Leaving Blackspell

[drpete]

Date: 24 Crocodile
Weather: Cool, clear

The party, sponsored by Rego, goes late and everyone has a good time. The next morning comes to soon, and out is a cool, clear day. God for traveling, should the group decide to do so. The group is now faced with the decision of what to do next. Do they stay in town, looking for work as Centipede Wranglers, or head off to find their fortunes elsewhere?

Phoebe the Amazon and her retinue open a new line of possibility, going in search of the tomb of Aethering. Her presence, however, highlights the fact that another group of Amazons was due in Blackspell, from their village in the north, which is harried by orcs. What became of them, and what will happen to Killian, the Amazon who waits for them?

Rego visits you as you prepare for the day, and offers, should you be preparing to leave, to arrange any supplies (within reason) and give you the balance of his debt in the form of a box of pearls that you can trade as you see fit.

You also see Ned and his men, hungover but happy, milling around the inn, getting ready for the day.

[granger44]

Lucius comes up with his horse leading a pair of draft horses with full saddlebags and pack saddles. I've got a goodly supply of food. Make sure you've got some good preserved food. I can probably scrounge some food on the move or hunt if we take a day of rest, but that will only be a supplement to our supplies. You might also want to make sure you've got some horse fodder in case we come to some barren areas. Be a shame to find some treasure but be unable to haul it out because we had to put down some horses.

[Todd Spengo]

Zaid walks up, leading his riding horse by the reins.

[Lamech]

I have five weeks of rations for me and my women. Phoebe says leading her group. I understand you have a treasure map? Of course if we want to do great deeds of heroism we should probably go help with the orc issues...

[PyroArrow]

Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

Erico talks to The adventure Party:

So it appears we have several options to persue, so which one will it be? Work with Ned? Hunt for Orcs, north of here? Search for the tomb of Aethering? Or wrangle Giant Centipedes?

[granger44]

I'll vote for the tombs. I believe its why the majority of us joined up.

Note - Lucius will forage for food along the way to supplement our rations.

[PyroArrow]

Erico Caravellino {Human Thief Lvl: 6 HP: 15/15 AC 8}:

Erico says:

"I'll vote for the Tomb as well, as i am curious!"

[Rodriguez]

Arriving fashionably late with her retinue Damiane says "To the tomb it is then! "

[drpete]

And so the group decided to go to the tombs, off somewhere in the vicinity of Damkina.

Looking things over, it appears that the slowest movers would be those on foot... Heraclides and phobe's infantry. The next slowest beyond these would be Phoebe's heavy draft horses (?). Zaid, I see you have a riding horse but what kind is it?

[Todd Spengo]

...Zaid, I see you have a riding horse but what kind is it?

Err, I think it just was listed as a riding horse in the book. I'll look it up. I would assume a light fast horse, as opposed to a heavy warhorse. I'll look it up to make sure I've got it right.

EDIT:

Horse, Light: A light horse can carry its normal load of 20 stone and move at 240' per turn. A light horse can carry its maximum load of 40 stone and move at 120' per turn. Light horses are trained for riding or war. Historical examples include the medieval palfrey and jennet (riding horse), medieval rouncey (warhorse), and Mongolian and Turkoman horse.

[granger44]

Lucius will comment to the group: It would be nice to get everyone mounted if only to speed our travel...even the thralls.

We have that credit with Rego and Lucius has a decent stash, if we wanted to do this.

[drpete]

Todd, I figured you probably meant light, but wanted to be sure. Great.

If you guys want to buy more horses, you can, but there are none "immediately" available that you know of... They are expensive and not generally available in a horse shop or anything... I checked for availability, and there are no riding or warhorses "for sale". Rego may know someone, he has better connections than you guys, or you can spend some time (a week or more) trying to get them together. There is also Leechfields, the horse market, if you want to go there.

To be fair, Lamech just started, so if he wants to get some with his starting funds, that's ok, but Heraclides doesn't have one yet, unless I misread something.

Edit: Rego is able to get you a riding horse relatively quickly, either light or medium, but just one that morning.

[Lamech]

I have a good number of riding horses, one for me and each of my women and a spare in case of accident. Plus draft horses. They are strong enough for two people, but it would be less than comfortable.

[Rodriguez]

Very well then, let's head upriver towards Damkina for now till we learn more details about the exact location of the tomb.

[granger44]

Let's form up the pack animals in the middle. Anyone else who knows how to keep on course want to ride in the vanguard with me? I suggest the rest of you form up around the pack animals and those leading them.

[Rodriguez]

Damiane and her Witches Guard have no such specialists so they will guard the pack animals.

[Todd Spengo]

Zaid is skilled in navigation and tracking. He will ride at the fore.

[drpete]

Once they get themselves organized and say goodbye to people they met in Blackspell, the group sets off on horseback. There is no road to speak of, but the area around Blackspell is inhabited with farmers, and they have no trouble that morning as the ride along. After a few miles the homesteads thin out, and it begins to feel less like farmed land and more like lightly forested countryside.

In the early afternoon, the sounds of a river up ahead lift your spirits, as this is the first notable landmark on your route. You approach the river cautiously, guarding the pack animals and keeping your eyes peeled. As you advance, the trees thin out, revealing a paved plaza, about 20 yards on a side. Toppled pillars and overgrowth show that the stones of the plaza were clearly laid down long ago. Grass grows up between the uneven paving stones. The river you heard earlier rushes by into the bay on the other side of the plaza. Looking closely, you see additional movement.

About 2 dozen hobgoblins are spread out near the edge of the river, 20 yards away, or so. Some of them look in your direction, but others seem to be preoccupied with whatever they are doing.

[Lamech]

A couple questions about them: is one obviously a a leader? And do any of them have ranged weapons?

[drpete]

They not currently holding ranged weapons, but there is clearly stuff at their feet that is blocked from view by a lip at the edge of the "plaza".

In this first moment, it's hard to tell which it is, but hobgoblins generally have a strong hierarchy.