Expedition: Earc/Guhra's Tower - 15 July 2021

[Alethan]

Earc holds out a steady hand.

"We don't even know if they're friendly, Bianca. Let's find out before we go rushing in."

Earc pulls a potion bottle out from the folds of his cloak. "Stay out of sight. I'll be right back."

He takes a sip of the invisibility potion and disappears.

[Stirling]

Issachar

watches the group of armed men with a degree of pensiveness. He hides his face in the shadows of his hooded coat.

"They don't look like merchant men. Too far off the beaten track and they are not the duke's men. Too far from their Gaul boundaries. We should come off the ridge top and shelter in the lee of those rocks out of sight. They'll probably have scouts up here soon enough and some men like to hit first and talk last." says Isaachar as he picks his fingernails of grime with his pointy sickle. He goes down the ridge behind any large rocks, to watch developments and wait for the hidden approach of Earc or any signal given to the others.

[Alethan]

A disconnected voice whispers to the group,"Bandits, likely. Deserters from some Southern military faction, I'd say. About 40 of them, mostly campaign-hardened men. They seemed friendly enough with each other but I'd bet my tower they are much less friendly with strangers."

"I'm not sure exactly where they're headed, but it's north. And they plan on skirting Gaul because of the rumors of Scatha. I think we should stay clear of them. Circle around with good distance and then continue west for at least a half hour more."

Earc waits to see if anyone disagrees with the plan and, if so, what their alternative suggestion is.

[Zhym]

Olaf furrows his brow and strokes his beard. "That be enough men to attack the tower with," he says. "If they'd join us. Might want the tower, though, and it be promised to the dwarves."

He nods decisively. "Aye. Go around 'em."

[Stirling]

Issachar

"We should hurry along while we can."

[Bluehorse]

Bianca

Remains quiet for the trip so far, but irritable as she walks beside her sister. Her hand ever on the silver holy symbol to Beith that hangs on her neck, fingering the simple circle.

She nods in agreement and follows the group off the beaten path, showing little worry dor a trek through the Bush.

[Marullus]

Winnie's hopes for stew and friendship dashed by the pragmatism of the group, the party swings wide and sneaks past the encampment at a safe distance in the gloomy evening light. They take some time circumventing the bandits and then travel an hour further on, putting them right around sunset. Judging by the directions you got from the Guardsmen, you suspect you are about five hours further away from Guhra's tower itself. As the sun sets, the trio of dwarves and the elf express no discomfort, but the others know they'll need a light or to follow in the starlit darkness.

Camp or continue?

Date: 10:00pm, 16 July 2021
Light: Twilight (-2 penalty)
Effects: None
Distance Travelled: 23 miles
Injuries: None

[Bluehorse]

Bianca

Speaking up herself for the first time, "I think we should press on a couple more hours and see if we find a good shelter along the way. Then hopefully we will be outside any patrolling perimeters for a good rest before pressing on in the morning."

[onlyme]

Please post your current encumbrance level and also if you're benefiting from any bonus to saves from your town stay (for record keeping).
[/i]

Halfpint is finally down to <55 lbs, and ate good meals.

[Stirling]

with chainmail armour, heavy flail and backpack contents I am 74lbs total encumbrance. Surprisingly a lot of weight is things like 10 sling stones at 5lbs, bedroll sleeping bag 5lbs and five days rations.

Isaachar would have eaten a share of moderate sacrificial priestly fare from desperate chicken farmers praying for a bumper laying of eggs.

[Bluehorse]

Please post your current encumbrance level and also if you're benefiting from any bonus to saves from your town stay (for record keeping).

Bianca is at 38 lbs, and ate good meals if that makes a difference. Unsure if anything discussed in character creation applies.

[Marullus]

New PCs don't need to worry about food - you are assumed fed with normal meals until your first expedition.

So, Isachar needs permission to put his pack on Pony the Mule and then the group can move at the 3/4 speed currently calculated.

[Stirling]

Isaachar can lighten his backpack to bedroll, 5 days rations, 5 flasks of oil (17lbs of encumbrance), carrying 57lbs himself.

[Zhym]

Olaf is okay with Isachar putting his pack on Pony.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie looks to the rest of the group, wondering if she will get to sleep soon.

[Alethan]

Earc looks around and nods, "Might as well camp here. Walking about in the dark tends to get one lost when they've not been where they're going."

[Bluehorse]

Bianca

Stops midstep and turns to look at Earc irritability then notices Winnie is almost dead on her feet. Her eyes soften a little before she huffs and resigns to the idea of camp. She walks beside Winnie and helps her get her pack off.

[Marullus]

So, it is 10:00pm. You have 4 spellcasters who need 8 hours of rest. You have 4 non-spellcasters (a hobbit and three dwarves) who don't. What's your sleep schedule/roster?

[Alethan]

Two casters from 10-12
Two non-casters from 12-2
Two non-casters from 2-4
Two casters from 4-6
Additional 2 hrs rest for all casters from 6-8

[Bluehorse]

Bianca

Will volunteer for the first watch while Winnie gets some sleep.