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(Semina)
Semina rushes out of the brush carrying the weapons and treasure that were on the assailant. Returning to the group, she presents her findings to all.

"All I found was 5 silver pieces, 15 copper, a short bow and a quiver of arrows," she speaks quickly. Knowing the treasure will be no use to her, she hands everyone a piece silver with three copper. "I am not sure who can use the short bow, but the arrows and weapon are for anyone that can use it," she sets it aside.

Semina grabs Icerick's reigns and mounts the gentle giant. "I assume we are ready to find the others," she eyes everyone. "Let us make haste and not lose their track," she kicks Icerick into a trot.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe proposes the following, "Let us send a pair of scouts ahead to scour the wilderness for the main camp and any secondary hideouts the bandits should have. Our scouts can then relay a message back to the group when they have agreed to an adqueate estimation of the forces we are dealing with."

You approach the bend as quietly as a horse will allow; all you hear is the natural sounds of the forest. A few glimpses through the less dense copse on the very turn of the bend shows no discernible movement ahead.

Semina trots her horse around the bend, you can briefly see her moving through the trees as she rides up around the turn a bit.


(Thraim)
Thraim watches as Semina trots her horse up ahead of the group. Seeing that plan is out with the bath water now, Thraim slows his horse down so that he becomes the last rider in the group.

(Semina)
Semina slows Icerick to a walk while heading around the bend, and listens for anything unusual in the area. She hears nothing out of the ordinary and glances over her shoulder as her companions watch her from a distance. She does it ever so slightly so she doesn’t give away their position if something were to surround her.

‘I should have let the dwarf scout ahead, ‘she murmurs to herself. ‘If I am ambushed, I might have an advantage being a woman, or worse,’ she contemplates once more. Shrugging her shoulders, she looks down the road suspiciously.

Still noticing the road is clear, there is something that agitates Icerick. Maybe he senses something out of place, or it could be the deepening gloom of the forest ahead. Semina halts her horse for a moment. She dares not enter the looks of the forest without considering a new plan from the rest of the group.


The ferns grow lush along the sides of the road, overhanging the path. About 20 yards ahead, however, there appears to be something of a gap on the left side, just off the road.

(Thraim)
Thraim brings his horse to a halt as quietly as possible. He pulls his crossbow off his back and hooks the leather thong on the pommel of his saddle. Thraim then loads his crossbow, and tries to cock it as quietly as possible.

(Sander)
Sander stops his horse behind Thraims and dismounts, pulling his mace. Quickly, he scans the left side of the road.

The light breeze rustles the leaves and moves the underbrush, giving the ferns a swaying, liquid appearance. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

(Semina)
Semina take inventory of her surroundings quickly. She dismounts Icerick slowly, and gives him a pleading look not to move or make a sound. 'Even though nothing seems out of place that gap ahead makes an excellent place for an ambush,' she studies.

Semina readies her hand axe and looks in Thraim and Sander's direction. She notices their attention to their weapons and silently moves behind them. Coming up just between the two, Semina whispers "Any ideas," as she pulls her hand axe completely out.

(Sander)
Sander turns back to Semina and whispers "Watch our backs, this may be an ambush."

Off to the left, you hear a couple of squirrels chitter at each other, but their argument is quickly concluded.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe rolls his eyes as the party trots forward on, "If we continue like this, we're all likely to die of suspense."

(Thraim)
Thraim puts his heels into his horse to make him walk forward. As his horse ambles forward down the road, Thraim brings his crossbow to the aim position towards the gap on the left side of the road.

As you approach the gap, you can hear the buzzing of flies, accompanied by the smell of blood. Cautiously drawing up to the area, you see some ferns that were hastily thrown into something of a pile, while the ones growing between the pile and the road are laid more or less flat. The effort to cover the bandit's corpse was either hasty and careless, or interrupted.

The road is clear as far ahead as you can see.

A few shadows between the trees indicate Jerrik is moving, but slowly, as though looking for something. Quite suddenly, you see a flash of steel, a muffled groan, then silence.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe whispers upon hearing the muffled sound, sling still readied, "What do you suppose that was? I hope the sister's alright."

(Thraim)
Thraim stands up and moves forward fifteen feet, and kneels again. He aims his crossbow in the general direction of where he thinks that the other man will show up on the road.

Thraim's surprise roll was a 4

Surprise roll for bandit scout (1d6=2)
1d6 → [2] = (2)

You are surprised for two segments, so the bandit gets two attack sequences with his short bow.
Attack rolls for bandit (1d20=16, 1d20=8, 1d20=19, 1d20=7)
1d20 → [16] = (16)
1d20 → [8] = (8)
1d20 → [19] = (19)
1d20 → [7] = (7)

One hit
Damage roll for bandit (1d6=2)
1d6 → [2] = (2)

You can return fire, at -1 to hit. You get your two attacks from the Crossbow of Speed now, then everyone rolls initiative

Thraim sets up to watch the woods, when a volley of arrows sings out from behind the brush, catching you unawares. The first shot whistles past your ear, with the second going wide. The third shot finds its mark in your kneeling leg, embedding itself in your thigh. The fourth shot is wild again. He seems to be shooting rather hastily, but you can make out his form well enough to take a shot. He has some cover, so it won't be target practice, but it won't be shooting in the dark, either.

(Thraim)
Thraim grunts as the arrow tore through his flesh, but keeps his breathing steady. He turns and quickly fires a bolt at the assailant, but misses with the shot. The motion to reload was rote now for Thraim, and before he even realized it, he was firing his second bolt at the bowman. The bolt struck true and hit its target.

two crossbow attacks and damage roll
1d20 → [10] = (10)
1d20 → [17] = (17)
Crossbow attacks at THAC0 14

1d4+4 → [2,4] = (6)
Crossbow damage roll.

(From previous)
"What do you suppose that was? I hope the sister's alright."

(Naren)
"I suspect that was Semina. Killing someone, to be precise."

The scout lets out a choked cry as the bolt skewers him through the left side of his abdomen, and stumbles back a few steps. He keeps his bow to hand, leaning against a tree, and takes in a deep breath.

"Colin! Enemies on the east! Attackers! Enemies to the rear!"

He draws another arrow from his quiver and prepares to shoot again.

(Semina)
Semina finishes wiping the blood off her hand axe, and prepares to sneak towards the other scout. 'I wonder where the other is hiding,' she concentrates.

Her head jerks up at the sound of fear bellowing from the right side of the road. 'Enemies, and attackers! Looks like we've been noticed,' she sighs. 'Better sneak up closer to the road, and take a look at reinforcements.'

(Thraim)
Thraim pulls the leather thong attached to his crossbow taught, and then swings the crossbow around to his back as he stands up and starts running. Thraim runs towards the bowman, drawing his longsword from its scabbard on his waist.

[Thraim's Initiative roll is a 2]

The bandit has drawn a short sword, and is preparing his defence.

[Initiative for bandit (1d10=4)
1d10 → [4] = (4)
Thraim gets to go first]

(Heathcliffe)
18 Dex, +3 reaction adjustment, attacking with sling stone (RoF 1).
(1d10-3=3)
1d10-3 → [6,-3] = (3)

The current order is:
Thraim
Heathcliff
Bandit


(Thraim)
Thraim approaches the wounded man cautiously with his last few steps. He bobs his head back and forth for a moment and launches into a vicious series of sword attacks, but was not able to land a telling blow in the exchange.

1d20 → [2] = (2)
Thraim's longsword attack.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe sends a sling stone hurtling at the now visible bandit.

Sling attack roll (1d20+5=13) and Sling damage roll (1d4+6=10) if it hits.

Thraim's opponent clumsily deflects the attacks, clearly struggling to keep up with the unrelenting onslaught. He seems to nearly drop his short sword to several telling blows, but twists his hand and deftly secures his grasp each time.

With an echoing thump, the sling bullet whistles through the trees and connects with the bowman's side. Thraim can hear the man's rib crack, as he groans and slumps into the underbrush.

(Thraim)
Thraim looks back at Heathcliffe was a cross of amazement and new found appreciation. However, he quickly snaps his attention forward again, scanning the brush for any more opponents.

There appear to be no more opponents forthcoming.

(Thraim)
Thraim looks around for some dense foliage near the fallen bandit, and attempts to hide in order to set up a backstab attempt on anyone coming to check out the body.

Thraim's Hide in Shadows roll: (1d100=29)

Thraim moves the fallen bandit a bit deeper into the woods, then ducks behind a thick fern, disappearing into the gloom.

(Semina)
Semina observes that no one is charging to the cries of the other bandit. She lingers a bit more, and decides the danger is clear for the moment. She travels back the way she came in the thick brush, towards the area she left her companions.

She is not able to hear the others, so she assumes they are possibly hiding and decides to sound off a bird cry to get their attention. Semina hopes they will comprehend her signal, and will advise them that the road ahead is clear for the moment. 'We need to re-group and continue with the rest of the plan,' she ruminates. 'I hope no one is badly injured.'

(Sander)
Sander watches Thraim move the body, intending to heal his wound, but could only wait has his companion moved further away, as he did not want to give any nearby hostiles their position.

(Naren)
Naren looks around and listens

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe quickly replaces his sling with his dagger and scimitar as he treads softly into the brush, hoping to utilize the natural woodland stealth of his people and ambush any of the alerted bandits.

Remaining still and listening, you hear nothing out of the ordinary. Off in the distance through the woods, as far as you are able to discern due to the echoes, is the occasional snapping of a branch, growing fainter by the minute.

(Semina)
Semina cautiously walks out of the dense woods in front of Naren. She looks back towards the road to check the activity once more. 'Nothing still' she concentrates.

She decides to walk over to Naren while trying not to block his view, "I took one down in forest," she whispers. "As far as I can tell no one is coming back for the other who cried out."

Still on alert, she looks at him for clues to where the others are hiding. "I am not sure what awaits us next, but if we are to follow rest of the party, then we must make haste," she whispers once more.

(Sander)
Sander lowers his mace and approaches Naren and Semina. Once he reaches them, he softly asks:
"What's the plan? Do we follow Thraim, or wait for him?"

(Naren)
"Maybe it's just instinct, but something tells me we should be on the move." Naren paused, looking a bit worried. "It's too quiet after that shout."

Naren begins cautiously following Thraim.

(Thraim)
Realizing that his hidden ambush attempt will be compromised momentarily, Thraim steps out of the brush and starts walking towards the group.

Once he gets near everyone, Thraim says "well, it seems that luck may be on our side this morning, and the shout was not heard. I think that we should stick to the plan and follow them to the meeting."

(Naren)
"Paranoid though it may be, but after the shout I'd assume they know we're here until we know otherwise."

(Semina)

Semina moves her head back and forth between Thraim and Naren. She listens to both suggestion offered to everyone.

"I don't think you are paranoid Naren," she gazes at him. "Either way if they heard the scream, then we are sitting ducks even if we find cover. For they might hunt us down, while we wait" she whispers.

"Sure we can hide and hope to out maneuver them, yet I was at least 15 yards ahead of the scream and heard no one rouse to the bandit's cry," she speaks softly once more.

Semina's head now turns to Thraim. "Either way, my vote is for following the rest of the party, but I will follow the majority's decision."

The woods sound like they have returned to normal while you discuss matters. Birds screeching occasionally, squirrels chattering to each other in the trees, and a gentle breeze rustles the branches high overhead.

(Thraim)
"Everyone mount up and get ready to ride," Thraim says in an authoritative voice.

Turning to Semina, Thraim says to her, "you should find the man you took down and check his possessions. Maybe he has a missive or document that may provide us a clue about him or his group. I will search the other body as well."

Thraim walks back over to the body of the bandit and begins to search his body for valuables, information, and clues. Once he finishes with the body, Thraim tries to loosely conceal the body by pulling it farther off trail and obscuring the body with branches and leaves.

(Semina)
Semina nods at Thraim's request, and pauses for a moment to looks at Naren. "If you wouldn't mind Naren, when you retrieve your horse will you bring Icerick back with you as well," she says calmly. "He knows you better then the others and won't throw a fit if you handle him for me," she gently smiles.

Semina begins to head back into the forest towards the body. She searches the carcass for clues, valuables and any other information about his party and where they were headed.

As soon as she finishes, she will head back to the group, give details of her findings, and mount upon Icerick.

As you finalize your plans, you hear a shout from much closer than you expected, apparently a few yards past the bend through the copse of trees in front of you.

"You two louts! You aren't getting paid to sit in the woods and look at the trees! Were you thinking the Western Road was going to watch itself? Get over there and stay out of sight while we clean up this mess! The General is expecting us in less than an hour, and we don't need interlopers stumbling over us!" you hear in alternate tones, indicating the speaker is turning back and forth to yell.

"Ey! Take it easy, Colin, we have the new patrol routes, they aren't due this way until close to dinner!" comes a voice through the woods directly in front of you, from the direction Thraim recently emerged.

From the other direction, you hear a rejoinder, "Jerrik's right, no patrols, no travellers... pickin's are slim this close to Festival. We'll watch behind, don't you worry about that."

"You shut your mouth until you are in charge! I said get over there and watch the road, and I meant get over there and watch the road!" bellows Colin.

"Fine, fine! We'll watch your damned road!" Jerrik replies, with irritation in his voice.

(Semina)
Semina listens to Thraim and Kagan plans once more. Then her attention is caught off guard by the loud voices ahead of her. "They are much closer then before" she looks to everyone, "either we advance to hiding, or we make a stance now."

Semina then grabs the Icerick’s reigns with one hand and her hand axe in the other. "So, what are the plans again?" she says with a hurried look. She readies herself to mount Icerick.

(Kagan)
"I say we hide for now, wait til' the others are out of earshot. We need them fellows unawares if are to follow and learn what they are up to" says Kagan-Zur in a hoarse whisper. "Once they are gone we can deal with these quickly and quietly."

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe, unnerved at the encroaching proximity of the bandits, quickly remarks, "I say dispatch this lot now and then scout out for the bandit hideout while there is respectable distance between our companies, but do what you will. I was just simply hoping for a quick retreat or a hasty ambush so not to give the knaves immediate intelligence of our presence and/or arrival."

(Sander)
Sander quietly pulled his mace from his side and readied it.
"Whatever we do," he began in a hushed, yet unmistakenly urgent tone, "we must decide now, and stick with it. I say we fight, it's unlikely we'll be able to hide a group this big, mounts and all, successfully in a matter of minutes."

(Semina)
Semina nods at Sander, and brings her horse quietly around for mounting. "The cleric is right, we can't hide everything so quickly," she whispers impatiently. "Every moment we waste, we lose our element of surprise."

(Thraim)

Thraim motions for everyone to move their horse off the trail. He then grabs the reins of his horse and moves it back up the trail about ten feet, and then moves off the trail a bit. He ties off his horse, and returns to the trail. Thraim readies his crossbow, takes a knee, and aims in the general direction of where he thinks Jerrik will appear.

(Heathcliffe)
"Very well, let's not tarry long with the rabble then." Heathcliffe says as he hops off of Sander's horse. He then pulls out his sling with grim disposition and looks nervously at the wood, waiting for a clear shot at whatever hapless brigand decides to leave the protective bush first.

(Semina)
Deciding there isn't time to mount the horse, and that it would cause more trouble then its worth, Semina grabs Icerick’s reigns and high tails up to the same place Thraim ties his horse up. She pulls Icerick as close as possible to the tree line, "Don't come any closer" she states quietly to the horse. “I will whistle when it is safe for you to return."

Semina readies her hand axe, and looks towards Thraim, to signal him for a moment. She nods her head towards the trees and advance into the thicker portions. She disappears into the forest and will try to come about to surprise any others that may appear when hopefully the first two fall.

[OOC: I will Move Silently, Hide in Shadow and get behind them.
1st Dice roll 1d100 → [50] = (50) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1818913/
2nd Dice roll 1d100 → [16] = (16) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1818932/]

(Naren)
In any case, Naren will stay back, but close enough to hurl burning oil.

As Semina glides silently into the trees, you hear the approaching sounds of Jerrik, walking carefully, but not particularly quietly. A few seconds later, you hear a muffled snap. From ahead, in the trees, you hear Jerrik call out, "Oy! Oy!" and two sharp cracks. In a lower voice, you can just make out ".... possum! Scoot, ... a fine stew! Oy!" and another sharp crack.

Judging by the noise, he should be about seven or eight yards into the trees. You can just make out a figure, but he isn't moving, staring off to the left in Semina's general direction.

(Thraim)
Thraim waits patiently for a clearer shot at the figure. He steadies his breathing and slides his index finger over the trigger of his crossbow.

Jerrik waits a minute or so, then slowly starts moving to your left.

"Here, little possum, you sit still while old Jerrik comes over to get you" His direction is taking him slightly away from the road, but there are a few clearer spots where you might be able to get a shot off. Your best guess is that he is somewhere in the area around where Semina was going.

The mid-day meal of trail rations passes without interruption, but at least they are hot trail rations. The Steward's men are congenial, several of them veterans in the army, the rest relatively new to service. A few short anecdotes about this battle or that skirmish around mouthfuls of food or drink. Soon, the Steward rises as his men start cleaning up the camp and preparing to leave. After equipment is stowed and the horses untied, the Steward is presented with a small chalice, which he raises in toast.

"Those who are gathered under the banner of Cynosure, the gods smile upon you. They, at least, will see your efforts and reward them, even if those efforts prevent you from returning to the Duke's hearth!" He raises the cup to all gathered, draining it in one swallow and closes his eyes for a moment. Just as suddenly, his reverie is broken, as he hands he small flagon to his Captain, claps his hands and rubs them together with a smile. "I almost envy you, adventurers. At times, the open road is a temptation." he proclaims in a heavy voice. "But I have my calling, and I could not ask better men to serve with." He mounts his horse, saluting your party. "May the gods watch over you, friends, and provide you opportunity to help they Duchy!" At that, he turns his horse and spurs it towards the opening to the Northern road, followed by his men. They speed town the path, and are quickly lost to sight through the thick trees and undergrowth. Their hooves are heard for a few minutes, then the forest falls back into its pattern of birdcalls and animals screeching over territory incursions.

The noon sun has warmed the clearing, and judging by the noise of the cicadas down the Merchant Road, the forest has warmed as well. You feel the humid warmth almost as a wall when you begin down the trail. An hour down the trail, the powerful combination of a full meal and the still heat conspire to drag you out of your saddles.

You are all brought back to full wakefulness a few hours after the clearing. It seems about halfway between noon and evening when the muffled noises ahead catch your ears. Echoes and still air make it hard to tell distance, but it seems around a slight bend ahead of you come the sounds of arguing, which escalates, followed by a shout, several moments of silence, then a pained scream. Several more minutes of silence are interrupted by further arguing, although one voice seems to be directing the discussion now. Although the woods are distorting the sounds, you would say no less than three and no more than five are involved.

Your best guess would be no more than two dozen yards beyond the bend.

(Thraim)
Thraim dismounts slowly and quietly. He walks up to Semina's horse and says quietly to all that can hear it, "I think that I should scout this out first. Be at the ready for my signal, and come riding hard if you hear it."

Thraim winks at Semina with a smile, and pats her horse. He then walks up to the front to speak with Kagan-Zur. He approaches Kagan-Zur's horse quietly and cautiously, so as not to spook either the horse or Kagan-Zur.

"I'll take the left, you take the right?" Thraim whispers in a throaty voice to Kagan-Zur.

Without waiting for a response, Thraim starts moving off towards the left through the forest. He carefully picked his footfalls as he moved away from the group. The last thing they could hear from Thraim was the slightly audible 'click' of his crossbow being cocked and loaded as he disappeared into the brush.

[OOC: Thraim is going to move up quietly, hide, listen, and observe.
Move Silently = 07%, Hide in Shadows = 84%, and Hear Noise = 86%.]

(Kagan)
"I'll cover the other flank" Kagan-Zur whispers hoarsely at Thraim.
Kagan-Zur turns invisible then moves quietly and carefully through the woods trying to come on the other side of arguing from Tharim.
[Move Silent 1d100 → [55] = (55)
Listen 1d100 → [25] = (25)]

(Naren)
As Naren's horse is not a warhorse, and knowing the poor reactions normal horses have to battle, he gets down and ties her to a branch.

After that, he goes over his spells in his mind, examining, but not touching the stored energy and making sure that it is ready, should he need it.

If there is time after these preperations, he'll take out one of the oil flasks, put a rolled strip of cloth tight in the opening and light a candle. He will hold them ready to light the cloth and throw the flask.

(Heathcliffe)
From atop of Sander's horse, Heathcliffe looks inquisitively as Thraim and Kagan move stealthily ahead, curiously as to what they will find.

(Semina)
The loud noise startles Semina for a moment, and the whole party comes to a stand still. Thraim walks quietly over to her, and advises her of his plan to scout ahead with Kagan, and see what all the commotion is ahead.

Listening to his request to stay back until needed, Semina calms Icerick down, and prepares him for battle. "They will need a quite cover my dear one," she whispers. "Once they howl, I will need your strength to charge the enemy."

She glances around Icerick to make sure everything is secure, and positions her axe and daggers for drawing, not deciding which she will use if an encounter begins. Looking over at Naren as he decides to tie down his horse, she smile at the thought of battling beside him once more.

(Thraim)
Thraim returns to the waiting group from the forest, and motions to everyone to gather close to him. He wishes to speak with everyone, but in hushed tones.

Once everyone gathers fairly close, either by dismounting or remaining mounted, Thraim says to everyone, "there's a group of brigands about twenty to thirty yards up trail. There are at least six men, most wearing leather armor, and they're armed with missile weapons. They're arguing about a death among their ranks, and who gets first pick at looting the dead man's gear. They should be wrapping up in about five to ten minutes, and then they are moving again. I heard one say that they are supposed to be meeting up with the 'piggy leader and taking him back to the Boss'. Who or what is the 'piggy leader' and the 'Boss,' I don't know?"

Pausing for a moment only, Thraim speaks again, "I recommend that we hide off trail, wait, and then follow this group to this meeting. We'll see where this leads us?"

(Naren)
"Possibly an orc chieftain. Some orcs have a distinctly piggish look." Naren says quietly. "That plan sounds logical."

Should Thraims' plan be accepted, Naren will keep flask and candle in hand, but hide off the trail at the back of the group - The thick underbrush (5 to 10 feet visibility) will easily hide the candlelight in broad daylight.

(Kagan)
Kagan-Zur appears again once the group is together. He nods in agreement at Tharim's words. "It seemed to be a squabble between two of the brigands, not uncommon amongst rabble like this." he says, then adds. "It's a good plan dwarf."
He nods again at Naren's words. "I agree it seems they're taking one of the orc leaders to their leader for some kind of meet, I'd guess."
"Come" he says to the group. "We'll show you the good places to hide."

(Semina)
Semina watches Thraim approach the group in a quiet manner. She can tell by his body language that he needs to speak to everyone, so she quietly dismounts Icerick.

She listens to Thraim and Naren discuss options and agrees with the plan. Semina now looks over to Kagan as he talks about a hiding place they found. "What of the horses?" she whispers. "Will there be enough room for hiding them, and will we be following by foot, or will they be too loud to take?"

(Thraim)
Thraim nods gravely at Semina's excellent questions, and says, "we should be able to hide the horses in this forest with us. I think that if we're careful, we can still probably follow them by horseback for a while yet."

(Kagan)
Kagan-Zur stares into the forest, looking deep in thought.
"He's right," says the hoarse voiced half-orc, eyes still scanning the woods. "But with all that foliage and under growth we'll need take extra care not be heard and give them a decent headway."
"Also if they are smart, they may well have a rear-guard scouting behind them." he says, turning to the group. A brief uncertain smirk crosses his porcine lips as he shrugs slightly. "They didn't strike as being all that trained, but best not to underestimate them, and keep our eyes peeled. Is there a tracker amongst us?"

(Snorri)
"I'm no good at sneaking. If we're to follow them, it would seem like sense for the most skilled forester to follow at a close distance and keep the rest of us from giving away the plan."

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe pouts, "I would prefer not to waste time trailing the bandits but, for the sake of decisiveness, I will side with the majority so we do not dawdle here for long."

(Thraim)
Doesn't want to waste time trailing bandits? What does he think that we were hired to do? Thraim thinks to himself in amusement as he looks at the strangle halfling.

Addressing the group, Thraim says, "well, I'm no ranger, but I should be able to follow this lot's trail. Snorri's right, the main group should hang way back while Kagan-Zur and myself trail them ahead of you. Are we all in agreement on the plan then?"

(Kagan)
Kagan-Zur nods in approval.

Travelling through the woods proves uneventful, a few crashes off in the distance as deer are startled, a flock of birds takes flight at your approach. The soldiers remain alert, but don't seem particularly worried.

Through the canopy, the sun continues to climb higher. As it approaches directly overhead, a bright opening is visible ahead of you. Riding on, you come upon a rather sudden clearing around the trail, which branches northward on the far side of the clearing. Off to your left as you enter the open area are obvious signs of use. Several fire rings, each with logs or log ends for sitting, a few smaller billets lashed between some trees, and bare patches in the otherwise lush swath of grass.

One soldier rides to both of the other paths, looking intently down the trail, while three others do a quick turn around the clearing, making sure there are no ambushes waiting for them. The Lord Steward and his staff wait in the middle of the clearing, hands on hilts, until the soldiers give the all clear signal Trotting over to the makeshift post, the men dismount and tie off their horses before stretching out and digging in packs and saddlebags for rations. Two of them get hand axes from their gear and go into the near woods looking for some fresh wood, and shortly have three fires started up for cooking.

"My friends, this is where we will part," explains the Steward. "You will continue down the easterly road for the remainder of today, and the following two days. I would be wary after the sun rises a second time on your journey. Our patrols are necessarily limited that far from our settlements, but until recently, they have had no need for greater attention."

He half-turns to his men, who are exchanging rough humour and conversation, one of them signalling that the food is ready. He flourishes an arm towards the fires, grinning broadly.

"That is a worry for another day, however. Let us sit and take our meal before parting ways, each of us to our dark ends." At which he strides over to his men, accepting a plate and a cup of drink, raising it in toast to everyone at the gathering.

(Thraim)
Thraim dismounts deftly, and then stretches with much noise. He runs his fingers through is beard unconsciously, grooming it.

Each of us to our dark ends? My, my that's a little black, isn't it? Thraim thinks to himself as he chuckles softly.

Thraim quickly jerks the leather tie holding his wooden mug to his belt, and rushes over to get some drink in it for the toast.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe pouts as he is helped off of one of the steward escort's horses but quickly reclaims his cheerful spirit. At least, he has never had to spent money on boots and if he whines just right, maybe one of his more permanent companions might acquiesce to burdening their own mount. Nevertheless, Heathcliffe notes not to be too spoiled - druidic strictures, fortune, and all.

(Semina)
Semina cautiously dismounts Icerick. She investigates the clearing for a moment and tries listens. Unfortunately the soldiers are making to much noise to hear anything useful. She point to the lush grass patches, and directs Icerick towards them, "stay on alert my friend" she whispers "this place is a little to open for my liking."

Grabbing her water skin, Semina walks towards the gathering where the Lord Steward is giving a toast. She overheard the comments about how the soldiers were departing, to keep heading easterly, and to be wary of the second sun rise. 'Wary of the second sunrise' she grinds her teeth thinking, 'my guard has been on edge since the forest entry.'

(Naren)
Naren dismounts, feeds, waters and walks his horse and then finds somewhere to do some stretches before laying down.

(Snorri)
Snorri gathers with the others, eager for a touch of ale to moisten his parched throat. Riding was the second worse thing that he could think of and he had days more of it to look forward to. Better than swimming, though.

"What perils can we expect on the road eastwards, friend?" he asks the steward. "Orcs, bandits, devilry? I can withstand the first two easily enough, but devilry must needs be tackled by our learned magic users."

(Naren)
A few minutes later, a thought hit Naren. That happened regularly; although no genius, he was intelligent. On the other hand, thoughts on social situations were a bit scarcer on the ground. It was a conclusion to the deep thought he had previously attempted on the subject matter. After a bit of consideration, he decided to approach the matter directly.

He stood up, walked over to Semina and said, directly and honestly, "After consideration, I believe I may have been hasty and unwarranted in my angry reply."

(Kagan)
Kagan-Zur quietly watches the proceedings, they soon be on the hunt, and the thought of it brings a smile to face.

(Sander)
"Heathcliffe, would you like a ride? I'm sure this horse can hold both of us." Sander extended a hand towards his companion to help him up.

(Heathcliffe)
Heathcliffe gives Sander a hearty grin as he accepts the man's hand, "Yes. I would very much like one."