"Staying on this side of the river means never getting any closer to Hommlet than we are right now. The further the river goes upstream, the further it curves away from Hommlet."

OOC: River is a good 20-30 yards across

"Well my rope goes 50'" Iviana said "So if we have another and an axe, we can just cross here. There are the remnants of the bridge to make it easy. There are trees here... While it's being built I can rest and start healing people"

"And then we can carry on to the cave and Homlet"

"How do you propose getting the rope across in the first place? That's nearly thirty yards of water, further to any anchors of note. The remnants of the bridge aren't in great shape."
"Do you have some way of sprouting wings and flying somebody over to tie off the other end?"
"And even then, how are you going to get the wounded over?"

"By one person swimming out, tied to a rope" observed Iviana "Or by my unseen servant spell if that will work. We need a strong person and we can try many times until we get it right... as with the rope there is little downside."

"Given that the alternative is two days extra marching... I see little downside."

"This whole great outdoors thing isn't my thing. If the ideas are stupid we can just walk the extra two days. They look quite credible to me though..."

"Anyone know how to swim and stupid enough to brave those wild waters?"

OOC: See, this is where non-weapon proficiencies come into play. :)

Rolf's question was followed by the shaking of heads from almost everyone.

"Let us prepare a temporary resting place, and wait for the others" Iviana suggested. "I am at a loss for how to deal with this issue, and perhaps one of them can swim. Or have a magic or something for dealing with this matter."

"Walking to the ford will take us two extra days, so another hour will make little difference. I am loath to ignore the God's advice of heading into Nulb." she shrugged and looked at the Prince. It was his call. She settled down and waited to see what he would decide
This message was last edited by the player at 08:50, Fri 01 May 2015.

[Language unknown: "Peing se e entredthoonshat ioad ssstnc thourevor ratlatererut Prneeich."]
The Countess picked at Tindoome's clothing.
[Language unknown: "Ri nceee sent e vorma se mencngic ad hiwiomhi urname ur plfoon poinsa tachri. Oer ionhasrat o ineter'outica sadipe ostitr nti."]

"It would seem this is definitely where we part ways then. I simply cannot afford to sit around waiting here, or heading in the opposite direction to where I need to go."
"I wish you luck and perhaps one day soon we shall meet again."
With that the Prince hefted his meagre possessions and stepped off towards Nulb.
"If you still wish to come with me, now would be the time Haldan."

"After years away, a few days will make no difference. And the Gods were clear in their advice" Iviana said "If you do go that way, then I suggest you do not stay in the town or I fear you will not ever leave it..." She realised the Prince was just impatient and cared nothing for wounded, which was sad. He'd been locked up for years and yet left the people that rescued him in the lurch. No sense of duty of care at all...

The prince had said petty words when they had met, but she realised that words were cheap. His actions showed him to be as self obsessed and uncaring as she'd expected royalty to be. She could not imagine how a man with any sense of honour could leave so many weak and wounded people alone in bandit territory in good conscience.

"Good luck" she wished him anyway, although her disappointment probably shower in her body language. He would need it anyway: the Gods had spoken. Perhaps she would rescue him again back in the Temple... "We wait for the others " she said to the others, picking up the reins of leadership. She began issuing instructions to find a suitable place to rest for the hour or so that would be needed. The ones that weren't wounded she used to post a picket line. Not ideal... but her options were limited. She would send a message to Ottis when the others got here. It was unlikely that an hour would matter, and if they didn't arrive she would have to send a different message...

[Language unknown: "Ain il noolec, pa wisasi!"]
The Countess almost spat the words, her face going red with rage.
[Language unknown: "Noes ul et aiioti ilus wh n searto!"]

OOC: Besides Ben, the only people seriously injured are captives.

Tindoome shrank back, clearly uncomfortable with the situation and wishing she was anywhere else but here.

Sir Juffer half drew the sword he'd claimed as his while both Caelebon and Celonor also glared at Iviana disapprovingly.

"Coming!"
Haldan scrambled to follow the Prince, obviously keen to put as much distance between himself and the elves as possible.

Iviana shrugged. She hadn't said anything bad, although she had looked very disappointed. Which she was. She didn't speak in Elvish, as that would be rude. She had very little time for the countess either, although she kept her tone of voice flat.

"I may be a half breed, Countess, but I have a duty of care over these people. Now if you'll excuse me, our tactical position has got about ten times worse, and I need to attend to that now. With any luck we will survive long enough for the others to return. Although there are indications that there are bugbears around"

Gwythe watches the 'debate' with interest. "What makes us sure that the others will be here in an hour? They entered the dungeon again, there is no guarantee of them making it here, or on time."

An hour is a long time. They are going to a specific place, and coming out. Perhaps ten minutes there, ten minutes back. Ten minutes to load up. That's half an hour behind us. Assuming they are a lot slower... If they haven't got to us in the hour, we'll worry about them not turning up..." Iviana shrugged. "We could do with a rest, especially the wounded and the people carrying them. I don't like the waiting, but as it happens I don't like any of our options"

"We don't have to like our options though, we just have to deal with what the Gods have dealt with us."

OOC: So now the Prince and Haldan are gone, what's the security arrangements.
Obviously you'll need somebody watching the prisoners, plus others to watch the forest. Will Gwythe try setting any traps? Are there any spells you'd like to place?

Don't forget scrolls, the wand of paralyzation in Celonors hands, the rope of entanglement in Tindoome's possession, the two dogs and the two familiars which could come in handy if utilised the right way.

Iviana looked around for a small copse of trees. It would be much less noticable than out in the open. They hopefully weren't going to be there for long. She set the two crossbow men whose names she got confused with to be a picket, and asked Gwythe if he'd mind doing the same. She had a lot more confidence in Gwythe, and having a competent scout around was a good thing. She wished the Countess had gone with the Prince too: they seemed made for each other, but she couldn't have everything. Iviana hoped the Countess would do something sensible on her own, as Iviana wasn't going to ask her, or tell her, anything.

As for the prisoners, she set them in a coffle so that they were sitting, the rope through their rope collars going between two trees. She made sure had ropes on their legs restricting their movements to eighteen inches. She kept their hands tied behind them, and sat them in such a way that a guard (Rolf) was behind them watching they didn't mess with the bindings, and another (Sir Juffer if he didn't mind) in front. She assessed the wounded prisoners to see if they could sit with the others, or needed to lie down.

The wounded she asked to rest, and all other able bodied people first made the place a little safer, then guarded them. In the hour they had, she felt there was little they could do other than spend a few minutes gathering fallen branches and making it awkward to come at the group from all sides.

Her weasel she had wandering around the periphery, keeping an eye for intruders.

OOC Just a straw man, if you've got a better idea Gwythe go with it.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Mon 04 May 2015.

Gwythe watches Iviana make arrangements without comment or suggestion. He'll seek some food from the belongings and drink from the river, before wandering about 50 metres out away from the river, and settling himself down in some cover to watch for anything coming.

Sentries are posted and everyone settles in to wait. Gwythe finds the perfect hiding spot amongst the still green branches of a recently fallen tree, the sounds of rushing water and rustling leaves filling his ears the only drawback.
The Countess takes advantage of the delay by studying Tindoome's spell book, Tindo's disembodied voice coaching from over her shoulder (Tindoome is still invisible from when she disappeared inside the temple).

PM

Iviana continued to wait for the others to return

After about half an hour of waiting, those in the camp hear something crashing through the bushes from upstream - the direction Gwythe stationed himself on sentry.

Scenario's flickered through Iviana's head. A raiding party from the Temple. A wild creature. A foul creature drawn to the evil place. Or the returning group.

She moved a little distance away from the wounded, in case she was about to draw missile fire, then announced 'Show yourself'. In each of those scenarios she would find something out. Although perhaps it was something she hadn't thought of. Still you could only do the best you could.