_HRF.jpg)
Fine, I will move further upstream and scout a better campsite.
Survival:
Dieredon glares at Bjorn after mounting his horse.
Bjorn, don't ever call me a fool, you uncivilized ignoramus. Yes, I can understand your uncouth tongue.
Wesh says "Maybe we should move the bodies upstream so they do not cause bad water in the stream"
Betony dismounts and starts to butcher the boar. She pulls out her axe, Razorleaf and cuts off the rear haunches and skins the back, before cutting more.
"The Forest claims what it is due. The blood has spilled and the spirits moved on, the Forest will take care of the rest. But we should move on a little further, this carcass will likely attract bears."
Going back to her task, she puts some choice cuts on the skinned hide along with the liver, kidneys, and heart. To a whining Thistledown, "In a bit..these are for later, but you should eat up now."
While she goes to wash up, Thistledown eats his fill of what the group won't be carrying.
Wesh says "Some dinner would be nice".
Betony hefts a large haul of fresh boar meat, Thistledown occupied tearing chunks off from the offal left behind.
Deciding on leaving the corpses as they lay, you wonder if anyone else would trouble themselves to lay your body to rest should you fall in this dangerous adventuring life.
Mounted on your mounts, the elf leads the way, looking for a suitable campsite away from the scene of the battle, north.
The trees start to cast long dark shadows as the sun begins to dip below the treeline. Somehow you spot a suitable location, a small clearing beside a forest trail.
It seems that a light rain is expected tonight.
Dieredon dismounts, draws his curveblade, and begins to casually walk into the woods.
Since there is no need for food tonight, I will get busy scouting the immediate vicinity and gathering firewood. I will also volunteer for the first watch.
Perception:
Survival:
Stealth (while moving as Silent Hunter -5):
Wesh says "I think I will take the first watch as well". Wesh also helps dierdon gather firewood.
Thanks Wesh...I can use the help. Also, thanks for bringing me back - twice! I was not ready to meet Calistria just yet.
We'll take last watch, I hate to get in and out of this armor, so would like to avoid the midnight watch. Coutless, that puts you with me, if we don't want to split up the marriage."
Betony will strip off Thistledown's armor, and then set to finding stones and building a fire circle for when the others come back with wood. She does a good job building a right proper gnome-sized fire ring.
Skane rolls his heavy shoulders and smiles down at the Brambleknight;
"Of course we don't har! Last vakt it is. We can swap tales of bogles and beasties o' the North and o' the deep woods..."
Still rubbing his leg as he dismounts his steed, Skane adds;
"Prestur... perhaps another jolt from your galdur töfrasproti nei? My leg still aches some..."
vakt = watch/shift
galdur töfrasproti = magic wand
Wesh will use another use of the wand on Skane
As the sun sets, the forest's encroaching shadows wraps around the campsite until darkness surrounds the merry campfire like a halo in the night.
Dieredon and Wesh managed a sizeable haul of firewood that would likely last the night.
You sense a growing humidity as the night passes. As the first watch approaches to arouse Bjorn and Rianna, a light drizzle breaks out from the sky. Though not too heavy as to douse the campfire, it makes the night's rest a little damp for those without a shelter.
The horses seem to enjoy it though, tails swishing contently.
It stops after an hour. The forest returns to its quiet state.
Shifts continue to change, Skane and the Brambleknight prowl the perimeter as the sky begins to lighten and a newly washed day begins.
Dieredon wakes, washes in the river, combs down and saddles Riman, and then returns to the campsite to address the party in terms of their present course of action.
Good morning all. We still need to make our way north to our ultimate destination. The mansion for the rendezvous is apparently located on the banks of the river. We have two options as I see it. We can just follow the river north until we arrive at the meet, or we divurge slightly to follow the tracks of the orcs that we stubmbled across. I should be able to pick up the trail again, and it is unlikely that last night's limited rain covered their tracks. Thoughts?
As the alfur approaches camp he hears Skane's deep voice and the crash of shields;
"...svo þú sjá prestur Wesh ýta a stelpa brún upp harður nógur og það brot hans kjálki!"
Upon hearing Dieredon's council, Skane breaks from teaching Wesh the finer points of shieldwall fighting to answer with a shrug;
"If the last lot of orcs are a measure of this tribe... then nei, we should press on..."
...svo þú sjá prestur Wesh ýta a stelpa brún upp harður nógur og það brot hans kjálki! = ... so you see priest Wesh push a sheild rim up hard enough and it breaks his jaw!
Wesh asks dierdron "Does it look like it will rain anymore?" Wesh pauses says "I think we can press on the orcs could always be dealt with on the way back if the northmen want to."
Dieredon looks to the heavens studying the clouds and closes his eyes to feel the wind on his face. He attempts to study the wind patterns to predict the weather.
Knowledge Nature:
Survival:
The weather seems to have a cool overcast, and likely remain that way for the day. The night's rain has made the ground somewhat damp and the trails have been scattered.
Packing up the camp, the group continues along the riverbank, looking out for signs of Trail's End.
The northwards march along the river bank does not provide much hindrance. Sometimes you catch a glimpse of an occasional fish leaping out from the water, other times large pieces of driftwood flows by.
Approximately 3 hour's march later you notice the first non-natural structure. A small pier is up ahead and a single boat tied up. A trail leads from the pier and snakes into the bushes to your right.
Wesh looks aroung making sure there are no creatures lying in wait specifically glancing into the bushes.
Dieredon also searches the area.
Perception:
Bjorn sniffs around for sign of anyone having recently been by the pier.
2 sets of footprints can be seen coming from the trail. It tracks to the waterside and a cluster of footprints cluster there where they return back to the trail which snakes into the bushes and forest to the right.
Judging from the water collected in the boat, it hasn't been used in a while. There is nothing in the boat, save a coil of hemp rope, approximately 50ft long, and a pair of oars.
A multiple hook fishing line has been set nearby, off the pier, the jingling of the line seems to tell something is tugging on it.
A glance to the right, you could see a thin lazy column of smoke rising above the treeline, judging it to be 900 feet away.
Skane lets his more wilderness savvy companions suss out the lay of the land, then gestures towards the wisps of smoke;
"A camp nei? Perhaps the alfur or Brambleknight would care to scout it out for the more heavy-footed among us?"
Skane smiles wryly and starts thinking about pickled fish...
Dieredon nods curtly at Skane.
Aye, Countless, I will scout out the smoke, as silently as possible.
He dismounts and stealthily melds into the surrounding landscape to approach the camp, or sourcxe of smoke, as quietly as possible.
Stealth (while moving):
Perception:
After a 3 hours of scouting, Dieredon returns with news..
a mansion upon a raised plateau..
a trail leading up an embankment..
guards patrolling the surrounding mansion..
a horse pen at the back with 14 horses within..
a pair of men readying to come travel down the path, bearing poles and pails..
a stealthy orc, trying to keep low, seemingly occupied keeping a lookout on the mansion, from the Northern side...
After conveying the news, Dieredon looks to the party as a whole.
We need a plan. A full frontal assault would obviously be the most difficult option. For the immediate, we need to take cover or come up with a good story because it appears as if a couple individuals are coming down to the river to fish.
Dieredon grabs the reins of Riman and pulls him into a position of cover or concealment.
Skane nods, mulling over the alfur's council;
"Aye a plan is needed. A good one... once we magi these fiskimaður har! Nei Bjorn!?"
The burly shield-fighter dismounts and leads his nag into the brush also.
magi = gut
fiskimaður = fishermen
Do you really want to attack two fishermen, who may, or may not, be with the group we seek to eradicate? This is a hunting lodge, of sorts, and they may be innocents. Plus, an attack may give away our position before we are willing to do so, no?
Wesh says "MAybe we should not take the road to aviod the fishermen."
"If we allow these men to collect their fish, we can perhaps wait to see what the Orcs have to say about this gathering. Seems somebody around here done killed a bunch of their young thugs."
A whistling tune could be heard coming down the trail, plus the clitter-clattter of pails hung up on a pole. Whatever is making the noise, stealth doesn't seem to be their main priority.
Wesh will heads towards the bushes to his left along the stream.
Dieredon shakes his head at the Northmen, draws his longbow, and melds into the trees.
Stealth:
Wesh whispers "Sounds good to Rianna"
Dieredon notches an arrow from the trees ready to help out if things get out of hand, or to take down any fleeing fishermen.
The Brambleknight moves off into the undergrowth.
Skane grins at Rianna's plan and chuckles an aside to Bjorn;
"Heyra þessi klúbbur þá yfir þeirra heyrnartól! Bestur ræma dúnn bróðir hún leið til nota þinn vopn aftur har har har!"
The Northman claps his shield-brother's shoulder adding;
"If that fails I'll simply scare them into uppgjöf...Har!"
He growls, shakes his shield, chuckles again as he clatters into the undergrowth;
:
Heyra þessi klúbbur þá yfir þeirra heyrnartól! Bestur ræma dúnn bróðir hún leið til nota þinn vopn aftur har har har! = Hear that - club them over their heads! Best strip down brother she means to use your weapon again har-har-har!
uppgjöf = submission, surrender
Bjorn nods at the various plans and pushes his horse away from the path. Rolling his shoulders, he prepares to welcome the fishermen to his own hook and line.
Voices in conversation become apparent as it comes nearer.
...thought we was 'avin a trip for fun and games..'ever thought it'd be 'nother job by the boss...bad 'nough 'avin those creepy sect people stayin' over too..'ave a thought what boss and them are up to?
*step, step*
Boss don't pay you to think uh..Dickens. Jus' do what he asks you to do. Fetch water, feed the 'orses, tend the fire, clear the pens, 'mpty the chamberpots 'n kiss the guest's arses. All in that order.
*step, step*
Oh..kiss them Sect arses? I'm supposed to do that too!? Eh, Potters, yer hear that? It goes chinky like, over there.
You could see them clearly now. Carrying two poles upon each others shoulder with a line of pails lined in between, you could guess why they would venture down the river like this. Hearing some odd noises from the bushes, they slow down to investigate.
Perception:
Approximately 20 feet from your position, the two men are in leather armour, looks of curiosity drawn on their faces.
Wesh will stay hidden in the bushes for now waiting for them to get closer with morningstar in hand.
Sense Motive:
Eh? A babe crying? Where?
Both of them place the poles and pails on the ground before carelessly advancing towards Rianna. A few steps away from Skane before they finally notice the warrior right before them.
Wesh will cast command on one of the fisherman and command him to drop prone.
Diredon will draw a bead on one of the two, readying an action to fire in the event combat ensues.