"Hah! I think I remember that story Lyle! The one where the Sable Company fights the dragon on their mounts, right?"
Sounds like it Lyle agrees.
"I would hate to encroach on any of Erastil's creatures, are they likely to be a threat to the town if we leave them here?"
Lyle holds up his hands in a helpless gesture, I don't honestly know, if their is enough hunting around here I think they're far enough from the town they won't be an immediate problem. If we plan to expand into this area, we'll run into them again, but if we're going to avoid a fight we had better leave now, because they've probably caught our scent by now.
Knowledge nature
"Sounds resonable enough. No need to go borrowing trouble, right?"
"Let us avoid them for now, we can come back to them later when we think we're ready to deal with them. Agreed?"
In that case I suggest we backtrack about 100 yards and circle around they're nest, with any luck if we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone.
As you leave the nest, the shrieking slowly comes to an end - it seems you managed to avoid attracting their ire.
The rest of the day reaches a dull conclusion as, again, a nest of clouds gathers in the great sky above, and the sunset is made final with a great bloody horizon.
The clouds do not weep or cause any commotion other than the occasional rumble of thunder and the strike of lightning to the far south in the mountains. As you spread out to map and explore this area, you eventually come across the great northern river. In the far horizon you can see Fairweather, in all its glory, nestled next to Lake Kobold's Claw.
Eventually, as you traverse the riverbank, you come across an ancient stone bridge - a small construction, long since weathered.
The construction is brittle in some places, but you know how to cross it without it collapsing.
It doesn't require much maintenance to restore to proper condition either.
You recognise the architectual design of this bridge; it looks like an ordinary bridge at first, yet the masonry and angle actually shows that it is Celtaran. How nobody's found it after all these years remains a mystery, however...
"We did well avoiding those hippogriffs. Let us hope we meet all of our challenges so skillfully."
Nimeon's bold statement is somewhat lessened by the way he seems to cling to his horse, clearly not comfortable on the creature.
Lyle dismounts from his horse, pulls out a silk rope from his saddlebags and ties one end around his waist. Turning to the group he says Nimeon, Khalil if you two will hold on to this, I'll scout the bridge to see if it's still sound enough for our horses to cross. If I fall in pull me out.
Disable Device
Calves shudders briefly at the prospect of crossing the bridge on loaded mounts, his concern only slightly mollified by the rope around Lyle's waist. "Do take care, Lyle. Is there anything I could do to assist as well?"
A pair of extra hands on the rope wouldn't hurt, every little bit helps right? Lyle says with a grin.
"I will hold you Lyle, have no fear."
Nimeon dismounts and wraps the rope around his arms, leaving enough free end for at least one more behind him.
With some success, Lyle manages to crawl across the bridge while finding some of the weak spots of the construction. The horses are wary as they cross the bridge, but you all manage to get over without plunging to an unfortunate death.
With some success, Lyle manages to crawl across the bridge while finding some of the weak spots of the construction. The horses are wary as they cross the bridge, but you all manage to get over without plunging to an unfortunate death.
Calavas relaxes for the first time since the prospect of crossing said bridge was broached.
As the group gets settled for the night, the now familiar sounds of Calavas struggling with his tent and good-natured griping in Orc drift over towards the fire.
Shortly afterwards, Calavas joins the rest of the group, having worked up a light sweat in the process of construction. "I give up. That's not going to get any easier." Sitting down, he pulls out a package of trail rations, and taking a bite asks, "So, am I the only first-timer on this trip?"
What do you mean by first-timer?
"Well, coming out here was honestly the first time I'd spent the night outdoors since I came to the building site with Sideon. There was once at the orphange, I suppose, when the house-mother set up a tent out in the back for myself and some of the other's children. I somehow doubt that counts, though. And most of us were back inside before the stars came out." Calavas smiles, looking up at the aformentioned stars. "This has been amazing, so far, but it's all new to me. You all seem to have such a grip on things like this."
Well, I spent a lot of nights outdoors during my militia training. Though admittedly we didn't go as far out in the field as this. Lyle says looking around at the surrounding countryside.
"I have spent some time in the field but not nearly as much as I should. I admit to having focused on my martial training to the exclusion of my woodcraft."
Nimeon blushes at this admission.
"There have been many nights that I have spent outdoors, though mostly alone."
After crossing the bridge, the rest of the day remains quiet, only the quiet rumble of the river accompanying you. The day turns to night within mere hours...
The morning greets you with heat, the sun dispersing the clouds to reveal the blue sky. You set out to explore for the day, traversing the hills until you reach the border of the lake, and the tip of the mountain.
Some five hundred feet up in the mountains, you see what appears to be a ... mine shaft entrance?
"Well Kalaya you have us now, no reason to spend your nights without good company again!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"We've done well so far, if we keep up this pace and have no difficulties how long do you estimate we'll be out Lyle?"
Well, I spent a lot of nights outdoors during my militia training.
"Really? What militia, if you don't mind be asking?" Calavas inquiries. "We sometimes had soldiers from Brevoy, Rostlanders I think, come by the orphanage to look over potential recruits."
"...I admit to having focused on my martial training to the exclusion of my woodcraft."
"How much woodcraft is expected from your position?" Calavas asks curiously.
"There have been many nights that I have spent outdoors, though mostly alone."
Calavas smiles and nods at Nimeon's statement.
"Hmm. So that's what this 'sky' is that I've been hearing so many rumors about. I thought people were making it up."
The Restov Militia, all boys of 16 years are required to undergo militia training.
Well originally, we planned to explore the 6 hexes on the map surrounding our village. This is hill country, but we're on horseback, so we can clear a hex in a day. It's been 3 days and we've cleared 3 hexes so we're halfway done, barring any unfortunate circumstances, we should be done in 3 days.
"To be honest Calavas paladins of Erastil are few and far between. Though rangers and druids spend more time in the wild I have, to this point, focused on defending the wilds by convincing those in towns that they are worth saving. Often times this has involved thumping a logger or two when they didn't want to respect nature's bounty."
Khalil nods to Calavas. "Three days, eh? Sounds good to me. I'm aching for a warm bed and some mead."
Kalaya smiles at the warm responses, chuckling at the sky comment.
As you outline the mountain, you map out the area just in time for the sun to vanish and night to enter the stage...
Fresh dew and the chirping of birds is what greets you in the morning. After a long trek around the great digit of Lake Kobold's Claw, you come upon a large, beach created entirely out of dried-out mud.
This large area is likely to contain some form of clay deposit underneath the mud.
"A refreshing trip so far my friends. We have made excellent progress and the immediate area seems to be mostly clear of danger. Kalaya, I feel remiss but I find myself wondering where you came by your knowledge of the natural world."
"Does anyone know how to fish? Fish sounds good right about now." Calavas muses as they pass by the lake side.
I could try, but no guarantees you'll probably wind up hungry. Lyle says.
K. Nature
Kalaya studies Nimeon carefully before responding, searching his face for sign of judgement. She had heard of what many holy warriors thought of the older faiths or followers of anything other than the established gods and laws.
Still he had been nothing but friendly so far and she had no real reason not to trust him.
"My father was a woodsman and my mother a healer, so I've always spent a lot of time outdoors. I always felt drawn to the deeper parts of the forest, places where no one had been in a long time. When I was 16 I wandered into the woods, and I supposed technically I got lost but I felt pulled towards a clearing that had a stream running through it dominated by an ancient tree in which was a naturally formed face."
"I moved closer and it was like a hush fell over the whole forest, the eyes felt as if it were looking into my soul and then I saw Whisperwing here on a branch. He flew towards me and looked into my eyes and that was it. I could feel a power older and wiser than anything I've ever felt, a part of every wild place reach in and touch my mind and with it I formed a bond with Whisperwing."
She smiled as the owl on her shoulder took flight, plunging into the shadows aft3r his evening meal.
"A wonderful tale Kalaya. I find it enlightening to hear how others come to worship as they do. For myself it was an interesting path, but one I am loathe to remember on such a beautiful day as this."
The wonder of Erastil is everywhere!
Calavas listens at first with interest as Nimeon begins the conversation, but is obviously enthralled once Kalaya begins her recounting her bonding with her familiar. As she finishes, he seems to realize he's on the verge of staring, and turns his attention to the direction Whisperwing flew off in.
"Sorry" he says quietly a moment later, a slight flush rising on his face. "I...I just always like to hear about those kind of things. Where one's magic comes from. I've always wondered myself."