IC XII

[thirdkingdom]

It takes over an hour, but Rhys is able to track down all the horses. Luckily, after running they stuck together, and he finally locates them grazing peacefully.

Back at the camp, it is only a matter of time before the three return. The bandit is shamefaced, whilst the two men-at-arms actually seem to have recovered somewhat. Later that evening, the bowmen -- the more lucid of the two -- tells a tale of voices in his head, urging him to forsake his vows and slaughter his comrades.

EDIT:

By the time Rhys returns with the mounts it is early evening.

[Wyzard]

Severi waves off the Bandit's self-flagellation. "There is likely nothing you could have done. We're lucky that the lot of you weren't slain by this oversized saurian."

"Let's march an hour or two, and camp at sundown. It's a long way back to the city, and we should get started."

[Alethan]

Severi waves off the Bandit's self-flagellation. "There is likely nothing you could have done. We're lucky that the lot of you weren't slain by this oversized saurian."

"Let's march an hour or two, and camp at sundown. It's a long way back to the city, and we should get started."

Rhys agrees with this suggestion.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan agrees with marching before camping.

[shaidar]

Mursley, MU

Mursley agrees too.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers break camp and take advantage of the last remaining daylight hours to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the Forgotten City. A defensible place to camp is found, on a bluff overlooking the main trail, but sheltered. Shortly before midnight, the wind begins to pick up. It blows harder and harder, until those men-at-arms still awake have to scamper to secure loose items, and the keening, wailing sound is loud enough to wake those asleep. The wind only blows for a short time. Minutes later, a human-shaped shadow can be seen, walking slowly up the path from the south. A great, bird-like form is perched on its shoulder.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"May the earth crack open beneath your feet," Severi grumbles, determining that this latest alert has enough merit to rouse him from his bedroll. He calls down the path, "Hail, traveller! Don't you know better than to approach an armed camp without announcing yourself? State your name and intentions!"

[thirdkingdom]

Stranger in the Night

"Hail," calls the figure, a strong female voice ringing across the now-quiet night. "I am Cathae of the Starry Night, shepherd of the lands. I trust you are not laying in wait to ambush me?"

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"We'd be doing a piss-poor job of it if we were. I am Severi, and I welcome you to our fire, Cathae."

Does this setting include hospitality being considered inviolate? If so, Severi urges one of the men at arms to get some corn dodgers out of the rations and offer her one.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"We do not bring scourge to the land, Cathae. In truth, we are trying to rid the lands of the strife of bandits and the warmongering orcs. We are on our way back to Threshold after sending a band of the former scattering and forcing the latter to return to their lands."

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

Aquar pauses in his evening prayers to greet the newcomer.

"Welcome Cathae, I am Aquar Ionian, cleric of Procan, Sovereign of the Seas, The Storm Lord, the Sailor of Sea and Sky," he says, wondering if the woman is of some druidic order of priesthood. "What do you shepard in these lands?"

[thirdkingdom]

Cathae, druidess

"Aye", she says, hunkering down and accepting the proffered rations. She breaks off a bit for the owl perched on her shoulder, "I am tasked with watching and protecting the lands. I have just come from the forests to the east, where I attempted, to little good, I am afraid, to convince some stubborn loggers to moderate their activities. There was, until recently, an ancient cat of large stature and fierce disposition that served as a check on the felling of the forests, but the cat was slain several weeks ago."

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"Well, we have now reduced the amount of spoilage that your forest will suffer from orc-kind." Severi stares at the fire. "We are bound back for town. Do you know what your next task will be?"

[Alethan]

Rhys the Honest

Rhys says nothing.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"Hmm, yes, that cat, I heard it was enthusiastic in its check and balancing, to the misfortune of many men," comments Aquar, chewing on dried ration meat. "It's a hard thing stopping civilation's appetite for natural resources. Who owns the land - the king? Perhaps an appeal to him?"

Aquar has a terrible itch where his armor chafed him, but resists using his giant cat claw back-scratcher to get at the tough spot.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi, Elf

"Well, we have now reduced the amount of spoilage that your forest will suffer from orc-kind." Severi stares at the fire. "We are bound back for town. Do you know what your next task will be?"

Cathae, druidess

The woman shrugs. "I wander where the winds take me. There rumors of massive numbers of undead to the west, near someplace called Korizegy Keep, or something. Good work with the orcs, by the way. If anything despoils nature faster than humans, it's orcs."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Dealing with orcs is a pleasure".

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"Very well. I intend to go back to my bed, such as it is. Fee free to spend the night by our fire."

I don't see that much productive can happen from talking to her, so I figure we just leave a thorough watch posted and call it a night.

[thirdkingdom]

Severi, Elf

"Very well. I intend to go back to my bed, such as it is. Fee free to spend the night by our fire."

I don't see that much productive can happen from talking to her, so I figure we just leave a thorough watch posted and call it a night.

That's cool. If anyone wants to chime in go for it, and I will update in the morning.

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"Tell me friend. We are fellow adventurers, seeking out riches and ridding the lands of evil. Would you like to join us?"