The rest of the evening passes quietly, as you all recognise the need to get an early start in the morning. Flea returns to her sisters house for the night telling you She be back first thing in the morning. ------------------------------------------------------------ SunDay 24 Mai 593 1/4 Moon (waxing) Temp Hot Cloud 30 % Weather Occasional Moderate Showers There is a Moderate wind from the SW high tide is at 03:45 and 16:10 ------------------------------------------------------------ The morning starts slowly, breakfasts all around and a pack lunch provided - what else could you ask for? Flea arrives just as you are getting the animals saddled and loaded and ready to go. When you get to the village gates most of the village is there to see you off, Flea's sister and Candy both cling to her for a while before she can shrug them off and the Lads throw a few threatening glances at Smilo as you leave, However the elders wish you well, and assure you that you are welcome to return. Not long out of the village and you are back in the swampy ground of before, not the heavy swamp of the Gila settlement, but the muddy marshy lands at the edge of the swamp proper. OOC You need to establish a new marching order If you let Flea walk you will be slowed down again |
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Not far into the journey and surprisingly, Callum is looking around almost nervously. |
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As Mandrake rocks along on the back of his mount he looks about himself, in part to watch for possible danger, but as much to keep his mind from the boredom of the journey and from the aching in his seat. Whilst doing so, he notices that there seem to be an unusually large number of ravens aloft. Finding this a little strange, he studies the antics of the birds, looking to see whether they are circling a particular area or heading in a particular direction. After a while he pipes up to the others "Have any of you noticed the birds? There seem to be a great many ravens about. "I've heard said that they follow after death much as the vultures of hotter climes do. Should we investigate do you think?" |
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{earlier} Elsbeth smiles at Flea. "If you would be wanting to rest your feet, you could ride with me. I'm thinking that my mare can carry us both, you being a wee lass." {later} Elsbeth looks up, visibly nervous, her hands clenched white on the mare's reins. "The ravens- they are an omen," she replies. "The Goddess oft sends such aloft to signal battle." The druid looks around with wary eyes. "Callum! Can ye be seeing anything about? This be Morigan's work, I'm thinking. Mayhap a fight to come or a fight already done?" |
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"Callum! Can ye be seeing anything about? This be Morigan's work, I'm thinking. Mayhap a fight to come or a fight already done?" "Aye, ye have the truth of it, lass. The battle-crow's bird's are an ill omen for the start of a journey. There's a right grue on me for the sight of so many of them. I think there'll be battle afore long." Surprisingly enough, Callum isn't showing his usual enthusiasm at the prospect of a fight. |
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Elsbeth looks even more ill-at-ease at Callum's words. She loosens the ties on her scimitar and keeps looking about. "Be alert, Laddie," she tells the wolf softly. She looks ahead to Madelyn and the others, her eyes straying to the birds above. "We'll have company, like as not." |
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OOC: I can't seem to find what our old marching order was. I think we had Rolf and Callum in front and Madelyn and Kerim bringing up the rear, but can someone enlighten me? Thanks. Rolf nods support and gives the Druid a quick smile of thanks at Elsbeths offer to let Flea ride with her. Taking their leave from the elders, Rolf leads the intrepid band back into the nether reaches of the untamed wilds. After moving through the muddy muck about Mistation, Rolf hears Mandrakes question about the birds. "Aye, there do seem to be quite a few of them." Before responding further, he hears Elsbeth speak of omens and coming battle. A likely fortune, ravens or no, considering the lands here abouts. When the words between Elsbeth and Callum slow to a halt, Rolf looks back at Mandrake. "I would know what brings such attention here. We'll investigate." OOC: John, how far are we from the center of the bird mob? Are there any obvious paths in that direction? If not, is the ground firm enough or clear enough to handle our party? |
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You are about 1/2 a mile from the birds and the path seems to lead towards them. |
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OOC: Thanks for all the help with the old marching order. How's this sound for a new marching order and schedule of watches - Double File- Rolf and Callum Smilo and Mandrake Peter and Kerim (followed by mules) Elsbeth and Flea Madelyn and Herloch Watches 1st Callum, Smilo 2nd Herloch, Mandrake, Flea 3rd Kerim, Peter, Elsbeth 4th Rolf, Madelyn Rolf is open to suggestions, but he wants to keep at least one warrior type on each watch. |
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"That's OK by me", calls Peter, "But Mandrake and Smilo were riding that donkey and a mule to avoid slowing us down - and Kerim and I were leading them as part of the Mule train. And in that watch system you don't seem to have anyone with night sight on the last watch." |
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"Maybe if you swapped with Herloch, Rolf ...." |
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Ah, thanks to Thor, we are finally we are out of that boring town, Herloch thinks to himself. He wouldn't dare say that in such an emotionally sensitive group that he's in. But, perhaps this new halfling girl isn't that way… The priest of Thor spurs his horse to break formation and move along side Flea momentarily. "Hello there, the name's Herloch. Was that town back there not entertaining enough for you?" He raises an open hand as if to stop her from responding, "Now, now, you don't have to justify it to me. I understand completely. A little town like that could not possibly keep the interest of someone like you or I for long." After the chat with Flea, Herloch eases his horse back into formation along side the stunningly beautiful Madelyn. He glances at her form swiftly and momentarily, a certain thought causing him to smile. He stifles the smile quickly. Herloch notices the ravens too, but didn't understand their significance at first. Then as others talk of a possible conflict ahead his excitement is revealed saying, "Excellent. At last to glorify Thor in the midst of battle! I agree with Rolf. Let's find out what's going on." |
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OOC: I made the mistake of assuming I had a horse! I do not, and please ignore any references to having a horse in my previous post. Oh well, the walking is good for the cleric, right? |
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OOC: Okay, here's an updated version. Problems??? Double File- Rolf and Callum Peter and Kerim (followed by mules) Smilo and Mandrake Elsbeth and Flea Madelyn and Herloch Watches 1st Callum, Smilo 2nd Herloch, Mandrake 3rd Kerim, Peter, Elsbeth 4th Rolf, Madelyn, Flea Good call about the night vision thing Ian. I figure Elsbeth's wolf pal will make a good substitute for night vision during the 3rd watch. |
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"Oh I can see in the dark quite well, but I am sure Laddy's nose will be an advantage too. But doesn't that still leave the second watch short of a warrior ...?" |
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Rolf shrugs at Peter's comment about warriors and watches. "There's five of us warrior types (Callum, Herloch, Kerim, Madelyn and Rolf) and four watches. I figure we put a warrior on every watch with two on the dawn watch." |
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Peter looks slightly puzzled " I though Herloch said he was a holy man ...." |
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Elsbeth laughs. "Aye, he's a holy one, that one is," she responds. "His glory is in battle for his god, don't you be knowing? Like as not he'll be up front with bonny Callum removing heads 'ere the rest of us are even knowing what's happening." Its apparent that Elsbeth's spirits are much better on the ride this morning. |
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Herloch takes Elsbeth's explanation to Peter as a compliment and smiles proudly as she describes his yet to be shown combat prowess. Tapping the druid slightly on the shoulder to get her attention he whispers, "Hey Elsberry, you're proving to be more perceptive than bookworm over there!" and laughs slightly at his own joke. |
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Crows |
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Smilo pulls off his hat and shades his eyes with his hand. "They're just feedin, m'thinks. robably a deed cow er somthin." "Wot do ya cull a raven burred up to it's ead in sand?" he waits for an answer. "not nough sand." The hobbit laughs loud and long at his joke. Slapping his knee from time to time. |
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Earlier: "If you would be wanting to rest your feet, you could ride with me. I'm thinking that my mare can carry us both, you being a wee lass." Flea thanks Elspeth for the offer of transport and jumps up onto the mare with her help. Later: Flea has been listening to all the comments about the crows and notcing how nervous or watchful the group seems to be getting. She sees Herloch ride up beside her and ask her about the town, and starts to reply, when he continues on speaking. |
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"Caaaark !!" There is an indignant cry from the trees above, as one of the ravens, claws locked around tighly around a branch, flaps its wings angrily at Smilo. "What do you call a hobbit buried up to his head in sand," it asks, raucously. "The wrong way up !" It glares at the hobbit with beady eyes. |
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OOC: pretend this is in before the ravens response ;) Mandrake raises an eyebrow at all the talk of portents and omens, it seems he has joined a group comprising, increasingly, of pilgrims and crusaders. He responds to no one in particular, "Ravens are a species of bird noted for their cleverness, and one that eats carrion. "For the first part, they are airborne and so can find such food quickly. Secondly, when they see one circling or landing, then others will follow it’s lead and thirdly they often travel in extended family groups. "Added to this, their intelligence could mean that, like gulls that follow the fishing boats, they learn that certain creatures or types of dress signify that a meal is not far behind. "What I find it interesting, is that observation can be replaced so easily by superstition and belief in the supernatural. "My observations lead me to the conclusion that caution is prudent, but it may as likely be a dead cow as a battle, armed forces or the like. "Ha, perhaps the meal that the dragon had did not agree with it." Like Smilo, Mandrake chortles at his own joke for a while. |
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Peter nods to Elsbeth - " You are right of course, perhaps I do take things a bit too literally some times ..." |
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lets assume ... The party get close to the unkindness [I think that is the proper group noun :) ] of ravens- and sees that they are feasting on the softer parts of the bodies of two dog heads. There are no signs of any current combat ... Mandrake's educated discourse finished just as the dogheads come into sight, Smilo and Edgar's comments follow on from that The other comments were before coming into site of the doghead corpses ... That OK with every one? - if not we can change it BTW David sends his apologies - he is away on hols and was really busy preparing for it this week - generally Kerim will be mule holder and groom till he gets back - but I will move him if required..J |
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Peter nods sagely through Mandrake's discourse, but then adds, "and they are the messengers of the All Father of course ..." With that thought in his mind he goes white when Edgar starts to speak, the fear and awe writ large on Peter's face ... |
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Rolf sees the two doghead bodies, surrounded by ravens. "Seems someone else has been tangling with the dogheads." He mutters. He hears Smilo's joke with half an ear, but the response certainly garners his full attention. He looks about sharply until his eyes fall on the raven. Couldn't be, but someone's got to be nearby. His hand hovers near the hilt of his blade as thoughts rush through his head. Finally, he settles on a path. "Smilo, I think you've been one-upped, unbelievable." Rolf looks around, waiting for Smilo to speak up, to bait their visitor into another comment. |
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Peter nods sagely through Mandrake's discourse, but then adds, "and they are the messengers of the All Father of course ..." Mandrake rolls his eyes and is about to further the discussion when he hears a voice come, apparently, from the bird in the tree. "Quite remarkable" he says half to himself, "if only I knew the half of it. "Obviously more than mere mimicry, real intelligence." He looks about, however, just to check that none are throwing their voice or playing similar tricks. |
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Callum jumps, startled, when the raven speaks, then looks around suspiciously. "Birds' aren't the ones for talking around my village. I'll just be checking these bushes here." He is obviously unimpressed with a supposed legendary harbinger of doom telling bad hobbit jokes and begins to scout out obvious hiding places nearby. OOC: Go on... say the "N" word:-) |
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Imp |
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"Wha-??!!" sputtered the hobbit. He makes a holy sign in the air. "Angels preserve us. It's a imp." |
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