In reply to Mikal Mourningmoon (msg # 9):

" I am more a Healer then anything. Although I do sling a spell. "

He patted the warhammer at his side. "I prefer to let my enemy come to me, but I have a few arcane tricks up my sleeve to make their journey more fun. Could use a bow, 'f I had one, but why carry arrows when I can pelt foes with frost all day?"

In reply to Victor Harkness (msg # 11):

Amiri chuckles.
" I am just the girl who plays with fire ."

"I am not a scout, but I am a Druid of these Forests, so I do well in the woods. I could act as a scout, if necessary."

Gimble shows his sling, "This is the only missile I can sling, but it is sufficient for hunting my own food."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Wed 18 May 2016.

"Well as you know, I can call on the Lady Firehair to grant us her favor, heal our wounds, or even smite our foes. And as for myself, well..." The mailed priestess pats the elegant flanged mace at her belt. "I can take care of myself in a scrap, if I do say so myself."

Ero taps his foot impatiently.  "We can perpetuate this confabulation as we pursue our itinerary.  Shall we decamp this hamlet forthwith?"

"That's fine," Mithra agrees with Ero, though she was working while she talked.

"We should be okay until we hit the Triboar Trail. Once we head west, though, we should try to keep as quiet as we can. We don't need to attract any unwanted attention."

"So, Maldor, Artem and Gimble will take the front with me. A few of you fighter-types should take up the rear. The rest of you can stay in the middle."

"We can make adjustments as we go if that doesn't work out."

Seeing that everyone was either impatient or eager to leave, she started walking out of town.

Mikal was fine with the plan, so he voiced no concerns and followed the group.

Victor said, "I'll guard the rear, then. Anything wants to devour our less armoured friends, it'll have to choke on me, instead."

In reply to Mithra Stormraven (msg # 16):

"The middle is fine with me. Oh and my raven can scout the areas ahead as well."
Cunaar did want it known they would have more eyes for looking around.

Maldor strolled next to Mithra as they headed for their next adventure. The weather seemed remarkably calming for the half-orc. It wasn't too cold, not too warm. The air was fresh and the surroundings not unpleasant. For some time Mal had worked at the Black Scarab in the city. Perhaps he was enjoying life in the outdoors. Was that his life before he was found gravely injured in the Tower District? Was a pastoral setting his true background? Maldor may never know.

"What you think new people?" he asked of Mithra. "New people eager. Want fight orc. That good. Maldor and warrior woman cannot fight bad orc alone. Need all people can get."

Mal twirled his greatclub in his hands, anticipating the battles to come.

Darvin took up his place somewhere in the middle. "I will be able to make most impact in an encounter if I am not immediately noticed."

Artem strides side by side with the big half-orc, saying little but looking sharp and grinning from time to time.  This was his best state--on the move and ready for anything.

Maldor glanced over at Artem. The human fighter seemed to be enjoying their travel as much as the half-orc.

"Maldor glad human come fight orc" Mal remarked. "Human good fighter. Defeat bad human."

Maldor thought for a moment.

"Artem. Mean fight good, yes? You, me, warrior woman and others fight bad orc. Make stop hurt good human."

The tall fighter slapped his greatclub in his left palm. He let a thin grin escape his mouth. His lower jutting teeth protruded upward even further.

Ebrik took the cue to exit the tavern. He fetched his horse from the stables, checked his supplies before heading out to rendezvous with the others. For a while, he walked the horse on foot, chatting up the others as he was able, and then occasionally, riding ahead of the group to "scout" the way for unseen troubles.

In reply to Ebrik (msg # 24):

Amiri leaps up and walks out. Bits of her hair fly behind her like sparks of a fire.

In reply to Amiri Flamestorm (msg # 25):

Thressa slowly and elegantly stands smiling to the waitress.

" Be strong and don't take their crap. "

So the group heads out of town, taking the north (and only) road, everyone winds up in a particular slot... the road really isn't wide enough to easily accommodate more than 2 abreast.

FIRST RANK

Maldor and Gimble in front.
Mithra and Artem right behind them.

SECOND RANK

Amiri and Darvin
Cunaar and Hope
Thressa and Ero
Mikal and Lureene

OOC: You can adjust this as you see fit.

THIRD RANK

Victor and Ebrik


Setting a brisk pace, it takes you two hours to reach the Triboar Trail. You encountered no one along the way, and reaching the Trail, you don't see any recent signs of people.
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:00, Tue 21 June 2016.

"No sign of people or orcs yet. Do we have anyone skilled enough in tracking to look for signs of their passing? I'm sure we won't find the on the road unless it's in the middle of being ambushed."

"I do not possess the talent of tracking but I will send my familiar to the sky to get an aerial view."
With that Cunaar calls his familiar forth to the skies to scout around far and wide keeping well out of bow shot. Returning every so often to report as their communication range is limited.

"They'd have to be crazy or in large numbers to attack a group as numerous and well-armed as us", Lureene noted, "though it does us no good for finding them if they scatter at the sight of us, either. Mikal is right; we'll need to look for them off the road somehow. Or else catch them as they try to avoid us."

The beautiful armored priestess rides on the forest side of the road, and often turns her head that way to admire the flora and the wildlife of this part of the world.

"Sildar told us that the orcs were two days away, why would you think they were anywhere near here now? Maybe they are, but how would you find them in these woods? Especially as Lureene says, since we have all this metal armor clanking around with us."

Gimble sets a brisk pace, hardly any of the longlegs notice.

"The quicker we get there, the quicker we can take care of them."

Victor said with his usual easy smile, "'Crazy,' and 'in large numbers' both commonly describe orc warbands, along with 'stinky,' 'loud,' 'ill-mannered,' and, in my experience, 'horrible singers.' Regardless, Timbers is right. Though we should remain wary. An ambush you're prepared for, isn't really an ambush at all."

"I agree with Gimble. Let's get to the place they attacked, and then search from there. I am more used to a city, but I can see things others can't. It may help." Darvin gives his opinion.

"Actually," Mithra called back to the others, "the Orcs attacked everything in this area a couple hundred years ago. They were finally driven out about a hundred years ago, but, so far, Phanadlin is the only town that's been rebuilt."

"As far as anyone seems to know, they haven't actually attacked anything recently. Sildar's concern is that the Orcs may be trying to make a return."

"So we're really on a fact-finding mission. But, if we have to, we'll run them out of the area again!"