood.
"Shame about them orcs. I'd have enjoyed the chance to get stuck into them if the situation were different."
He dumps the firewood on the ground and sits down to rest. He furrows his brow as a thought dawns on him.
"Hey Doc! When night falls there is the danger, however unlikely, that them orcs could appear. Those grey-skins like moving at night. Maybe Breggel and I should take separate watches, since our eyesight can pierce the darkness."
"Good ideal brother. What do you say, Doc?"
Breggel takes the wood his brother brought and cuts it down to usable pieces while speaking to their leader.