Larson would like to attempt going hunting again while Sir Roland stays with Garl, as it is mid morning and going back will take two or three days without enough food.

Sir Roland listens to Larson's reasoning and nods. He doesn't like what he hears but is forced to admit that's reality. He looks at the Northman grimly.

"We will begin the journey back to the village, following the road." The knight glances at the elf who is still weak on his feet. "Our pace will not be fast. And our tracks should be easy to follow. Catch up with us when you can." He clasps Larson's hand in a firm grip. "Be safe.

Turning away, the knight picks up whatever possession the party has left and takes it upon himself to carry them. He nods at Garl.

"Let's go."

“I knew I should have followed that bear and killed it.  Oh, my head...”  He limps after the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Wed 27 Dec 2017.

Larson is lucky in his hunt and by mid-day he catches up with you with a fat hare in his hands.
You stop to have lunch and it is such a good meal that you all recover 2 points of STAMINA.

"You are a worthy hunter. But I never thought you could be such a good cook too. Good man." Sir Roland claps the shoulder of Larson, nodding in approval. Picking up his stuff, the knight, his hunger satisfied, picks up the pace again, leading the way back to Gallows End.

It is a good three days' journey back to the village. Sir Roland bids Larson to continue hunting-on-the-move as they make their way back.

You are back to the junction: you can carry on on the path you originally cam from or take the path going south.

Sir Roland turns unhesitatingly onto the path by which the trio came from.

It is almost sunset when Larson cathes up on you. Tonight you will have to make up for supper with a squirrel.
He's quite in a bad mood for this meagre result, but, he says, it is better than nothing. Just.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:01, Fri 29 Dec 2017.

"We will reach the village the day after. And all we have to do is follow the road. So let's stay sharp and focused." Sir Roland gives his two companions a nod and smiles. "Watches as per normal. I will take the 1st two hours. Then Larson. Then Garl."

He claps the Northman and the Elf on the shoulder. "Get some rest guys."

OOC you have no bedrolls and the night will be cold and wet. You can decide to make a very big fire to fight the cold (feeding it abundantly for all the night), with the risk of luring unwanted visitors, or you can have a small fire as usual, with less risk and less heat.

Sir Roland is for a larger fire. He considers keeping warm and hence able to move and fight is to be prioritized above minimizing the risk of attracting unwanted attention.

It is quite difficult to keep the fire always well fed, as the wood is wet, but not impossible. In the morning, you feel a bit hungry and miserable, but it's not too bad.
[OOC deduct one point of STAMINA]

Larson goes hunting as usual during the morning, but can't catch anything: the forest in winter is quite unforgiving.
His bad mood worsens.

Sir Roland keeps up his spirit, reminding his companions that food may be in short supply, but the party has all it wants in drinking water. He encourages his companions, keeping them focused on the task of staying alert and moving at a goodly pace towards the village.


The knight quietly reminds the Northman that frustration and anger distracts from the focus needed to do things right and avoid mistakes. And that can be dangerous. He encourages him to keep trying and not give up.

OOC - Roland exercises his Silvertongued talent in leadership and motivation to keep the party focused and alert, and to persevere onwards.

You keep walking until evening time, when Larson comes to you asking for help: he caught a really big, fat boar and it is too heavy for him to transport.

Sir Roland looks up at Larson, a smile spreading all over his tired face. He turns to Garl and beckons. "Roast boar tonight boys!" He takes a short time to quickly fashion a few rude torches from some of the dryer branches he can find. He spends some more time to light three of the torches up, one for each man.

13:11, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 7 using 2d6.  fashion 6 torches.
13:11, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 11 using 2d6.  light 3 torches.
13:12, Today: Sir Roland Halfstaff rolled 6 using 2d6.  light 3 torches.

Adjusting the backpacks and weapons he is carrying, the knight and the elf follow after their companion to the site of the kill. Though filled with excitement at the prospect of eating well this night, Sir Roland is a careful and experienced campaigner. He reminds the party to maintain their alertness to possible dangers. The pace they make is not rushed but measured and cautious, fully aware that night is falling, and these forests are after all a haunt of goblins, orcs, and other older and fouler creatures.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Fri 29 Dec 2017.

Garl perks up as he sees the boar.  “I feel as though I could eat all of that myself.  Well done indeed.”

He obviously has yet to fully recover.

Larson chuckled " he was a tough old big I ended up having to wrestle him to the ground with my bare hands" there seemed to be a hunt of pleasure in his face when he recounted the struggle.

With the others keeping watch the huge northman went to the kill and started to strip and decide the meat up.

Although not ideal Larson knew it was best to butch the kill where it went down than take it with them at least the remains would keep wild predictors away from their camp that night

Wrapping the butchered meat in strips of cloth, the companions store them in their backpacks, then continue onwards along the road. As night falls, casting its shadows upon the land, Sir Roland, satisfied that they have covered some distance away from the slaughtered bear, begins looking for a suitable campsite.

Once found, he starts a fire, and begins cooking and smoking some of the meat. He pulls out three meaty strips for their own dinner, wraps up the remaining meat and stores them back into his backpack. Seated around the fire chewing heartily on their most substantial meal in a week, the companions' moods are considerably lifted. They begin discussing their plans in animated manner. Once back in Gallows End, they will rest for a few days to allow Garl to recover. Fresh supplies need to be procured. And perhaps an eye can be kept open for anyone who might like to join the party.

After dinner and discussion, the party settles down for the night - again with the watch arrangement as previously.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Mon 01 Jan 2018.

The backpacks are very heavy with fresh meat, to the point that, despite the cold, you sweat under its weight, but it proves to be supremely tasty.
It is indeed a very good night for you, while your limbs are cold and wet, your belly is full and warm. You wake up in good spirit.
[OOC you recover 3 points of STAMINA each - of course you can't go above your initial STAMINA score]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:56, Fri 29 Dec 2017.

The knight wakes up early, stoking the fire to a bigger blaze. He peers into the backpacks, trying to estimate how long will the meat last them.

OOC - How many square meals are the meat worth? Note that the meat has been smoked for longer storage.

"Let's move out lads."

Sir Roland buckles on his sword belt, shoulders the backpacks full of smoked bear, and moves out at a goodly pace. His keen eyes and senses are alert and peeled for any sign of danger. The destination is the same - Gallows End. The path is also the same - the muddy road by which they had come from.

OOC please clarify if you stop to smoke the meat: it will require at least one full day of stop to prepare the oven, gater the wood and do the smoking.
In alternative I suggest you carry as much as you can to Gallows End, do the smoking bit over there and then come back.

“After carefully considering the matter, I’ve concluded that I greatly prefer eating bear to the reverse.” He snaps off another mouthful of the gamey meat.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Sat 30 Dec 2017.

Larson unfolds his huge frame from his fur cloak he looked like a grizzled old bear coming round for on hibination in his furs and as he stretched his muscles popped on his arms

"Yes we should be away as soon as we have fed and are packed " he agreed gathering his own gear togethert
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Sun 31 Dec 2017.

The last stretch back to Gallows End is much longer than you remember, as you walked back more slowly on the way back, but you want to go back to the village to sleep.
The winter evening is terribly windy and cold, but eventually you make it back to the Gryphon's Nest when it is already night and the only inn of the small village of Gallows End is closed.
[OOC this last effort reduced your STAMINA by one point]
You knock on the closed door for a long time, before the Innkeeper comes to open to you. As he casts some light on your faces, he's startled, as your appearence changed from the rich and strong people that came last time to the faces of people that knew cold and hunger and frostbite and has contemplated death as a possible, if not likely, option for their future.
He waves you in.

[OOC the adventure continues here: link to a message in this game ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:30, Sun 31 Dec 2017.