When Dream came into the cart and spoke to Halie, she just shook her head. Her abduction wasn’t what bothered her but she also just didn’t want to speak about Sam. The grief...it hurt too much. But there was some solace in Dream’s presence even if she was still a bit trepidatious, that fear of abandonment quelling any full on attachment. Even as Dream finally admits defeat and goes to get the wagon moving again, she moves to sit beside him, quiet yet calmed by his presence. With a slight shiver, Halie nuzzled the cubling, trying to pull herself from the spiral that she had descended.

Nulgaz turned an ear towards the cart and raised an eyebrow. She turned at looked at the two sitting up front.

She said, "Unless you detect something I think that is our cue to move on." She nodded towards the cart to accent what she was saying. She awaited a response and was ready to follow the others if they agreed.

"Let's go then," Gordo replied, walking along the side of the road and trying to keep about 20' ahead of the cart.

Dreamljocht gave up on helping Halie right away, settling for calming the ranger by his presence, as he notices the peace that seems to come upon her while she sits besides him, when he moves the cart again. He is glad the others walk next to the cart: at last there seems some resemblance to normal travel, as only superficial. When Halie seems to relax, he gives Gordo, Nulgaz and Tyarel a sign that all is as good as possible for the moment.

He keeps his attention on the road and especially at possible places where they could be ambushed, as their unknown attacker is still on the prowl.

Tyrael walked beside the wagon, alongside the lead horse, letting Gordo walk on ahead.  She was watching Gordo as much as the forest to the side of the wagon.  A Tortle was not something that she had come across before, and she had to admit to being curious about the Monk.  He seemed like a decent enough fellow.  Would he be upset to learn that Tyrael had enjoyed a meal of tortoise before?

Probably best not to mention that.

Once everyone is set, Dream gets the horses moving. There is no sign of Sam or the kidnapper. It may be good or bad. Little happens as they travel. Not a single person is seen, but they do see several animals. Fox. Birds. Even a doe. It seems like they keep travelling on and it starts to get dark. They can see maybe a days travel the start of a mountain range. Haile seems focus on the map with her cubling asleep on her lap. Woods, woods and more woods. Darkness begins to come and there is a small area to possibly park the wagon. The weather seemed decent at least. No snow but it is getting cold.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Fri 05 Apr.

"What do you think?" she asked. She gestured ahead of them. "Do we continue on until we reach the mountains or do we make camp? I can put up a weather and temperature dome and an Alarm for us."

Her nose twitched as she sniffed at the air. She listened careful and scanned the area ahead for any signs it was clear of predators and hazards.

 14:07, Today: Nulgaz Fallen Ash rolled 6 using 1d20 ((6))
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Fri 05 Apr.

When they reach the small clearing at the end of the day, Dreamljocht holds the horses and the cart comes to a stop. He hears Nulgaz's porposal about the protecting dome and the alarm and reacts: "A good plan. Darkness is not good for us to travel. We have done beter today than I expected this morning. Let's make camp. We can make a small fire under cover of the cart not to draw more attention for the night. Halie and Tyreal, could you scout out the immediate surroundings against predators of any kind, and perhaps find us some wood for the fire?"

"You heard the man, Hailie."  Tyrael said cheerfully.  "Let's go for a stroll and see what we can find."

She walked to the back of the wagon, climbed up and began to search through the supplies.  "I thought that there was an....oh wait, found it."  Tyrael hopped off the wagon holding a hand axe.  "Gonna get me some wood."

OOC:
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 18 for Survival.

“We...should probably rest,” Halie said softly, looking out towards the woods that surrounded them. It was unsettling at best...the idea of camping out in the open but at the same token, they didn’t have much choice. Her thoughts drifted as she continued to look out into the growing darkness, eyes seeing but not...

She jumped slightly when Dream suggested her and Tyrael go scouting, hazel eyes slightly wide as his words fully registered. “Oh...yes...scouting.” She gave a nod and slid down from the wagon. Once on her feet, she held the cubling up so she could look into her face. “I shall return alright...I promise...” Whether the cub understood her or not didn’t matter, she felt better for having said it. “Be good for Dream.” Halie passed the cubling off to the elf, giving him a partial smile before heading out with Tyrael.

---

06:43, Today: Halie Delmenn rolled 21 using 1d20+14.  Survival.

Nulgaz concentrated and put down the "tiny hut", that zone of comfortable warmth and dryness. She would wait on the alarm until the others were back. As she waited for them to return she worked on sharpening her sword.

Gordo looked to see where he can be of assistance. He helped with making a spot for the fire, for when Ty returned with wood. He helped make sure the cart is secure. He then started looking around and listening, making sure nothing surprised them.

10:00, Today: Gordo Vet rolled 26 using 1d20+14.  Perception.

Tyrael waited for Hailie to join her before heading off into the woods.  She started to gather up some bits of firewood and stuff to use as tinder, glancing around her for any tracks or signs of local wild life.  She'd also look over at Hailie, studying the other woman to try and get a sense of how she was doing.

"So." Tyri started, really not liking the quiet between the two of them.  "I know that I'm not one of your close companions, like Dream or Sam, but if you are ever looking for an ear to bend...I have two of them."  She chuckled awkwardly, hoping to lighten the mood but probably failing.  "I don't have a lot of details about what happened, and don't worry I'm not going to pry because I'm sure that it's all personal and such, but I've been through my share of folks disappearing or getting kil...injured.  I might not know what you are going through but maybe I can relate in a way and..."

Tyrael growled in frustration and banged one of the branches that she had just picked up against a tree.  She should be better at this sort of thing but at this moment every word felt like she was balancing on the edge of a trap.  The wrong word could worsen Hailies mood, and Tyrael really had little to go on about what was bothering the woman.  If this was something Sam did, Tyrael was going to have words with the Rogue when he got back.

Oddly everything seems quiet. Some bits of wood were found but rather cold and wet. Some were found in a downed log and probably can be used for a firepit. The tortle doesn't see anything out of place or odd. There is no sign of Sam either. If he is messing around after what occur a few nights back, its not funny. There is no sign of the kidnapper either. BEtween the entire group a decent area is made up. The horses are able to find some nutrition and seem at ease. Its quiet and calm and darkness comes down from above blanketing the land. The fire is nice.

Tyrael sat by the fire, running a sharpening stone up and down the blade of her Greatsword.  The blade was already sharp but the act of running the stone along the edge was here way of polishing and caring for her equipment.  After all, her survival and the survival of her companions relied upon the Half-Elf having blades in hand so it was her duty to make sure that said blades were taken care of.

"It's nice that we're all back together...mostly."  Tyrael said, speaking to the assembled group.  She lifted the heavy blade to examine the cutting edge in the fire light.  "Anyone know any good camp songs?"

Nulgaz gave her tusky grin and attempted to sing. "Oh my dear brother, dear brother, dear brother. Oooh my dear brother ev’rythings gone."

Sh looked at the faces and took a deep breath before continuing. "Sausage gone, egg is gone, toast is gone, cheese is gone. Oooh, my dear brother ev’rythings gone."

She sang the chorus hoping others would join in. She led into the second verse, "Night is gone, wind is gone, snow is gone, cold is gone. Oooh my dear brother ev’rythings gone."

Nulgaz joyful sang through the chorus again before ending with the final verse. "Miles are done, days are done, all our long travel done. Oooh dear brother ev’rythings done."

08:15, Today: Nulgaz Fallen Ash rolled 18 using 1d20+2 ((16)).

“I appreciate it, Tyreal,” Halie said softly as they continued their search for usable wood. She didn’t really speak much but it wasn’t because it was Tyreal with her and more to do with her trying to process everything that she had been through and what Sam had done for her and the others. It hurt to think that he could still be out there alive...injured...mortally wounded and dying alone. She let out a heavy sigh in an attempt to keep her thoughts from spiraling. He made his choice and she could only hope he found his way back to them...but she also had to accept the fact that he might not...ever.

They made their way back to camp with their finds, Halie seemingly more subdued if anything. After unloading her armload, Halie moved to care for Peto, lovingly brushing him down and ensuring that he was comfortable before taking the cubling from Dream’s care smiling warmly at the little beast. “Thank you, Dream.” She found a spot near the cleric (unless he showed any signs of discomfort) and settled, watching the fire as she scratched behind the bear's ears.

The camp is quite and, for the moment, peaceful. Dreamljocht takes the time to enjoy the small pleasures of safety, warmth and the companionship of his friends. When Halie takes the cubling back from him, he smiles: "My pleasure Halie" and when Halie with the cub settles besides him, he covers him with his cloack to give addional shelter. "You like some hot broth or tea?", he asks her.

Gordo keeps on standing watch and lightly patrolling around the camp area. If anyone looks, they can see he moves his head to the rhythm of Nulgaz's singing, seeming to remember a song with a similar tune, perhaps even the same one. He snaps his beak lightly every now and then with the song's rhythm.

Tyrael, angling her long blade to check its edge, nodded her head along with Nulgazs song.  A smile formed as the cleric sang on.  Unfortunately, there was not enough alcohol present to make the Half-Elfs rough voice sound as pleasant as the Half-Orcs, so Tyrael just hummed along as best as she could.

"You've got a nice voice, Nuls.  For some reason that song is making me hungry."

Nulgaz gave a light hearted laugh. "That is because everything is gone. But yeah now I was some sausages and beer and maybe some fermented cabbage." She looked at her dry ration with a disapproving smirk. At least she had an advantage the others did not. Using her tusks she gnawed at the food whose best quality was it could be called food.

Looking to the group at large she asked, "So, what is the plan for tomorrow?"

The area seems nice and calm. For now. The tortle looks around, doing his rounds as the wizard does her rhyme and her song. Everything seems peaceful. Haile continues to scratch the bear who falls asleep. The goggles on her head drop down over he eyes. The horses are feed and are asleep standing up. The night sky looms above.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:49, Yesterday.

She gave a nod to Dream along with a soft smile as he placed his cloak around the cubling. “Some hot broth will do nicely,” she said as she pulled her gaze from the fire to regard the cleric and then the others. It was an odd little group to be sure...but somehow, they all were looking out for each other...even Gordo provided her aid when he didn’t even know her. With everyone relaxing and enjoying the company provided, Halie let her thoughts drift...until the goggles came down which shook her from the reverie. She blinked and adjusted them slightly, looking through the lenses for a moment. Should nothing show with the lenses’ aid, she will shift them back up to perch upon her head where they had been initially.

"The plan for tomorrow?"  Satisfied with the edge of her Greatsword, Tyrael looked over at the Half-Orc.  "Why, we're going to do the same thing that we did today.  Search the land for a lost city."

The Greatsword slid into its scabbard and Tyrael pulled out her dark bladed longsword.  This weapon she began to scrutinize in the firelight.  "Well, we didn't do too much of that today but tomorrow might yield a clue or sighting."

OOC:
Tyrael Mournstrider rolled 16 for Perception

While listening to the song and looking after Halie, Dreamljochts seems content to sit. But his senses were sharp to pick up anything unusual, as he has the feeling their ordeal is not over now.

OOC:
Dreamljocht rolled 27 using 1d20+8 ((19)).