"Aye, I'm glad to know that you agree... is yon sage safe to be carried?" the Albish knight asks as the group show themselves willing to press on into the mists, whilst swinging off his light pack and offering it to the nearest other man - most likely Sir Keith - and rumbling "Will you hold this for me sir knight, whilst I carry our companion upon my back? - It'll do less harm to him than a jolting over my shoulder."

In reply to Sir Adonis Campbell (msg #155):

Looking the big knight directly in the eyes, then lowering his own eyes in voiceless apology for a past insult, Kjaelos grips the big knight's arm tightly for a moment, before releasing it.

Shaking his head, Kjaelos sighs, "I done my best for Beren. He must rest soon...somewhere safe..."

"If you be carrying Beren, then let another warrior lead." Turning around to look at the other imposing steel-clad knight, Kjaelos nods at Thomas and gestures him forward to the front of the line.

Rael is pale his knees or wobbly and dried blood is stuck to his forehead.

"If we could find some long branches to make bed too carry..." he mutters trying to get his intention in Visic.

Scanning the area Rael looks for anything they could use a stretcher.

Reaching out his hand to steady the young warrior, Kjaelos pulls Rael's left arm over his own shoulder to support him as he walks. He is careful to support the young warrior from his left side, leaving room for the warrior to wield his weapons in his right hand.

The land just beside the path is bare and there seems to be nothing which could be used as a stretcher.

The party moves on slowly, with Eldor occasionally reappearing at the front as he scouts ahead.  Almost two painful hours later, the causeway peters out and the ground begins to rise.  Finally you are out of the mist, and as you climb you feel a cold wind cutting across the shoulder of the mountain.

In the fading light you notice a wide-mouthed cave just nearby.

Further up you make out a winding track going up the side of the hill.

 There's a moment when Adonis actually looks puzzled and then his eyes narrow as he remembers Kjaelos' earlier words... But as quickly as he'd forgotten them the first time he seems prepared to let them slide once more, inclining his head and rumbling "Well, yes... but I'll carry him out of this or join him in the murk. So let's be about it, shall we?" while arranging to have the sorcerer strapped to his back in place of a pack and starting up along the road, grimly hanging on though his arm gradually starts to go from throbbing to actively aching and blood starts to work through his bandages, until at last the group break the mist and come out by the cave.

 "Yonder!" he calls to the group, nodding his head that way, "Best have someone light-footed scout it mind you, lest there be bears or some such, but unless the good sir fairy hies back to us with news of better shelter up the path, I think we have our place to rest the night."

Eldor moves off before the knight had chance to offer instructions. Arrow notched the elf quietly moved to the mouth of the cave.

He felt a buz run though him earth was his element and he slowly felt the essence around him. asking quietly of the earth if there was danger in the darkness ahead of him.

Rael chuckles silently as he lean on Kjaelos "Us two make one whole man." he tries to explain his amusement to the man supporting him.

Eldor scouts the cave, it goes back about twenty feet, narrowing slightly as it does.

The floor of the cave is basically flat and dry, though interrupted by the occasional protruding rock.

The rest of you cluster at the entrance, seeking shelter from the rising wind.

After looking round the cave to make sure it was safe Eldor stepped out into the light and quickly signalled the rest of the group forward.

Kjaelos helps Rael into the cave and sets him down on a clean patch of ground to rest against the cave walls. Setting down his own pack, he rummages through it, finally bringing out his flint and tinder. Looking around the cave for anything combustible, Kjaelos tries to build a campfire to provide light and warmth.

Once the fire is up, he brings out his waterskin, and using makeshift bandages torn from the dryer and cleaner parts of his own tunic, calmly sees to the wounds of everyone injured, starting with the most serious.

 With Eldor returning from his scouting ahead in time to do more or less as is asked of him (because it's pretty much impossible to move more swiftly than Adonis' voice, even if moving faster than his wits is something a modestly sluggish mule could manage) and signalling the group in, Sir Campbell nods and after laying Beren down, joins the efforts to make the group as comfortable as possible, whereupon his forethought in making sure that everyone cut firewood down at the woods provides something for Kjaelos' efforts to bite upon, insisting only that it's set far enough back not to be too visible from the mouth (making use perhaps, of one of those intervening rocks and someones cloak as a screen).

 He fishes up some rocks to form an impromtu firepit as Kjaelos is getting the kindling to light, then settles down heavily and starts to peel off his blood-slicked armour, grimacing at the faint tearing sound of dried blood and torn fabric being pulled free from his flesh where it was shredded by the bog-wight.

 "We've pushed well today." he rumbles, looking around the group, "For all the failures of the morn'. With luck and God's blessing we'll manage as well or better tomorrow. We have each of us something to be proud of, doubt it not."

"Strange creatures we fought today..." begins Kjaelos thoughtfully, while he continues with his work. Obviously not fluent with Visic, he struggles to express his thoughts nonetheless, his words coming out clumsily, with a slight accent, "They swim in bog, hide in mist and fear the sun. Their hide is tough, their claws long and strong. And the 1 I fought try resist my magic though unsuccess in end. What they are?"

Finally reaching a safe place, Karl gives in to his wound and slumps to the floor of the cave.  "Strange creatures, indeed.  I do not know what they are, but I am glad that they did not take us this day."

Brakkus leans his back against the cave wall and sinks gratefully to the floor, too tired to contribute anything to the conversation.

Rael first instinct is to slump on one of the walls and rest but then he marshal himself. He knows resting in the cold would give little solace and with enemies about its may be even deadly.

So with a grunt he stands motioning to the others "Camp, we make, fire to warm, guards to eye enemies to come... food to cook and eat... then rest."

Without looking if anyone follows him he begins to setting a fire and arranging the cave like a camp.

Sir Thomas did his best to help Adonis by carrying his arms and kept a wary eye out for the anything amiss. Once they arrive at their haven, he returns Adonis his weapons and as he is the least wounded of the companions here, sets himself to watching for any enemies which may be trying to approach them from without.

 "Some sort or other of bog-wight banished to the dim edges of the world by the rising light of civilisation no doubt." Adonis remarks off-handedly as he's being rebandaged, before nodding as Rael takes up where Kjaelos left off in order to treat the wounded, looking after the fire, "And aye - we'll need other eyes to supplement those of good Sir Keith. Yon sir fairy is likely to have the best night-vision of all of us. I'll gladly rouse to stand the night watch with him if Sir Keith and Karl take the first watch and Brakkus and Rael take the morning. It leaves some of us rested the night through, but they can take their turn the next night, if God wills we reach it."

Pondering the knight's comments, Kjaelos continues tending to his patients (OOC: Heh...the doctor is in...:D) silently...

Some time later, having finally finished up with his last patient, Kjaelos half-sits half-falls on his backside beside him and closes his eyes for a moment, suddenly realizing how tired he is. At this moment, a resounding rumble sounds from his stomach, prompting him to look over to the fire to see if there is anything cooking. Seeing nothing, he sighs ruefully, thoughts of the home he left behind coming back to him in a rush. Mealtimes back at home was not exactly a rich spread, but the food is always hot and fresh, with much attention paid to its nutritional value and preparation. And it always tasted good.

Rummaging through his pack, Kjaelos fishes out some dry rations and begins a cheerless dinner washed down by what little remains of his supply of water. In between mouthfuls, he gives his report to Adonis as well as whoever is still awake at this hour, using a combination of poor Visic and hand gestures to convey his meaning.

"5 injured. 2 special bad..." [gestures at Beren and Rael] "Armorman lost much blood. Bad wound but ok..." [nods at Adonis] "Last 2...only flesh wounds." [indicates Karl and Thomas]

Pausing at this point, Kjaelos glances around at his newfound companions and hesitates for a moment. Almost reluctantly, he continues, "From now, we must try avoid fight. Or deaths there be..."

With that final ominous warning, Kjaelos lapses back into silence to finish up his dinner...

Thomas eyes the company and has to agree with the man. "We we needst do is spend a day hunting and recovering our wounds. Pushing on will be pure folly without some meat and rest for those sorely hurt.

"I lost my bow in the fight so unless someone wishes to lend me the use of one of theirs, getting something will be difficult." The knight twists his mouth ruefully.

In reply to Thomas Keith (msg #174):

Looking up as the knight speaks, Kjaelos considers his suggestion for a moment before replying cautiously, "No Sir Knight. Brave you be. But folly to go out hunting. Tis not normal place. Danger all around. Trail rations best for now..."

"Me Kjaelos. Traveler. Scholar. From Rathurbosk. We not proper introduced earlier. Who be you Sir Knight?"

Eldor steps forward and puts a hand on the young knights shoulder " I will go and catch whatever food is available in this area. I will keep to the higher ground away from the marsh and take the opportunity to scout a little in the direction we are headed."

With that he picked up his bow and cloak and headed to the entrance " I maybe a while as I will have to cover my tracks to and from the cave and detour now and then in case someone or something comes across my path."

In reply to Eldor Leaf-fall (msg #176):

Shaking his head and sighing, Kjaelos mutters, "Why risk life for not needed...?"

" it would be an acceptable risk to find out what lies ahead and if in the process I can get fresh meat for the wounded to eat then it would be an added advantage to the group as a whole. But if you all think this would be too risky then I will go with the majority."

Once he is done with the fire Rael lean back on the wall.

The look he gives the rest is grim "It is time to speak truth." he say in calm voice.

"Neither I nor he..." he points at the unconscious form "Can keep up with fast pace you need to walk to reach safe home."

His gaze is icy blue defiance "We two must stay here, you go, get help... leave some food and wood. If enemies come I, we will distract them long enough for you to gain more ground."