The companions set about preparations for their journey inland, they were able to secure posts as guards with a merchant due for Rosmuillean through the landlady at the Crowned Knight.

They were rather surprised to see Grwn there when they made enquiries, the country witch had stealthily slipped from their company and apparently found a cosy home at the inn keeping the young woman who ran it warm at night. He waved them off at the offer of accompanying them apparently happy with his cosy roost.

Rabbie also begged off accompanying them as he wanted to travel south and visit relatives on the border of Ereworn.

The merchants name was Artair Buids and he seemed pleased to have such a number of solid men accompanying him.

He looked over Trivel, Dann and Brenar with obvious glee and nodded to Coln and Kores as they approached.

" Welcome! Now, I'll be paying 5 florins a day to each of you. And you'll get an extra 10 if we run into trouble on the way."

As they talked another man approached them, with a ruddy face that only a mother could love Artair waved to him vigorously.

" This is Tobias, he'll be accompanying us as well. We've done the trip before us two."

In reply to GM (msg # 1):

"What was it like in the past?  Have you run into any issues?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:05, Tue 23 Feb 2016.

Tobias is almost the definition of unimpressive: a little short, a little stocky, nose flattened and face scarred, his hair and beard are grey and his skin weathered. He looks too well-kept to have slept in a hedge the previous night, but he's clearly spent a significant time sleeping under them at some point. He is struggling under the weight of his packs, which he gladly dumps to the floor, shrugging off a crossbow, a bow, and a quiver which have been slung awkwardly over his shoulders.

Looking up from his packs, he removes a pipe from between his teeth and offers a broad grin which shows off his stained and uneven teeth, including a badly fitted gold tooth. Despite all this, there is a lively twinkle in his eye, and his voice is warm as he offers his hand to each of the group in turn. "Well met, Artair! Well met, Gentlemen! Tobias Garrick at your service. You look like just the hearty fellows to keep the Reivers at bay..."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Mon 22 Feb 2016.

" Fairly sedate really...last time we saw Reivers was two years ago.  There hasn't been much activity lately."

Dann takes Tobias's hand with a smirk. "Careful that the reivers are not already here..."

"A reiver, eh?" Tobias grins, but his eyes dart quickly across Dann's weapons. "All the better to keep others away."

In reply to Tobias Garrick (msg # 6):

Kores mutters to himself almost inaudibly...

"...Things people do for their love of gold..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:05, Tue 23 Feb 2016.

In reply to Kores Varias (msg # 7):

Colm approached and clasped hands with the merchant and his...associate.

" Are we all set to go, I've little in the way of trade goods myself but I'll do my best to keep your wares safe from man or beast on the road."

Trivel looks at the man with the many bags impassively.
"What do you use crossbows for, I'd never gather", he mutters. "Nor why is nobody haggling. Those Northerners..."

Then he shakes his head and adds in his normal voice.
"Very well. I'll accept the price the others agree on, and keep you and your wares safe in return for your silver".

In reply to Trivel (msg # 9):

The merchant climbs aboard his cart, " Well, shall we off then?"

He lays the whip across the shoulders of the two great oxen and the cart begins to move.

The first fifteen miles pass uneventfully as the Shadowspin rolled lazily along on their right and farmers fields and homes passed on the left.

The companions passed a number of travellers on the road, mostly farmers bringing their wares to the city in barrows or on goat carts.

Five hours along the road a halt was called and the oxen unharnessed and watered at the river.

" Theres an inn another five miles along the way or we could push through the dark and arrive in the early hours of tommorow morning....up to you, I'm in no real rush."

OOC:  Feel free to insert travelling conversations, queries, purchases from farmers etc.

Tobias soon strikes up conversation.

"You're a varied bunch." He observes, cheerfully. "And you look like you've seen a bit of action. What brings you up to Glissom? Er, or down as the case may be? For myself, I'm Ereworn born, but the old place is... hmm... unfriendly. Glissom suits me better. Sea air, varied company. Odd jobs. A chance to see the country..." He waves his pipe at the trees around them. "People of no fixed trade can go a long way here."

"That would be the reason why I am here as well." answers Dann laconically to Tobias. Turning to the merchant, he adds: "If nobody is in a rush, then let's stop at the inn."

As always, Trivel thinks before answering.
"The road", he explains laconically. Then he decides to explain.
Who knows whether the Westerners would understand the notion otherwise? It is familiar to every boy in the Khaganates, but he has noticed quite a bit such things are ignored here.
"I had to leave. So I followed my shadow, and it lead me West, here. I met different people. When they decided they need a new job, I joined as well. And here I am."
He thinks for a bit more and shrugs.
"Inn sounds good to me as well. We should keep our eyes open."
So at least we would know who's going to try and rob us, he adds mentally, and decides not to share bread with any of the patrons of the inn. It's bad luck to kill a man you've shared bread with.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:42, Tue 01 Mar 2016.

In reply to Trivel (msg # 13):

Artair nodded, " The inn it is. I'm not one for out of doors myself."

" Rob us? No, I don't thing so. I've stayed at Cearins place before, he's an odd sort but living alone without regular friends can do that to a man I've heard."

The cart continued along the road, the wind was a bit chill today and there was a lot of dead wood and flotsam in the Shadowspin.

Almost another three miles down the way, Trivel, Tobias and Dann spotted something unusual amongst the dead branches and other things being swept down river.... it seemed to be a cask of some type.

Tobias stares hard into the flotsam for a moment, then raises a hand. "Hold, Artair!" He makes his way to the bank, and peers closer at the twisted mass. "Some kind of cask, I reckon." He shrugs his packs to the ground and rifles through to find a length of rope, which he ties hurriedly round his waist, then fixes the other end round an arrow.

"I don't like to damage it, but I don't fancy a dip, either..."

OOC:

08:37, Today: Tobias Garrick rolled 11 using 1d20.  Getting an arrow into the barrel.

Touch and go - it depends on the range modifiers and how fast it's moving...

This message was last edited by the player at 08:39, Fri 04 Mar 2016.