Under her breath Siliwen says quietly, "I know one too many,"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Thu 16 July 2009.

   Lyra nodded as the other told him of this family and their ails, "Best of luck to them, although I don't know them personally.  But you know, there are some who believe in the notion that one's evil deeds will come back to haunt him in the future.  I've always found that strange, because often good things happen to those that don't deserve it, rather than those that do.  "

   He smiled, meeting Nal's gaze with his cat-like eyes, "Honor; a knight couldn't exist if there were no honor in him.  And there would be no place for knights, nor any concept of chivalry,  if there weren't one with honor in his soul. From honor stems all of the best qualities a knight can have, chivalry, honesty, integrity.  "

"Honor. Yes, every man should have integrity, and every man should respect their dues."

Nal's lips quirk, as if struggling to hold a grin whilst piqued. "When you learn something new about a person, it can change what you think of them. The family followed their own faith, compared to what most in Alasch do. I don't think that's a crime- whatever their beliefs, what matters most in knights and nobles is honor, no? Noblesse oblige.

"Well, whatever I think, many didn't share my opinion."

Siliwen is content to listen to the others after her simple offerings of song, but finally she know she must rest.  She lays out her bedroll against a wall and curls up on it with her cloak for her covers.

Haruuna retires as well, wishing the others a pleasent night. She rolls out her bedroll and falls asleep at once.

Before those gathered fell asleep, Artur made sure a watch was agreed upon - though he claimed to have the area secure, he insisted it was always wise to be cautious.

The night was cold, but bearable beneath the bedrolls and cloaks that were used as covers. Artur brought out thick blankets for anyone who seemed to be unprepared for the winter weather.

After a peaceful night, during which everyone took their turn at peering out into the darkness (which was eerily quiet), dawn broke. Artur offered around hunks of bread and cheese as breakfast.

"Now then - it'll take the better part of a day to find these poachers. Take an hour or so to make your preparations, then I'll show you the way. Mind that you follow my instructions - I know these woods well."

As he went off to gather his own gear, Permain spoke quietly to Artur, who nodded, then squeezed the halfling's shoulder solemnly. The little fellow then made quietly off into the forest with no further word.

   Lyra's last words to Nal were, "The only thing of importance to nobles is the reflection in the mirror, and their pomp.  We can talk more about it on the morrow.  ", he took first watch that night, staying away from everyone else.  Then he awakened the next in line and slept through the cold of the winter.

   "Well, it was my duty to find these poachers so I'll do what ever it takes to get to them.  ", he said between bites of his food.

   Lyra watched the halfling disappear into the trees and shrubbage, "What'd you tell him? "

Nal has little to say in the morning; he silently gathers up what little camping gear he brought with him, and briefly checks over his equipment.

He seems to be satisfied, given that he eventually stows it back away and leans against the side of the door, awaiting everyone else.

Artur looked sharply at Lyra.

"What's to say I told him anything? I'll thank you to keep your nose out of business between myself and my friend, sir."

Milo wandered over to Haruuna and spoke quietly, shaking hands with the hobgoblin. He declared to the rest of the group that he was leaving to return to his village - he felt Haruuna no longer required his services as guide and was growing uncomfortable being away from home.

Seeing that everyone was up and ready to move, Artur gathered the group together.

"I may be repeating myself, but we're travelling a ways from where I'd consider to be safe. It's best that you do as I say. I'll be out front, leading the way. Siliwen, I'd like you to follow 60 feet or so behind, at the head of the group; then Lyra and Haruuna. Nal, you must be a competent woodsman to have got here alone, so you'll be rearguard."

"All agreed? Good, let's go."

Artur set out immediately, striding confidently into the woods. The rest of the group followed, in the order he'd asked for - Siliwen 30 feet or so in front, Nal 30 feet or so behind.

The woodsman was a good guide - he seemed to find the easy paths through the wild growth with little effort, and this helped the less experienced and heavier armed followers.

A couple of hours after a quick break for lunch, Artur raised a hand to signal halt, and waved a hand down towards the floor.

The group was travelling along a rise; the natural path was around 4 feet wide, bounded by the treeline on the left, and a 20 foot drop to the right. Up ahead, a couple of hundred feet away, were a couple of outcroppings that would need to be navigated, and it was towards these that Artur was looking.

"I will follow you lead in this matter for now certainly." Siliwen responds to Artur's words.

Nal soon catches up to the group at large, and hugs the treeline as he addresses Artur- "Do you believe our men lie beyond those outcroppings?" he asks, squinting a little. "One could scout ahead without being seen, if so."

"I could check it out but only if Artur agrees.  I said I would follow his lead in this matter this morning.  Yes it would be best but I will wait.  Besides I didn't do so well yesterday in trying to keep hidden so it is what I do but I will not depend on my skills to keep my movements silent and unseen."
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:54, Wed 29 July 2009.

Artur moved almost silently back to the group so that he could speak with them.

"No, Nal - it is not men that I believe can be found here. Look there, between those two boulders."

[Private to Siliwen: You see sticky translucent threads clinging to the rocks]

"I fear the creatures that produced that mess are nearby. We have three options: go back, find another route; creep around quietly in hopes of not waking them; prepare for a fight and march through."

"I don't believe we're so pressed for time that we can't afford to search for another route," replies Nal, frowning. "A mixed party of our size would have difficulty moving stealthily."

"It's a good few miles out of way to leave this ridge - it'll mean travelling a while in the dark. But I agree, aside from convenience I don't believe there is any hurry" said Artur.

Lyra narrowed his eyes and listened, and watched as all that was said passed from the mouth of on an into the ears of another.  He looked to what Artur pointed to and shook his head, "No need putting ourselves at uncessary risk either way.  We should try and just find another route,  as my armor would hinder my ability to remain in stealth.  "

It looks like the web string of a large Spider. Siliwen says, as she spot the nearly translucent thread that might indicate their presence.

"Anyway that what I think it could be.  How many I cannot say.  Since we are warned by that, we might be able to move through quickly before they can react, though they are quick.  That trip thread warns them of something in the area."

"A thread?" Nal squints ahead, trying to seek it out. "If that's the only real obstacle between us and a shorter route, I'll admit that I'm not too thrilled to be walking more than necessary. Are you sure it would be safe?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:52, Thu 30 July 2009.

"No.  I said being aware of them makes the possibility of a surprise attack less."  Siliwen clarifies.  "If we can sneak up as quietly as possible then step over that thread we could avoid triggering their trap."  She looks about for some grasses.  and and leaves and gathers up several handfuls. "I can try stuffing this into Lyra armor and quiet the clanking.  The rest of you are not armored so and should be able to  move a silently as possible."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Thu 30 July 2009.

   "Let's not jump in unawares.  If none of us saw that thread but you, then theres good reason for us to reason that there's more thread somewhere nearyby, that we don't know about, that would accomodate us perfectly.  We'd be the perfect willing entree.  "

   He chuckled, "An armored scare-crow, eh? Let's try get how many there are there, and we'll proceed from there? Artur, would you know anything about that? How many there are, I mean? "

Artur grinned. "Well, one brave soul could go and check!"

"I would guess though at up to five or six of these spiders - I'm impressed you knew that they're spiders, Siliwen. I hadn't spotted the strand, merely the disturbance in the area. Nests of more than that are unlikely."

"If we get close enough they'll more than likely detect us, whether we touch the thread or not; depends where they are hiding."

Lyra smirked, "Or one foolish soul.  "

"Well, if they can sense us even if we don't touch the thread, then we've got a problem.  It comes down to who's faster, us or them. I'd bet them.  I stick to my vote to go around.  We have nothing to lose but time going around and going the safer route.  For all we know there's six or more there. "

   "We're also not here to slay spiders, but to find those poachers.  It may cost us some time to go around, but at least it won't cost us our lives.  ", he said levelly, gazing in the direction of the spiders.

"I can go up there and check a quietly as possible to find out how many are nesting in the area.  Someone hold my pack while I investigate.  Siliwen will move up using all her woodland skill and taking extra time to move silently stepping softly on the ground in an irregular foot pattern to help minimize detection.