[Game Thread] Part 13: A Promising Start (15th day of Mirtul 1370 DR)

[BananaCrackers]

Katerina raises a brow as she adds berries to her mental list of odd jobs they've run across. First moon radishes and now berries, she thinks to herself. I feel like I should be headed to the local market. The potions that Bokken has available does interest her, however, so finding the berries would be beneficial. She frowns slightly at the hermit mentioning his brother and stabbing the man. "What did your brother do to earn such animosity?" she inquires.

[Althea]

Bokken spits in the fire and growls as he holds up his right hand and displays his missing pinky finger, "Bastard cut that offa me the last time he hit my mother, Desna rest her soul. But he took off right after to live in a hollow tree down south rather than face justice, so I guess it all worked out well enough. Still, I wouldn't mind someone giving him a good thrashing."

[BananaCrackers]

Katerina takes in Bokken's rather decrepit state and asks, "How long ago did this happen?" It didn't seem to be a recent event, after all, Bokken's mother probably passed on years ago.

[Althea]

The hermit shrugs. "Long, long time ago. Don't remember how long. Seek him out or don't. But I could really use those berries. Now shoo, I need to finish this project," Bokken states, as he dismisses the group with a wave of his hand. He goes back to stirring his pot of mystery potion. There is still quite a bit of day left and the group could easily finish mapping the area if they choose to.

[ogamodyna]

Colbohn reined his mare away from the strange old man in his camp. A short distance away he began doodling with a bowstave in the dirt near his horse's hooves. A closer look shows a very rough and shoddy map in the dirt.What say we continue our sweep nearby? Just because he hasn't found any handy, doesn't mean there are non of his berries closer to hand. Besides it would be nice to know what all is hiding in the lands so close to our so-called base.

[dbaque]

Devon mounts his steed & leads Arus towards Colbohn. The young noble nods approvingly at the ranger's suggestion. "Aye, 'twould a wise course be. Lead on," he replies, ready to follow the more wilderness-savy half-elf's lead.

[Althea]

With the hermit seeming reluctant to converse more with the group, they turn their attention back to their task. The rest of the day is spent surveying the grasslands. Towards the evening, Colbohn finds a small watering hole with a squat stand of trees to take shelter in for the evening. The night passes without incident and the next day dawns bright and sunny.

[dbaque]

While he's certainly never been overly fond of 'roughing it' compared to the comforts of civilization, the young noble finds such wilderness nights much more pleasant among friendly company. The lot has been quieter all day though, no doubt still saddened by their friend's departure. He manages to occupy himself with humming a relaxing tune while he penned a few more verses to his epic before turning in for the night.

The bright, sunny morn seems to promise a glorious day; "Perchance some ease to melancholic grief," he thinks as well. After prestidigitating away the sweat & grime of yesterday, the half-elf poet packs & readies for another day of exploration. He asks his companions: "To what course hence shall we embark this day? / The northwest to explore about Oleg's? / Or seek to hunt the per'lous, savage boar?"

 

If we elect to explore the area around the Outpost (make sure there are no surprises & all), the hexes would be: NW, W, SW, SE.

[HenryLockwood]

"A circuit, I think. If we travel southeast from here, and ride by the river crossing yet not too close - that would give us the opportunity to learn the lay of the land. It will take only a little longer than riding directly to the forests."

Yunnan's speech, though still calm and unhurried, becomes even simpler in the presence of the flowery Devon.

OOC I'm recommending southeast for two hexes, southwest for one (but not fully exploring the Danger Hex), then west.

[BananaCrackers]

Katerina pulls out her map as the others make their suggestions. She nods at Yunnan's words. "Yes, let's explore more to the south. However, I'd like to know what had the bandits so spooked about the river crossing. Perhaps it'll be someone that will welcome news of Marel's demise? If it looks like there will be trouble, then we can simply avoid the area," she suggests.

[ogamodyna]

With a nod Colb turned his mare southward and flicked her neck with the reins. At the unspoken signal the gray dappled mare began to walk just barely into the water as her rider led her further into unexplored areas. He rode cautiously but without fear and kept eyes peeled into the misleading shadows and crevices that within these plains could hide a small army of raiders.

[BananaCrackers]

Katerina puts away her map and mounts up. Turning her horse, she flicks the reins and follows after Colbohn. She remains alert for any sign of trouble.

[dbaque]

While he would have thought it wiser to make sure that there were no surprises about their base of operations, Devon yields to the counsel of the heroes more familiar with the land's lay. He mounts his steed & follows the party's southern course, with readied buckler, his whip at his side, & keen eyes peering about for aught of interest or trouble.

[Huhart]

Maengar made no suggestions as the others debated which way to go. Once the decision is made, he mounts silently and follows behind the leaders. As he notices the others do, he too keeps alert for trouble. He hopes they find some soon.

[HughtheHand]

Bao kick his horse gently and trots off with everyone else. He smiles and breathes deeply, pleasantly engaged in the task of surveying the landscape and Perception = 25trying to notice anything of interest.