It is a confused night of who is on what watch, and various grumbling as people get woken at all sorts of strange times in the night. Finally dawn comes, on the 3rd of September, and with it comes a grey day, with light drizzle happening on and off all day. The weather is wet enough to be depressing, but not really enough to penetrate or soak though your outer clothing.
Peter makes a quick breakfast, and those with dirty plates from the night before, either have to use them that way, or try to scrape the congealed leavings off now.
Nothing exciting to look forward to, just day of routine travel which should get you to Branna's in time for the evening meal. Rolf and Kerim know this road well, and many of the others have passed this way two or three times before, so there is little new to catch those people's interest. To a few the road is new, and for some of those even the land itself is a new one for them. Gorse, Rosemary and Buckthorn bushes grow in huge clumps interspersed with twisted apple and pine trees, and other smaller plants growing along the edges of the clumps. Small birds dart among the bushes and you occasionally see a rabbit bounce back into the bushes as you pass.
Everything goes to plan and you get to Branna's in plenty of time for them to hastily cook up some extra provisions and invite you to dinner. Madelyn greets her old companions warmly and has a special hug for both Rolf and Elsbeth, but she seems somewhat subdued from the young woman who travelled with them so recently. That night you all get to dry out in front of a warm fire and enjoy a proper bed - well a mattress on the floor of the main hall really - but at least its inside, warm, and you have been fed a warm meal. And what's more - no one has the onerous task of working out an overnight guard roster.
Next day is 4th September and it is still dull but at least the drizzle has stopped, as you make your way to Failtey. Again you get there in a comfortable day of travel and you can appreciate why Earl Richard sent people to colonise in these particular locations. Indeed you wonder how long it will be before there is some type of settlement at the camp site you used on the first night.
At Failtey you are put up in the roundhouse, along with a few others who are around for the evening, andaAgain there is a hot stew for dinner and some genial company, but it is all a bit more ribald and earthy that the evening you enjoyed at Branna's.
Next morning, 5th September, is another greyish day although the weather does seem to be lifting slightly. There is a breakfast prepared and ready to eat for just after dawn, when most people are rising and ready for their daily chores, and you are invited to eat your fill. Today is, after all, the first day that you travel outside the lands that the constable has already secured ….
OOC
Details of the Galinia wilderness can be found at http://www.galinia.org.uk/Library/PetersNotes/WildernessNotes.htm
The map can be found at http://www.galinia.org.uk/Galinia/NewGalinia.htm It might be a good idea to look up both the villages you are staying in as well as the overall map to see where you are headed for :] (the D between Failtey and Farfobest)
The maps etc can always be accessed through the WebSite link on the Galinia front page at PBW or by visiting www.galinia.org.uk
Rolf watches the dawning of the day, somewhat less than bright and clear. His muscles are a bit stiff from sitting almost rock still for the last two hours, but the best cure for that would be to start moving about. He rouses those who need it, finding it amusing at how promptly Peter moves to fix breakfast.
Once on the road, it doesn't take long for Rolf to loosen up and set a fair pace, remembering that some move a bit slower than others. He makes a furtive glance at Mandrake. The road itself has few surprises for him, being pretty well tamed and familiar. He does enjoy the smell the rain brings from the bushes and trees there abouts. If there wasn't for the serious business they were heading for, but he'd rather be in the hinterlands.
Reaching Branna's, Rolf waves to those he'd met and smiles largely at Madelyn, a bit surprised at her indifferent greeting. Well, she would speak of it if and when she was ready. He'd asked after Byrne, but the boy's duties kept him from welcoming Rolf. And while he enjoys the outdoors, there's something to be said about a stout roof, a warm fire and a cozy bed.
Another day and Rolf rouses in time to see the dawn again. Another comfortable, familiar march to Failtey. Rolf had enjoyed Branna's again, but he liked Failty better. The people might be mostly Celt, but they were people who knew the wilds.
Another day of travel and Rolf becomes a bit grim. The last time he'd come to Failtey, he'd been lucky to make it without loosing anyone. He cautions the others repeatedly and slows the march a bit. He asks Edgar and Corellon to range ahead and scout the area and his eyes range over the landscape.
Walking along almost cheerily, Corellon's expression fades to one of seriousness as he detects something different in Rolf's tone as he asks him to scout ahead. Nodding in agreement, Enialis readies his short bow, and heads off about 100 yards ahead of the others, using his 'talents' to remain hidden and he follows a sweeping pattern in front of the group.
Corellon moves off infront of the party to scout. However, he soon realises that the clump of bushes are large and impassable. The gorse has wicked looking thornes and the stems drow close together. The Rosemary drows in large bushes, but again there and thick and strrong stems.
Not only that, the clumps are large - sometimes 50-60 feet across. While it is possible to make a way between the bushes the track follows the only clear route through them.
It only takes Corellon a few inutes to realise that if he flits from bush to bush, to try and try and remain unseen, he will slow the party's rate of travel dramatically.
Reporting back to Rolf, Corellon tells him of the problem he encounters. He finishes, saying, "I will continue to simply follow the path ahead if you wish, but I could continue jumping from bush to bush, but we would have to slow our rate of travel dramatically." He waits for an answer, and immediately returns to his task once he is told.
Hearkening to the Constables wishes, Edgar takes to the air ...
Flying around high to start with, then dropping a little lower as he continues to watch the way ahead.
Ravn, having kept to himself and notably quiet for the past days of travel, now breaks his silence to offer his opinion to Rolf.
"Although there is little reason to hurry we should fare cautiously, Constable."
He looks up, watching Edgar fly about above and ahead of them.
"The keen eyes of our feathery friend will, I trust, reveal any ambushes that our prey may have been set for us as well as points of interest in the vicinity. Still, they will not reveal any tracks set on this path before our passing, let alone the nature of those who set them."
Peter makes a quick breakfast of warmed bread from the day before, accompanied by a apples and a mint tea to get people started and then starts to pack his mule. He makes a point of packing the cutlery and crockey in the state it is returned to him, making a note of who hasn't cleaned their dishes so that they get them back next time around.
During the day he travels quietly, enjoying begining outside and on the road again even enjoying the soft dizzle as they march. 'Too long in the keep', he thinks to himself, and then with a grin. 'What am I coming too ...'
A Branna's he greets both Branna and Medelyn warmly, as well as a couple of the other people there that he knows, and shows a general interest in the development of the new buildings and how the new school is coming along.
As they travel on to Failtey, he continues enjoying the countryside, occasionally dropping to the side to collect some berries as they travel and sharing them with Meeleek as they walk together, and Edgar when ever he is sitting on the mule.
Clearly a little less comfortable in the roundhouse, Peter still talks with people getting their slant on the land and finding out how this settlement and its occupants fit together.
Midway through the evening he asks Kerim "You said something about the Mules acouple of days ago? Did you want to leave them behind?"
As they leave Failtey he makes more of a point of strapping his armour down properly and making sure his dagger is properly loose in its sheath. This time his shield rides properly on its strap across his back close to hand, where as before it has been slung much more comfortably further behind him.
Rolf considers Ravn's words and the situation. "Every day we remain, we increase the odds that we'll be noticed. I have no wish to rush into the arms of the dogheads, but I don't want to spend to many nights here abouts. The dogheads will have as much trouble avoiding the road as we do, Edgar should be able to give us enough lead time."
Not entirely sure of his instructions, Corellon repeats back, "Do I am to simply watch for tracks? Simple enough..." he leaves and, although he watches for tracks, he still 'flits' from bush to bush ONCE in a while, but not enough to slow travel. Occasionaly, he catches himself drifting off, daydreaming about the forestlands, but other than that, he is focused.
Change by Kerim Alakani
Kerim declines Peter's invitation to raise the mule issue again, signing over responsibility of the animals to Rolf, the leader. He explains that they are after all on loan from Earl Richard and are thus more or less under Rolf's command.
When travelling onwards, Kerim like Rolf has a change of heart. As the scouts are sent out Kerim takes his bow from a mule and strings it, taking with him a stock of arrows.
He pats the mules and talks to them reassuringly to keep their minds at peace.
With a sudden thought on the topic he looks at Elsbeth and laddie then makes his mind known to all.
"Rolf, these dogheads. If they had but half the nose that Laddie has would not they seek to stalk us downwind? Moreover if they saw Laddie then this would be their option.
In the air and upon the ground our scouts search, yet from up on high their is so much more to view and down here we must look forward.
Would not it be wise to concentrate the scouting where one would most expect an attack.
If it be not an insult to you - remembering the watch shift incident- I would suggest one scout maintains downwind of us a permanent watch.
Most birds see only that which moves, and indeed would miss the ambush. Yet any who follow would by need have to keep pace at least, an easy spying for our avian friends."