Loren spends the next few hours going through the camp, looking for those with bandages or wrappings that need to be tended to (discolored from bodily fluids, worn from travel, excess dirt from the road). He introduces himself (although without the knightly honorific), and explains that he would be honored if the person would allow him to tend to their injuries. If anyone rejects him based on his Solamnic appearance, he will nod humbly and try to withdraw. He tries to make people have eaten and have had water to drink. When finished, he will also ask if he may offer a prayer to Kiri-Jolith on their behalf.
Several people did tell Loren off or otherwise ward him away, but most paid him little mind until he offered help and then watched skeptically until it was done. As he worked, his reception improved markedly. Most people shrugged off the prayer, but a few paid close attention.
As they approach the camp, Caitlyn mentions to Jackun, "I expect some folk will be reluctant to move from here, they may not believe our story. Some of them may take poorly to the word of Reorx assuming he likely gave away something to the other side. I've been thinking on that, and it may not be the case. It seems to me the Dragonarmies have the upper hand, the pendulum has swung very far, what just happened may be His way of setting the balance straight."
Once in the camp Caitlin calls for runners, asking the council to assemble.
It took about an hour, but all the council finally gathered. Seeker Locar was dead last and conspicuously took his time about it as usual.
The Revered Daughter waits for everyone to be seated and she rises, her platinum medallion softly glowing and her white robes resplendent, though simple Thank you all for coming, Council Members. I apologize for the short notice in calling us this meeting but the needs are pressings. My companions have discovered a pass through these mountains which can be easily defended by causing an avalanche which will keep the dreaded Dragon Armies of the Dragon Queen for pursuit for some while. It will give us a chance to continue moving away from them and keep our people, our children, our women, our old people, save, for a while. The sooner we are able to reach this pass, the sooner we will be safe from the tyranny of the Darkness. Paladine guides us and is with us. Daily you see the numbers of clerics of Light minister to you and yours, asking for nothing in return, healing and binding your wounds and curing your sick. The gods of Good are with us my friends. Do not loose hope but we must be quick to seize this advantage. The gods of good protect us!
diplomacy check
Caitlyn adds "I've been up the pass, it's wide enough and isn't massively steep so we should be able to get everyone over it. The sides are steep, however, with a good deal of snow covered scree. Once everyone is safely past, I believe we can set off an avalanche. This will delay the dragon army, most of whom appear to be on foot. Of course if we could set the avalanche off while they were going through the pass that would be even better."
Loren watches quietly from the side, hands clasped before him in a modified parade rest. He thinks adding his voice to this discussion at such a critical juncture would merely prove a distraction, and Mariel and Caitlyn have done an exceedingly good job at laying out both the urgency of the situation and the tactical advantage of the plan. Still, he wants to get a sense of these seekers.
The Revereed Daughter grimaces internally, knowing that the Seekers will probably wish to fight and argue.
The Revereed Daughter grimaces internally, knowing that the Seekers will probably wish to fight and argue.
The council makes little pretense of debating. In short order all save the Free Folk and Seekers are agreed, if with some reluctance, to move on.
The Revered Daughter will task the children of Mishakel with caring for the sick and the Revered children of Paladine with arrangements to leave in an ordily fashion. She will ask the Sons of Kiri Jolith to prepare defenses and those who can fight and defend the refugees as they leave.
Loren has a little bit of trouble getting a sense of the column's capabilities. Still, he works with Mittens to organize a few groups of the more capable looking individuals to help look out for the remainder of the refugees. Loren suggests keeping the groups placed at intervals down the length of the column, and also equipping them with horns or other means of signaling for assistance. Assuming danger will come from the back, if at all, Loren volunteers to stay with the column's rear.
[dice=Profession (soldier)]1d20+11
Loren has a little bit of trouble getting a sense of the column's capabilities. Still, he works with Mittens to organize a few groups of the more capable looking individuals to help look out for the remainder of the refugees. Loren suggests keeping the groups placed at intervals down the length of the column, and also equipping them with horns or other means of signaling for assistance. Assuming danger will come from the back, if at all, Loren volunteers to stay with the column's rear.
Loren thinks he can find enough reliable people for the job.
The clerics and their lay followers get everyone who they can ready to depart.
The companions set to moving the refugees. Mittens and Loren chose dependable sorts and armed them with horns, shields and something to hammer them with, and otherwise means to raise the alarm and dispatched them at even distances about the column. Mariel, Conel, Sunmist, and the other faithful saw to those ailing and ensured the small children had a dependable adult or two to see to them if they were lacking.
It took half the day, but the hundreds of people and their stores of food began to move once more. Up they went to the pass that the gully dwarves knew. It led, just as careful scouting by Jakun and Caitlyn had established, a broader valley that spilled down toward a lake.
"Maybe we should just set this thing off now?" mused Caitlyn, "If we stayed behind we'd have a slog to catch up, and some of those Dragonmen fly - no doubt we'd end up fighting those. What do you think?" She looked at the others, curious to see if anyone had any suggestions?
The Companions set to work dislodging snow and rocks. It was careful, quiet, occasionally frightening work but they knew their business well enough. Loren's and Mittens' trained eyes sought out where to best place the landsides. Jakun did the calculations to be sure everything would fall to greatest effect. Thistletorp found a few good deadfalls that Caitlyn and Jakun's scouting missed to add to the fun and it only took felling a pair of trees to bring them into play.
When all stood in readiness, spells flew and levers worked. For a brief instant, all hung in perfect silence before the tumbledown began in earnest. Snow hissed across snow and rocks ground upon each other as they fell. A white cloud engulfed the pass and hung there for some minutes before settling to show a magnificent tangle. None of it would hide the pass from many eyes, but it may just look like a natural deadfall long enough to buy still more time than its clearing alone.
Night found the Companions back in the camp, only a few miles away courtesy of the late start. They came out on the descending edge of a tall range, facing another snow-capped and pale in the west. Past it, still, lay Qualinesti. Between them and that abandoned land, perhaps a dozen sloping miles away and just visible through the trees, spread a still lake that showed the far mountains on its face.
The front of the range tended southeasterly and the vale beyond broke sharply just south of the lake in a sheer cliff. There a great torrent of water plunged into a rift of much jagged rock. It was hard to say from their vantage, but the Companions thought the refugees might make it by on the near side of the rift. The far side looked more level, but would put the rift between them and Thorbardin.
The Solamnic studies the vista before them, stroking his mustache in thought. It's beautiful. Peaceful. A shame that the drums of war follow behind us. He pulls on the mustache briefly, breaking him out of his exhaustion-induced musings.
"We should get some rest ourselves, it's been a long day, but tomorrow we've got more work to do. Unless someone knows of the landscape on the other side of that rift and a way back towards our destination, it seems our path is clear."
Jakun looks unsatisfied at the collapse knowing if his magi was mightier the pass would have been hidden in its entirety one day...
As the Companions arrive at the back of the Refugee column Jakun nods his head in agreement with Loren, "Agreed".
As they rest, Jakun tries to plot the best course towards Zhaman and the key to opening Thorbardin.
Knowledge Local
Knowledge Geography
Despite the days exhausting work Caitlyn was infected with nervous energy and found herself unable to sleep early, so she offered to take the first watch. "You lot look shattered. I'll prowl around for a bit, hopefully spot any trouble"
I'll help too, Caitlyn! Thistletorp bounds behind her.
He holds his hands over his eyes to shade them and looks out into the wilderness.
Despite the days exhausting work Caitlyn was infected with nervous energy and found herself unable to sleep early, so she offered to take the first watch. "You lot look shattered. I'll prowl around for a bit, hopefully spot any trouble"
[dice=Perception if applicable]1d20+12
[dice=Survival if applicable]1d20+12
Caitlyn and Thistletorp found many signs of game, but nothing that looked like a special threat to the refugees.
Jakun looks unsatisfied at the collapse knowing if his magi was mightier the pass would have been hidden in its entirety one day...
As the Companions arrive at the back of the Refugee column Jakun nods his head in agreement with Loren, "Agreed".
As they rest, Jakun tries to plot the best course towards Zhaman and the key to opening Thorbardin.
Knowledge Local
Knowledge Geography
Jakun consulted his memory, checked the angles of shadows, and mulled it over. After some reflection, he thought that the refugees may have gained some ground. They had kept up in a southerly direction. If there was a pass or opening in the mountains to the south and east, it might be directly to the Plains of Dergoth. Zhaman should be near to the center of the plains, so they may even have gained some ground.
"Well that's encouraging!" exclaimed Caitlyn brightly upon hearing Jackun's assessment of their location. Of course there was the issue of feeding the refugees, they'd be fine for a few days but unless they got to hunting soon famine would set in.
Keen to do something about that, Caitlyn planned to lead another hunting mission, looking for game or trouble... With anyone who felt like coming she set off!
The Revered Daughter will help do what she can, with the party, but knowing that her skills and spells really don't help that much, for this type of activity, she will pray that what they did is enough to buy time for the group.
As the sun rises Jakun considers his thoughts on the night before and he approaches the Companions, "I believe I will need to scout each pass by air. From there I can ascertain the best way to go next. In the meantime, it would make sense for the camp to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Foraging for food would also be wise, once on the plains we cannot know how plentiful the food will be.
have you any questions or concerns before I start out for the morning? Tonight I will use my magic to check on the pass, if the armies of our foes have arrived there, I will know".
Magic! Caitlyn could see the tatical sense but she couldn't help but think of the dangers. Jackun's confidence in his art reminded her of her brother. He'd been so sure of himself and oh how he suffered for it.
She might have said more and she hated how sarcastic she sounded when she hastily replied, "I have one concern Jackun. Don't fall. Spells generally don't last forever right?"
Jakun grins at Caitlyn, "I have memorized the spell three times today so no worry there my dear".
Jakun grins at Caitlyn, "I have memorized the spell three times today so no worry there my dear".
Loren spends the night--when he isn't on watch--initially in prayer and then subsequently in a deep yet still restless slumber. So much of his word is changing and his mind is churning to process all of it. Yet, when he wakes, it is with a sense of purpose he has not felt since he was a young squire, fresh faced and in awe of the knighthood.
He dons his armor and weapons with a pride he has not felt in a couple of years, leaving his cloak packed in his bag, then sets out to find the wizard. Seeing Caitlyn has already found the minotaur, he slows his approach and tempers his enthusiasm with a recognition of what is at stake.
"Master Jakun, Miss Caitlyn, I hope the morning finds you, uh, well." He smiles a bit awkwardly at the red-haired woman, then looks back to the minotaur. "Not to doubt your preparation and knowledge, but should you encounter any problems, is there some way you can signal us? Or, to risk naive optimism, signal us of your success so that we can begin marching the column towards you?"
Jakun shakes his head in the negative, "I fear not Loren, I would not want to risk signaling to foes for something to investigate. I shall get going right away so little tie is wasted".
Jakun would first head to the pass he believes that the group should take to investigate the correct way to go.
The Revered Daughter will ask the clerics and their followers to help make sure that people might be ready to go in a moment's notice while she goes around trying to help those who are sick or becoming hopeless.
Caitlyn found signs of the usual forest game. She took a deer for her trouble. Despite a diligent search, she found no footprints, bootprints, or recent campsites to suggest intelligent menaces.
"Be safe Jackun!" she called as the Minataur floated off into the sky. She watched until he was a spec and then wheeled on her foot, eager to do something. Noting the Knight Loren near by, she walked over and said, "I don't suppose you'd fancy going hunting? Managed to bag a deer last time. Lot of hungry mouths, so we could do with a few more of those..."
Pensively, Loren watches the wizard fly off. Putting trust into the wisdom of a Red Robe that bargains with a spirit in the stone... But what else are we to do? If we go that way and find no passage, we could wind up trapped, or so delayed it would make hardly a... When Caitlyn speaks to him about hunting, he briefly goes wide-eyed then blurts out, "Of course!"
Then, remembering himself and affecting a more formal demeanor, he adds, "I mean, yes... I've noticed your skill at bringing game back to the camp. I apologize for not having taken the time to commend you on it. I worry I may not be quite to your measure, but I used to hunt with my father and assisted on fox hunts as a squire. I'm sure it will come back."
Caitlyn gives Loren an appraising look, "I'm sure you'll do just fine. Lets keep our eyes open and see what we find. If the gods are kind we'll find a rabbit warren where we can set snares or perhaps even find another deer."
Though initially a bit uneasy, and wondering perhaps if his time wouldn't be better spent doing something more "martial", the adage that an army marched on its stomach was as old as it was true. He nods graciously, "As you say, my lady."
He marvels at Caitlyn's skill on the hunt and is pleased he manages to not embarrass himself.