Chapter 2: Day 2 - A Search & Rescue is Planned

[PyroArrow]

Castellan Devereau looks to Garbonzo & says,

"Primary objective here is to hunt for the captives, retrieve them & get them back to the Keep."

"Thanks to Rondoel we know they are in the Caves area so concentrate your efforts there."

"We must be stealthy here as much as possible, we can not just march up the main road in plain site & expect to trot right into Caves Valley, without being seen & a fight ensuing!"

"What also worries me is how the humanoids at the Caves of Chaos will react, if at all, once it is discovered one or more of the Caves have been raided during your quest."

"Thus another reason why my men here have been very busy of late prepping for any attack on Kellan Keep."

"Perhaps we have a heavy war horse you could use Sir along with light war horses for the halflings & dwarves, Medium war horses for Elves & Humans."

"If this Mission proves successful Lord Quido may send you all on another. So you may get a chance to investigate these mysterious Towers as it is, for we will need to secure them for tactical advantage, oh & the Caves as well, as I am sure the Cave Humanoids have the same thing in mind."

[Pulpatoon]

Linos says,
"I am new to this company and unacquainted with those congregated—and any facilities such as they should posses. Some look like capable warriors, and some shine with the light of righteousness. But I also behold a child, scribbling in a book, and drunkard, lost in his cups, and a number of other rogues."

Odderick looks up and says, "Child? Where's a child?" He looks around the room, curiously.

Linos, oblivious to the dirty looks he is receiving, continues,
"Is this not a large and haphazard collection for a mission that depends on stealth? Perhaps we should be more selective in our ranks. I should go. And this Stormbrow fellow. And one of the sober elves."

Odderick gives Linos the skunk-eye.

[MonkeyWrench]

Durgan, still seated at the table, sighs to himself.
"The hubris of Man never fails to rear it's ugly head...."

[PyroArrow]

Castellan Devereau,

"Now, now, Brother Linos, do i detect a taste for blood rather than faith in doing good with what the Gods gave us here today?"

Chaplain Abercromie, looks over at Brother Linos, with squinty eyes & a bit of a smirk.

[Dizlexus]

Gus pipes up again:
How many times do I have to say I'm not drunk? Geez! A fella can't have a mead in the morning without having a problem?

He looks at Linos and continues:
I can teach you more about stealth in a day than you can remember in a lifetime. This drunkard will be your scout and your point walker. Now, sit your grumpy butt down and have a mead.

Clem chimes in:
Pardon my brother, Linos, he chooses to ignore all etiquette and manners, Elven or otherwise. However, his skills will be most useful to our venture. Gus, meet Linos. Linos, meet Gus.

[PyroArrow]

Castellan Devereau to Stormbrow:

"Ok, it's time to go to the horses & begin prepping them for the journey, come along now Stormbrow, Rondoel & the Druid fellow."

The three proceed with the Castellan & Guards, to the Cavalry Stables along the right side back wall of the Keep. Stormbrow, Rondoel & Durgan are wowed by the sight of the pure-bred
war horses. One heavy war horse of which stands 19-hands high:

Heavy War Horse:

Castellan Devereau says:
"This one, Gentlemen, is a Greyhawk World Champion steed. Lord Guido's own horse."

"So now, these other fine horses here will be assisting you on your mission."

[Antman9]

Stormbrow's eyes widen in wonder and pleasure both.
"Fine horses these. Lord Guido is a fine man. These will do just fine."

Stormbrow admires the horses, caressing several and looking at their teeth and hooves.

"Fine horses indeed." He moves about the stable, contemplating the events to come more than anything else.

"Linos is right. If what you say is true, there will be a host of vermin waiting to accost us at every step. We must be careful, but I fear if only a few of us go we shall not return. We need to form several groups; Forward scouts, outside guards, rear guards, and the cleanup crew. Any thoughts Rondoel, Durgan?"

[PyroArrow]

Rondoel says to Castellan Devereau,

"Yes indeed. They are beautiful horses. Let me think, uhmm, yea, we will need 11 of the medium war horses & one heavy one for Garbonzo."

"Oh, plus another 2 medium war horses to bring back the Merchants."

Rondoel to Stormbrow,

"Yes, we could split up the party like that."

[MonkeyWrench]

Ignoring Stormbrow for the moment Durgan walks up to the and gently pats the horses head, whispering something that no one can decipher to the horse.

"These are beautiful creatures, I fear they have become too domesticated but that is the way of the world it seems. I am glad that this one has not lost it's fire."

Remembering the question Durgan turns to Stormbrow,

"We would have to choose wisely amongst the group on who goes first and who does the clean up."

[PyroArrow]

Rondoel says to Durgan & Stormbrow,

"I will go up front with Stormbrow. You (Durgan) & the Prestidigitator fellow should take the middle."

Castellan Devereau to all 3:

"Ok, now, my men will have the horses ready within an hour so your whole party can see the horses at the Common Stable in after an hour from now to acquaint themselves
with their new rides."

"Any further questions? If not the Guards will escort you all back to the Outer Bailey."

[Antman9]

Stormbrow:

"I believe we are done here. Thank you. We must discuss the marching and group order with the others."

=====================================================
Dungeon Master Reply:

Stormbrow, Rondoel & Durgan head back to the tavern to finalize plans & let everyone know when & where to see their horses.

[Dizlexus]

Clem at the Tavern:

"I wish I had been permitted to view the stables with Stormbrow."

"Gus, behave yourself, please."

"I'm off to the temple to say a prayer and try to acquire a healing potion or two."

"I'll be back in no less than 1/2 of an hour."

Clem leaves the tavern.

[Pulpatoon]

Seeing his advice so unwisely ignored, Linos practices his best glower.

[PyroArrow]

Ok, it is about 11 am now, Brother Clem Niminus heads over to St. Cuthbert's Chapel, where he is greeted by Brother Martin.

From the outside the Chapel appears to be a simple 70 feet long stone construction with a 60 feet tall peaked slate roof.
Inside things are quite different; lancet windows in the south wall let in light, however all attention is drawn by a stained glass window in the upper east wall.

A SunBurst design dominates this 20 feet tall, 8 feet wide window, just below the sunburst is a bald eagle wearing a crumbled hat, with olive branches in it's beak, holding a cudgel in it's left talon, & a balance scale in it's right talon. The bald eagle is wearing a platinum pendant of rubies in a sunburst design upon it's chest.

Beneath it is a simple Altar; this, several bare pews & a poor box atop a heavy looking pedestal, by the door entrance is all the furnishings you see in the nave.

Stairs just inside the sturdy double doors led down, in the northwest corner.

"Good Day Sir, welcome to St. Cuthberth's Chapel! I am Brother Martin. You are welcome to pray here! or perhaps there is something you wish to discuss? I will be holding
Mass here at Noon."

Clem notices a lady cleaning & prepping around the altar.

[Dizlexus]

At St. Cuthbert's Chapel:

Clem:
"Brother Martin, it is a fine thing to meet you. I could not leave the keep without a visit."

"I do not know whether or not I can remain for service as I am part of a contingent commissioned by Lord Guido. The group is being assembled now."

"We are to visit the Caves of Chaos where we hope to learn the fate of the Kmartie's."

"I wonder, Sir, if your temple offers healing remedies of any nature."

[PyroArrow]

Apparently the Girl cleaning the Altar overhears Brother Clem & says aloud with a bit of a giggle:

"Where does it hurt?!"

Brother Martin clears his throat & says to Brother Clem:

"Ah, yes, the Kmarties, Bless their Souls! May St. Cuthbert guide your group to success in their rescue!"

"I am afraid the healing remedies, being in short supply, we can not offer any for sale at this time."

"The Keep lacks a resident Al-chemical Mage at the moment & the merchants & guards tend to use up even what they
had hoped to sell here, just coming & going from the Keep, Brother Clem."

[Dizlexus]

Clem thanks Brother Martin and returns to the tavern -- to keep Gus out of trouble.

If departure is delayed he will return to the chapel for noon service.

[PyroArrow]

After staying at the chapel to pray for about a half hour, Brother Clem, heads back to the tavern around 11:30am, where he learns that the horses will all be at the common stables by Noon & that he can go see them then.

Most of the group now here minus Father Tenebaum, Brother Radac & Brother Karick, whom went back to their place to prepare & pack for the journey.

Also, Brother Linos has left to pack for the journey. Thus he is back at the chapel & went downstairs to the living space.

The rest of you finalize a marching order, & plot an initial route of travel on the Map.

[MonkeyWrench]

Durgan stays with the group, following the general consensus with no argument, waiting for when the group actually travels towards the caves.

I can be in whatever group you all want me in, just let me know. Also don't care whether we take horses or not for the journey. If the vote is split down the middle I would probably vote for no horses since we are meeting Boc Maxima on the way to the caves.

[Pulpatoon]

Perhaps we should start out on horseback. No reason to wear ourselves out with a cross-country march before we even get to the caves. One of the NPCs (like one of the clerics) could stay with the horses once we get closer. That way, we'll have a position to fall back to, should be need provisions, healing, or rapid escape.

============================================================================================================
Dungeon Master Response:
The Caves area is really only roughly about 3,000 yards away or 1.704545 miles away! Anyways, Horses race like .5 to at least 1.25 miles in length at a racetrack!