Marcus remains more centrally in camp, as an unspoken agreement between he and Saul is held. Saul and Eli enter goat corpse field, securing their ammunition as they find them.
They take their opportunity to look the goats over more closely, for signs of demontaint and salvageability. Whatever they can drag back for Jurin and his food wagon is claimed.
"Interesting crossbow you have there, Saul. Not much use for it back in Greengold, but here, well..."
Serra flies over the battlefield a few times, using his ranseur to end any twitching goats and ensuring that no more foes lay in wait or approach.
Perception
When he finishes with that, he will land next to Kastor and Amber.
"Are you two alright?" Serra's eyes go to Kastor, then to Amber, looking for wounds.
"If you are fine, we must see to the horses and wagons. Come along, boy."
Serra moves quickly to check on the horses and see that they are tended too. Something nags at the back of his mind...he tries to put it together.
Cole relaxes as the demon-goats die off and scatter, now harmless to the caravan. He walks among the wagons inspecting the damage, though he says nothing.
He tries to determine how much later their departure will be this day due to this encounter.
They take their opportunity to look the goats over more closely, for signs of demontaint and salvageability. Whatever they can drag back for Jurin and his food wagon is claimed.
"Interesting crossbow you have there, Saul. Not much use for it back in Greengold, but here, well..."
The goats, though as large as a man and with vicious looking horns, do not appear to be demon tainted.
Saul shrugged and flushed, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I had a feeling I'd need it. Just didn't realize it'd be to keep you safe from sweaters on the hoof."
Once the strays are shooed away, any wounded animals are treated, and the danger seems to have passed, Beagan looks more closely at a dead goat, hoping it wasn't a friend.
As he inspects the corpse, he scans the camp for the quartermaster. "Anybody got curry powder?" Definitely the best way to have goat. At least the ones who aren't true friends. Maybe Jurin included some in our provisions.
He looks for Nurah or Aravashnyel, curious for a knowledgeable opinion on the . "So do large herds of demon-inspired goats normally wander this area? Or did some fallen Druid or herder gather and spook this gaggle to impede interlopers like us?"
Serra flies over the battlefield a few times, using his ranseur to end any twitching goats and ensuring that no more foes lay in wait or approach.
When he finishes with that, he will land next to Kastor and Amber.
"Are you two alright?" Serra's eyes go to Kastor, then to Amber, looking for wounds.
"If you are fine, we must see to the horses and wagons. Come along, boy."
Serra moves quickly to check on the horses and see that they are tended too. Something nags at the back of his mind...he tries to put it together.
Several goats find the end of their remaining minutes at the end of Serra's flying ranseur.
Amber nods in answer to his question. "Yes, that was not quite the morning I'd been thinking of, but I'm quite awake now."
"Yes, Sir. At least one was broken. I could hear it, even over here."
Cole relaxes as the demon-goats die off and scatter, now harmless to the caravan. He walks among the wagons inspecting the damage, though he says nothing.
He tries to determine how much later their departure will be this day due to this encounter.
Walking through camp, Cole finds most of the wagons are whole, their tenders checking them over. The southern most one, though, has a broken wheel and holes in one side. "It's gonna need fixing, Sir. This wheel is useless. Putting the next on on and fixing the side will take at least until midday."
Once the strays are shooed away, any wounded animals are treated, and the danger seems to have passed, Beagan looks more closely at a dead goat, hoping it wasn't a friend.
Knowledge (Nature)22 As he inspects the corpse, he scans the camp for the quartermaster. "Anybody got curry powder?" Definitely the best way to have goat. At least the ones who aren't true friends. Maybe Jurin included some in our provisions.
He looks for Nurah or Aravashnyel, curious for a knowledgeable opinion on the . "So do large herds of demon-inspired goats normally wander this area? Or did some fallen Druid or herder gather and spook this gaggle to impede interlopers like us?"
Looking closely, Beagan realizes that the goats were simply dire goats, not demon tainted things at all. Further, they are branded, though there are several different brands, as if at one time, the goats might have been from different herds.
Nurah shakes her head as does Aravashnyel. "While demon tainted stock is not unheard of, these don't seem to be fiend touched." She says.
"It's gonna need fixing, Sir. This wheel is useless. Putting the next on on and fixing the side will take at least until midday."
Serra, who was also overlooking the damage, shakes his head.
"That won't do. Get me a few stout men to hold things up and we'll use a bit of my mother's magic to put her back together. She'll be good to go within an hour," Serra asserts.
Serra looks around for someone.
"And someone go get Amber. She might be able to help as well," Serra says. "The good Goddess has seen to it that some of us have magics, and we shall honor her by making good use of it."
Serra nods at Cole, insisting that he has this.
Cole nods back to Serra, pleased we won't be losing half a day.
He walks about the rest of the caravan seeing to their preparations. When it becomes clear that he's simply getting in the way, he retires to his own horse and checks that Laina has things well in hand.
He waits to proceed.
Jurin nods and whistles as the goats break up, then begins to skip through the dead, cutting throats (of goats) and pointing out the ones that are still good to eat.
"Can't waste the flour, won't be more until tomorrow."
Amber and Aravashnyel join Serra by the wagon, surveying the damage. "It will need to be freed of all of it's contents, of course. Then we can fix it right up." Aravashnyel offers.
"He's right. It wouldn't do to have any confusion there." Amber adds, grabbing some of the stomped goods from the wagon. "Hmm.... this could be saved as well; with a little magic. We might need it as well."
*****
As Cole walks the camp, he finds several tents have been damaged. People sleeping in them when the stampede hit became entangled when the tents fail. Some cut their way out to try to face the danger on their feet, just in time to see the Paragon Knights disperse the crazed herd.
He walk brings him to the tents of the specialists; Nurah's on the left, with Aron and Sosiel's immediately to the right of it. The halfling stands free of her tent, picking and poking at that of her neighbor's.
"I think it's fixable, Sir. Just a few cuts. Aron and Sosiel finally found their way out and have gone to see the Quartermaster to help with breakfast." She smiles broadly at Cole.
Sosiel, the priest of Shelyn approaches Jurin, hoping to help. A wicked rope burn cuts across his nose, and he seems to be limping.
"Blessed Morning, Jurin! Our leader had requested I take spells to help with the feeding of the men, and I am very glad to have complied. While it will not feed everyone, it could feed many while you are working on getting things together, no?"
Aron seems less than joyous at his side, but he too offers to help, "How are you wagons, Quartermaster? I can take a look and make certain they are still in good shape."
Brokenose brings up yet another goat and lays it nearby. "We'll need to dress them, Jurin. Can't let them poison on their innards. How many of them will we be taking the time to dress?"
Serra turns his head from looking at the wagon at the familiar voice.
"Aravashynel! How are you? I meant to speak to you earlier, but with all the excitement, I must have missed you," Serra exclaims while reaching around to find his small book.
"Are you going to help fix this wagon? And maybe while you do, we can opine about how a herd of big goats managed to find us."
Serra begins a quick read for the right trick to fix the wagon.
"And Cole, don't you think we could have had more notice on the attack from such a large group of foes? We didn't have much time before they were on us."
"You have had your hands full, what with meeting the queen and preparing for this mission, I suspect, Sir." The elf says with a grin. His eyes twinkle with mischief, then sobers as he looks at the wagon.
"Yes. Once it is emptied, I am sure we will have it fixed in no time." Though not an overly physical person, he lends his hands to the first part while discussing the second.
"It was an odd herd, that much is true. Did you see that they are branded? Old brands, but different, as if from different families."
With the wagon emptied, the make whole spells get the wagon back in working order so that it can be reloaded.
Serra claps Ara on the back when the wagon is magicked and fixed.
"And thank you as well, Sir," Serra sirs back. "Ara, it might be that I find you later to discuss more about demons and where we are going. Surely, you know more of what we will face."
Serra (along with Kastor) will work to pack as much of mutton as Cole and Jurin feel is appropriate. He will then set Kastor to cleaning and polishing his armor while the slow moving caravan small mobile army gets ready to move again.
"And Cole, don't you think we could have had more notice on the attack from such a large group of foes? We didn't have much time before they were on us."
"I'm not sure. Unless we put out outriders, and their life expectancy tends to be rather short, I think we're going to get surprised by such things from time to time. Also, the timing of this attack was bad for us as we were breaking camp. I suspect even our scouts, if we have any, were more interested in what lies ahead on the trail today."
"I'd love to ride out and keep a peripheral watch, and have you flying high above doing the same thing, but both are unlikely to work long term. I don't suppose you can fly all day can you?" Cole grins at the thought.
When the group is moving again, Cole will seek out Jothinra and ask him about outriders.
"What are your thoughts of having a small group of the men ride out from the main body and scout for us? It might have helped us with things like this morning, but I worry more about the longevity of the man in such a duty."
Beagan will help Jurin gather goat-flour as long as others are working on broken carts and tents. When the wagon is ready to go, the Gnome will suggest that enough chivas had been gathered, as it's really just a supplement to the rations and spells already prepared to feed the knightly lot.
"Jurin, we'd better season it all well. Very well. Make sure everything is heated hot to the bone, cooked through and through. Sosiel, can you tell if these ingredients are rancid, or maybe purge it of such taint? For all we know, they were sent here to roast us in multiple-ways - trampling and poisoning."
Eli returns to Marcus and updates him on the dire goats being just goats, only dire. "Looks like a test run, eh? We get to see how we engage with hostiles from a cold start. I'd say we have a lot to learn and improve. I'd really like to be quicker to the front, but my armor is more of a burden than I originally thought. In the city, it was less of a problem. In these open fields, quite the problem." Eli grumps a little as he helps where he can.
...
On horseback, Eli takes a couple of swings with his hammer, and shrugs, unimpressed. He decides to join Cole to listen in on the organizational matters. He lags behind as Cole joins Jothindra, but not so far back that he isn't perfectly able to listen to their conversation regarding outriders.
He acknowledges Jothindra directly, a quick hand to his forehead, as well as a quick 'Captain', then looks at the back of Cole's head. It focuses his hearing.
Jurin is quickly slicing up goats and preparing them.
"Huh? You're here to what now? Oh, feed. Yes, you can feed them. Patricia and you there, cold breakfast to supplement, make sure the horses are ready to move as well. Check the tent and wagons then, should be find but you can never tell. Beagle, you me and Brokenose get these cut up, legs are fastest just lop them off. That's right, just like it's an cultist."
The stench of the dressing of the goats spurs a quick clearing of other areas, with wagons, horses and people moving away as quickly as is reasonably possible. Still, it takes 4 hours to complete and pack everything; it its mid-day before the troop is on the move once more.
"What are your thoughts of having a small group of the men ride out from the main body and scout for us? It might have helped us with things like this morning, but I worry more about the longevity of the man in such a duty."
Joth looks over at Sir Cole incredulously, arching one eyebrow.
"In theory. Might be a sound plan. Don't believe that should come from the ranks though, maybe some of the camp followers. Just a matter of training," he replies tightly.
"What are your thoughts of having a small group of the men ride out from the main body and scout for us? It might have helped us with things like this morning, but I worry more about the longevity of the man in such a duty."Joth looks over at Sir Cole incredulously, arching one eyebrow.
"In theory. Might be a sound plan. Don't believe that should come from the ranks though, maybe some of the camp followers. Just a matter of training," he replies tightly.
"Ahh, so no volunteers huh? OK. I'll ask around the camp, but I doubt there will be anyone here that I'd trust out there more or less alone. I'd do it, but I suspect you'd have problems with that, and maybe rightly so. We'll just have to take it as it comes."
Cole nods to Jothinra and makes a wide circle of the caravan as it moves, but staying close, looking outward for trouble.
Before Cole departs Joth responds.
"Cavalry aren't very sneaky. Nor orders of paladins. Outriders thrive and survive by stealth and guile. Not typically our forte. I'll ask the troops for volunteers."
He finally makes eye contact with the Commander. Without raising his voice and trying to maintain a receptive look, the captain begins.
"Sir, the Queen chose you - as you and your companions chose to remind me several times when I asked you to follow the precepts and guidelines for military conduct. You and your companions told me, and by extension your army, needed to get used to the way that you do things. I didn't think that meant forsaking you command of this army, so to be perfectly clear and to put everything on the table - are you going to be running off and leaving the army without its commander for every engagement? Should I expect to make all of the commands on the field-of-battle?"
Eli muddles through the exchange between Jothinra and Cole, extending his neck on Jothinra's last inquiry.
"I've never reminded you, nor have I told you anything, Captain. Do not blanket me with my companions. I would enjoy learning more of military conduct, as I've had very little training in it. Your disposition all but guarantees rigorous instruction."
Eli smiles at Jothinra, then turns to Cole.
"He has a point, Cole. You are no longer your own agent, but the Queen's. These men require someone to follow. Jothinra asks a valid question, even if he is the one to carry out your orders as go-between."
Eli maintains his distance behind Cole.
Serra, who happened to be near Jothirna (waiting to speak with the Captain, in fact), butts in as well.
"You make a fair point, Captain Jothinra," Serra says with a smart salute. "Cole, your first duty is to aim the arrow, that is, the knights at the target. Only then should you engage yourself."
Serra hitches up his armor, still holding his goat blooded ranseur.
* * *
When the force is packed and ready to move again, Serra will mount Dinner and prepare to travel.
Before Cole departs Joth responds.
"Cavalry aren't very sneaky. Nor orders of paladins. Outriders thrive and survive by stealth and guile. Not typically our forte. I'll ask the troops for volunteers."
He finally makes eye contact with the Commander. Without raising his voice and trying to maintain a receptive look, the captain begins.
"Sir, the Queen chose you - as you and your companions chose to remind me several times when I asked you to follow the precepts and guidelines for military conduct. You and your companions told me, and by extension your army, needed to get used to the way that you do things. I didn't think that meant forsaking you command of this army, so to be perfectly clear and to put everything on the table - are you going to be running off and leaving the army without its commander for every engagement? Should I expect to make all of the commands on the field-of-battle?"
"No, don't ask for volunteers, your points are valid and while I like the idea of outriders, I don't like the facts that accompany it." Cole shrugs and listens to himself think a long moment listening to his companions pile on as well.
"I had presumed you commanded the knights but I see now what you mean. No, I'll not run off and leave the army for every engagement. That said, I'll not squander my abilities in battle either... but there shall be an adjustment as you say."
He looks hard at the commander.
"Please continue to speak your mind Jothinra. It's most helpful."
Serra nods as Cole offers a professional (and unexpectedly measured) reply.
"That's a good answer, Cole. We'll help you with it."
* * *
Serra is ready to move on.
Once the troop gets started, Beagan spurs Boris, his knightly Fell warpony, to try and catch up with Cole. Xanthos snuffles along the side of the party, taking notes of any remarkable scents with his keen, twitching wolfbunny nose.
"Hey Cole!" As he finishes a tasty, chewy goat tendon, he spots a trooper knight in the area, so trying to address the silly, uptight niceties, he corrects himself. "I mean, greetings Sire Cole the Silent." Unable to catch up with the boss at the moment, he snorts and falls back with Serra for a bit. "Yeah, not really Silent. The Queen's never tried to talk to him first thing in the morning. More like Cole the Grumpy who needs to get... ahhh, never mind."
He spurs Boris a bit harder to catch up with the uber-commandant. "Sire, Lord Commander Cole, ummm, Sir that who hast a Deadeye." That's how the be-metaled humans talk, right? "Somebody said you needed a scout. Xanthos and I are smaller than most, harder to see. And we don't clank as much, either. And he's quick, even with me on his back. We could, you know, check out ahead, if you wanted." And we're tougher than most. The lashes of the 'Briar saw to that. He thinks for a moment. "As long as there's somebody to keep Nurah and the boys safe while we're out sniffing around and stuff."
Cole smiles and tries to follow Beagan through his introduction to his point.
"No, I don't think so Sir Beagan. Outriders tend to have short life spans - especially in the worldwound - so I think we're just going to have to be extra observant and do without."
He's starting to wish Serra had never suggested the idea.
"If you like, you can ride around the column as we march from time to time and look to see what can be seen, but don't stray far. You wouldn't want to be snatched up by a demon without us to support you."
Jurin also takes the opportunity to report to Cole, either before the march begins or during.
"Hello Cole. We've butchered the goats you slaughtered, they'll be ready for eating tonight. If anybody doesn't like goat then they can try the grass."
The young man stares at Cole expectantly.
No salute for a higher ranking officer, note that in my logs. Also, find some logs. Nothing but grass out here, no trees means no fire. Maybe get some demon to light the food on fire? Nah. We could see if Jothinra has any coal on him?
Pleased with Cole's answer to the Captain, Eli retreats to his friends. He watches as Marcus adjusts himself uncomfortably in the saddle, and smiles.
"Alright, it looks like Captain Jothinra is interested in seeing coordination throughout the two factions of our traveling ensemble. For us, we may be able to stand back and let the paladins deal with the lesser incursions. Perhaps when there is something more foul, then we may be called upon to support the troops." Eli looks at both Saul and Marcus.
"I don't consider you two part of the troops. Saul, I'm talking to you. Your actions, however noble or motivated, left Marcy behind, unattended. That crossbow of yours, as well as your axe, those are meant to defend a very dear friend of mine, and yours. If you are truly here to support me, then please, first and foremost, guard Marcy. We will all try and stay close to him initially, where his blessings may be given out, but try and calm your blood the next time voices are raised to action, would you, Saul?"
Saul flushes and looks fit to burst at the reprimand, but Marcus smiles and touches his nose. "No harm done, Eli. I am not so fragile as all that. And I'm no nobleman, knighted by the queen. Saul, you best stick to Eli now; we have to protect the nobles and all."
*****
The journey continues, though more slowly. There is more weight to carry, now with the goat meat and the ground begins to prove less hospitable the further north they go.
"I did think it would be better than this, Sir Cole. This bog wasn't here on my last trip this way." Nurah says. "it was just a stream, easily forged. If we'd had outriders, we'd have known the sooner and could have saved some time by angling around it. As it is now, we either fight the wagons across..." She pauses, looking at Cole's mount as it continues to high step, its hooves sinking back into the mud on the way down. "... or we back up a bit and cut around,hoping to find drier ground. "
"If you like, you can ride around the column as we march from time to time and look to see what can be seen, but don't stray far."
"Ok, Sir. Xanthos and I will make occasional laps and keep a sharp eye out, but we'll stick within a hopping-gallop of the column."
"You wouldn't want to be snatched up by a demon without us to support you."
"Yeah, good luck to the demon who snatches me up." I'd given him more than a handful of Gnoman fits.
He snaps off a stiff salute before approaching the lead team at the fore of the column, ready to coordinate any scouting forays with the troop's movement.
Seeing the large, difficult to pass bog ahead, Beagan and his Holy Mount will take scout the surrounding area, looking for alternate ways to pass.
The young man stares at Cole expectantly.
No salute for a higher ranking officer, note that in my logs. Also, find some logs. Nothing but grass out here, no trees means no fire. Maybe get some demon to light the food on fire? Nah. We could see if Jothinra has any coal on him?
"Thanks Jurin, it's appreciated."
"I did think it would be better than this, Sir Cole. This bog wasn't here on my last trip this way." Nurah says. "it was just a stream, easily forged. If we'd had outriders, we'd have known the sooner and could have saved some time by angling around it. As it is now, we either fight the wagons across..." She pauses, looking at Cole's mount as it continues to high step, its hooves sinking back into the mud on the way down. "... or we back up a bit and cut around,hoping to find drier ground. "
Cole looks down at the squelching ground. He doesn't know much about wagons, but if his horse is having trouble...
"We'll have to back up."
- - -
He calls the party together, along with Jothinra, a little ways from the rest of the group.
"This business about not having outriders has bit us again. Apparently the route is blocked and we're being forced back - losing even more time - to find a drier path across."
"We're a day into this journey and it feels like we're already two days behind. Suggestions?"
"Sir Cole. My mount and I are small and relatively quick. And we can even be quiet, err, at least when I put my mind to it. And I have, umm, endured more blows than most. The fires of vengeance have, well, one could say granted me with the ability to lay on hands and smite my enemies and injure demons with holy power. And when either Eli or I are able to bless Xanthos, demons won't come away unscathed from his righteous fury."
"We are ready to go where you have need."
He thinks for a moment. "If I were a swift gallop in front of another scout, who was then a gallop away another, perhaps we could foray ahead without leaving one too isolated from assistance." He shrugs. "But I'm new to the mounted knight business. My decades were spent with be-leathered elven archers slipping through the woods, so I don't claim to have true insight on cavalry tactics in this forsaken terrain."
"Please use me as you see fit." We are expendable after all. "Perhaps the Big R' sent me a small, sure-footed, swift mount for precisely this reason."
"Please use me as you see fit." We are expendable after all. "Perhaps the Big R' sent me a small, sure-footed, swift mount for precisely this reason."
Serra smiles at the gnome's honor; the size of his heart far exceeds the size of the gnome. He rides beside him on Dinner, pondering things...not in much mood for speaking.
He does, however, offer the similar sentiment to Cole.
"Agreed, Cole. Tell me what I can do for you and I shall do the best I can."
Serra continues to ride, not expecting Cole to say much more.
Jurin smiles at the acknowledgement and then sees Serra approaching.
"Hey Serra, did I see you flying? If you can fly, why do you need Dinner there? I bet if you could fly I wouldn't have had to pack so many extra horses for you. So, what's the deal huh, you learn a secret for lighter than air beer or something?"
Jurin squints as something occurs to him.
"It's farts isn't it. You're farting through the air. That explains it!"
"It's farts isn't it. You're farting through the air. That explains it!"
Serra shoots a cross look at Jurin.
Oh Piddlespot! He's remembered that he knows me again.
"Yes, I was flying. A trick my mom used to do...you remember her, right? I'm pretty sure you're not saying *her* flying was farts, are you?" Serra asks, wondering why Jurin would want to insult his mom.
Jurin nods along.
"That's right, she could. Oh I'm sure she farted, but I'm sure she didn't use it to fly. She didn't drink nearly as much beer as you, there's no way her farts were strong enough to make her fly."
Satisfied he's solved the problem of Serra flying, Jurin begins looking for the beer kegs he's sure he packed.
"OK Beagan, you can be our outrider, but I don't want you out there alone. There needs to be one other with you - both for protection and for another set of eyes."
Cole thinks a moment, "Let's check among the camp for volunteers. I would do it, and skillfully, but then I couldn't be here to give commands if the column were attacked from another direction so I think that won't work."
Grumble.
Cole breaks up the meeting and considers Laina for the role. too dangerous is the first thing that crosses his mind.
He spends the next while pondering why it's too dangerous for his niece, but not too dangerous for anyone else...
(+2 when tracking)
Survival to aid
Serra tests the wind, looks around, tries to help find a path.
Farts? He's really concerned with farts, isn't he? Maybe it's a reflection on his cooking then. Less beans and meat, more breads...that would fix the problem.
Eli finds himself being lulled into trusting the horse that bears him, as the horse also trusts the horses around it. So Eli finds himself catching a light catnap, while the posse sorts it all out.
Nurah suggests going to the East to go around the boggy land, assuming that it will be worse towards the west.
"Hrm. Something is blocking the stream and causing this bog. If we head west, we might find the blockage, and it'll be clear below. If we head east, we should get above the bog and find a clear crossing of the stream."
"I think Nurah's on the right track. Our best bet is east, though it does take us out of the way. Let's head east and hope this blockage is fresh and not long."