28 Moving On
By JohnB
The Funeral passes quietly, the service went well, the body burned successfully, and the grave is filled in. There are even a few flat stones in the pile in the round house thay can be placed along the length of the grave as a marker.Peter has successfully smoked some meat and cooked a stew for dinner, and there are still five good joints of pork to take with you. Elsbeth and Peter have managed to collect some wild vegetables and you are more confident of the supplies you carry, Callum's wound looks much better after Elsbeth's ministrations. After the funeral there is pork stew for dinner, Peter take a bowl to the doghead as well, and finds a few scraps for Laddy, the wolf. Kerim, Madelyn and Elsbeth all take care to move their mounts out of the round house to an area where they can graze at some point during the day.Another night passes quietly (OOC: and you can all get 1 more HP back if you need it) ---------------------------------WodensDay 20 Mai 593 New Moon Temp Warm Cloud 10 % Weather Occasional Light Showers There is a Light wind from the S high tide is at 00:25 and 12:50 ---------------------------------- In the morning, Peter cooks some more pork strips for breakfast, while you saddle and load up ready to move out. As you travel they land starts to change from general scrub into damp and boggy stuff. As you progress the ground gets even boggier and you notice that you are walking on an artificial causeway. The causeway is obviously old and falling into disrepair in some places - but there are signs that some of the worst damage may have been repaired at some time. It is clear that the doghead does not want to enter the swampy area and it will take a bit of prodding to keep him moving in the direction you want to go. At lunch time you eat strips of smoked pork as you travel, and swig from your water bottles. There is no dry place off the causeway to stop. Testing with a pole or a stick shows that there is, generally, a few inches of brackish wather and then some really sticky mud. You get the impression if you stepped into the mud you would start sinking down into it.There are clumps of reeds and the ocassional bush or small tree growing out through the water, perhaps indicating drier areas. Between the showers, you see swallow like birds flying just above the water, and there are other birds in the trees and the reeds, every so often you catch the splash of some aquatic life breaking the surface. And there are insects, every so often you will pass through a cloud of small fies, some of which land on you and some of those bite - although it is more of an irritant than a threat. [a couple of hours after lunch] In the distance you can see what looks like tree trunk laid across the causeway - there are human sized figures standing behind it.
Blockade
By Jim
who plays Smilo Hairfoot
"Oh, wut now," exclaims the hobbit as he climbs down from his donkey.
After the fire had burned to ashes and the ashes were buried and stones placed upon the grave, Rolf finally manages to relax somewhat. Delaying Aenis' final journey had weighed heavily on him. By the time the ritual was completely done, it was late in the day and Rolf decided to remain in the roundhouse yet another night. Another hearty meal of roasted pork and a better nights sleep and Rolf is in exceptional spirits on the following morning.
After a quick breakfast, Rolf puts the doghead in the charge of Madelyn and Mandrake and sets out at a brisk pace. They make good time initially, but then the packed earth slowly gives over to marshy instability. He looks back at one point, seeing Madelyn and Mandrake having to persuade the doghead to continue. As they seem to have matters well in hand, Rolf continues to focus on what's ahead.
As conditions worsen, the insects begin to prey at Rolfs temper. In the distance, he makes out the fallen tree with the human-sized figures. He pauses and studies them for several moments. His first thought is to send ahead Madelyn on her fleet horse, but the road looks pretty slick should she need to make a hasty retreat. And if the horse got off the road, they'd never pull it free from the muck.
After a moment's thought, Rolf makes up his mind. "Kerim, Mandrake and I will scout ahead and see what they are about. Madelyn, keep an eye on things here." Deciding to leave his bow unbent for the moment, Rolf has to fight the urge to put hand to hilt. Leading the other two forward, within shouting distance, he says, "Okay Mandrake, see if you speak their language."
At the barrier
By JohnB
As you draw close to the barrier you see the figures are reptilian and possess a longish tail. Theyare dressed in a leather harness and carry shields, large spiked clubs and what look like small javelins.
As they travel into the swamp, Callum sees the growing discomfort of his companions. "Are the midgies botherin' ye?" he laughs. When the Doghead balks he glowers at it and moves over to Mandrake. "Whatever are we doing with that beast. Cut its' throat and have done. Or are you maybe thinkin' that its' people will ransom it?".
As Rolf, Mandrake and Kerim walk forward, Callum moves to stand at the front of the party trying and failing miserably to look nonchalant. He regards these big lizards suspiciously and is grinning in a quite disturbing way.
Mandrake feels a little uncomfortable during the ceremonies. It was only when the others all seem to be gifting items to their dead comrade that he realised that grave goods were an aspect of the proceedings. His feelings of discomfort were not aided by the actions of Smilo and for some reason he could not explain, he felt embarrassment even responsible for the hobbit’s words.
He didn’t really have anything appropriate, just his belongings and some change, neither of which seemed personal enough. It was then that it came to him though. Reaching into the pouch on his belt he retrieved the simple cutlery that he always used. Simple but, at least in human society, rare.
[Time warp]
As they prepare to travel Mandrake says to Madelyn "We should bind his hands and since I do not trust him, I say we bind them behind his back. I’ll then tie one end of a rope around his neck and the other to my saddle so that you are free to ride anything down if be needed."
As they approach the swampy area and the Doghead shows obvious reluctance to move forward, Mandrake kicks the mule on, dragging on the rope as Madelyn ‘encourages’ the creature from behind.
Mandrake steps a couple of paces forward from the other two and slowly raises his hands, open palms facing the lizard like creatures.
"GREETINGS!" he calls out in Norse, a smile on his face at the apparent assumption by Rolf that these creatures do not speak the Norseman’s tongue.
If this gains no response, then he will work his way through the languages he knows in the order Gaelic, Orcish, Dwarvish, Gnomish.
As Mandrake immediately calls out to the reptiles in Norse, Rolf looks sidelong at the gnome, seeing the smile. He groans aloud, but withholds further comment as Mandrake continues in other languages.
Grtingsssss
By JohnB
In response to Mandrakes call, one of the creatures steps forward, and calls back, "Grtingssss umanssss, Pie toolss". His voice rises at the end of his call, as if he is asking a question.
Mandrake says to Rolf, "I think it’s Norse, but with all that hissing it’s going to be hard going to talk to them."
He looks at the arms that the lizard men carry, trying to judge their quality and the materials that they are made from "I think that they want to know if want to buy some tools from them, or vice versa perhaps. Of course tools may mean weapons anyway.
"I would say though, that they probably sell things to travellers by way of a passage fee if you will, thus not appearing so rude as to simply ask for a toll.
"Judging by the reluctance of our prisoner to come into this swamp area though, I’d say we might have difficulty in getting him through."
Appraisal?
By JohnB
The shields are basically wicker work, the clubs are wooden some have wooden spikes some have metal spikes. The leather harness is generally knotted together rather than buckled. You do notice, however, thet the one talking to you has three brass buckles on his harness. "Pie toolss" he repeats more loudly.
Rolf's face tightens as he tries to work through the reptile man's words. "Tools? I don't see anything they might be selling. It sounds to me like they're willing to be so rude and are actually demanding a toll of us. Ask him how much, that seems safe enough." It wouldn't do to be hostile at this point, but Rolf's hands itch for the feel of his bow, arrow at the ready.
From her point further back in the marching order, Elsbeth steps up. "Mayhap you're being not as good as I in hearing funny accents," she volunteers to Rolf. "I do believe he is asking for a toll. Maybe you should be asking what he wants."
"I think that’s it, it’s not ‘buy’ he’s trying to say, it’s ‘pay’, ‘pay toll’.
"How much toll?" Mandrake calls back, and after the answer comes he turns his head to Rolf and says "He looks to be the leader, I could try to charm him with a little help from my magic and talk our way past."
Looking out at the surrounding countryside and the island nearby he continues "I wouldn’t like to have to play cat an mouse through their land and I’m sure there are more of them close by."
Toools
By JohnB
The figure replies "SSSilvrrr, far oon."
"Silver, for one?" Rolf repeats. "Do any of you know of these creatures?" Rolf waits a bit, waiting to hear what any of them might have to say. "I can't see anything for it. I'd be willing to pay some small fee and pass by, but our task is to clear the lands of trouble. I think this constitutes trouble. But I'm sure they've got some nasty surprises in store. Any suggestions?"
From the Start of Day: Having thanked Peter for the pork, he will prepare for the journey. He will put his hood up to during the light showers.
As the party start onto the causeway he will check that the mules are securely tethered and the loads secure. He will check his weapons are ready for use.
Leaving Peter to hold the mules {Assuming he agreed}, he will scout ahead with Rolf. To Mandrake's multi-lingual greeting, he will try Midani.
In answer to Rolf's query "If it's battle, we'd better make sure we get them all. I don't fancy our chances otherwise, they'll have the advantage in that stuff" (pointing to the marsh).
"Maybe we should try negotiation first, at least till we know how many there are. If we could get them on our side, I don't know many people who would fancy chasing them into the marsh.".