"It will serve admirably in place of bacon..." Caith replies wryly "...As I'm sure any hog would agree." and lays down the coin in more pragmatic agreement.



"Aye, that I can do." she says cheerfully, and tucks the note safe in her beltpouch as she adds "She were looking well when I saw her a while back, I'm glad to say."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

Aphail smiled warmly at Deise, nodding in agreement.  He opened his mouth the voice his choice when Gond arrived.  He closed his mouth and smiled broadly.

Usopi grinned at the production of food and drink, a fine way to end a trek and prepare for another. He waited till his companions were served and then quietly spoke to Gond, ”Is Garfas here? If not I will take it to his residence assuming you provide me with directions. I would lead Mary safely to his hands before I sit and forget myself in the comfort of your hospitality.” he said with a smile.

Gond smiled, " He's in the south at his sons holding, leave her out front I'll take care of her."

Turren asks any of his companions without one, if they'd like a drink and meal. After they reply, he orders as required.

"That is generous of you, Sir Turren." Brannon thanks him. "I will take the ale and a meal, if I may. I will repay the favour when we next have the chance."

In reply to Sir Turren Uvedale (msg # 16):

"Thank you, Sir Turren." Says Leaf, taking a seat with the others. "I will have the same as what you are having."

Food and drink was had and the companions continued to get to know each other and socialise.

As the food and drink were finished the decision needed to be made to carry on and camp on the road or rest here and depart early the next morn.

Aphail doesn't mind sleeping in front of a warm fire again, on dry beddin for a florin.

'Outdoors or in, we must rest at some point,' Turren muses as he slides coin over for the meals and drink. 'Here seems sensible to me whilst we have walls available.'

He shrugs shoulder plates and looks to his companions.

In reply to Sir Turren Uvedale (msg # 21):
"Yeah Sir Turren, here'll be good. Nice cider and a warm place to rest. I'm all for taking refuge where we can. If Brannon is right we're heading to a storm. Lets rest here.

Brannon nods, in agreement. "A good thought. We should make the most of these opportunities while we can."

The companions rose early the next morning, it was three and a bit days to Hallowhall on foot and they had less than a week if Brannon was going to make it back in time for the Spring Festival.

The trade road out the west side of Ereworn Town branched in two one heading northeast to Hallowhall the other southeast to a place called Cellowaen or Callorn....the sign was very weathered.

The road curved gently northwest skirting the borders of the Grey Hills as it did so before brushing past the westernmost ridgeline of the Pagans.

Night closed in and they made camp near the last stones of the Pagans, watches were set and though strange distant howls were heard from the north that set all the 'Gliss' folk on edge....

The night passed peacefully and the next morning the companions set out leaving the Pagans behind and following the trade road as it passed through heathland and skirted large patches of ancient forest as it pushed toward Hallowhall.

Before midday the companions noted something lying on the road ahead, it was a horse and it was quite dead......

OOC:

Reactions Please.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:02, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

In reply to Brannon Darrow (msg # 23):

The morning after, Deise with quite a head from supping a skinful of cider makes for Gond.
My good man, how much do I owe ye for the drink and hospitality. A flagon of cider for the road would not go amiss either."

" 2 silver will cover it, another for the flagon.", said Gond with a smile.

In reply to GM (msg # 26):
" A bargain. Hope to see you again Gond, we must escort our Northern guests to the borders before we return. You run a fine establishment."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:21, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

"Much obliged Gond." Aphail leaves 2 Florin on the bar.

Usopi placed 2 florins on the counter with a smile before heading out for their journey.

—————————————

Seeing the horse in the road, Usopi moved forward hesitantly, eyes casting about and shield at the ready. First they would have to determine how the animal died, checking for any obvious wounds on the corpse.

Caith shrugs, hopeful at the thought of a roof over her head for another night, but looks to Brannon as she eats, still following the conversation about the table.

At the Hearthwarden's agreement, she relaxes visibly, and smiles gratefully in Alphail's direction as she finishes her meal. Caith drinks lightly, though happily   appreciating the cider's taste, as she compliments Gond on it's quality and makes polite conversation on various matters as she waits patiently to greet the moon at midnight.


In the morning, she pays her share of the tavernkeep's bill without complaint or argument. The hedgewitch seems cheerful enough on the road, if quiet but speaking of the useful wayside plants to be found along it.

------

The howling in the darkness draws a long and wary look into the night from Caith, not so much fear as grim recognition. She says little, other than "Could be wolves, but may nay be..." as she piles more kindling on the campfire with a stern expression on her face.

-------

The equine corpse on the road the next morning is not a welcome sight to Caith, and she stops, looks to Brannon and says cautiously "That nay looks to be a good sign to me. Wait a moment..." as she is intent on looking around the animal's body carefully before she investigates it further.

"Nay touch it!" she says urgently to Usopi "Nay afore we know what slew yon horse anyway."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:04, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

Aphail had his bow in hand, and quickly nocks an arrow.  He signals Deise to move around to the left and Aphail moves off the road and around to the right.

11:04, Today: Aphail MacRoach rolled 10 using 1d20.  Stealth -3 = 18.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:41, Sun 01 Dec 2019.

As Aphail slips quietly off the road, Sir Turren moves forward with Usopi. He eases his own shield up, following just to Usopi's left, covering that horizon and the road ahead. In Sir Turren's right hand he poises his javelin, eyes scanning the countryside, not the dead horse, as the knights move forward.

OOC - will remove total florins for my lodging and any meals drinks, just let me know the amount.

In reply to Aphail MacRoach (msg # 31):

Deise heads left as stealthily as he can, mirroring Aphails movement to the right.
Cross bow is knocked and ready, actively looking and listening in all directions.

Leofwyn hurries to Caith's side, ready to help if and when she can.

"Poor horse", she whispers quietly to herself.

Brannon nods uneasily at Caith's observation. "Go carefully. We will cover you..."

He readies an arrow in his bow, trailling his eyes across the surrounding area for signs of danger.

Caith nods in agreement with Brannon's words, and says very quietly to Leofwyn "Pity must wait on need here. There are many ways a horse could come to grief, and some of them nay affect only horses."

"Nay worry, just putting my thinking cap on..." the hedgewitch adds in reassurance as she murmurs in an unknown tongue, and a glimmering emerald light becomes visible at the edges of her hood near her brow.

The wolf skull's teeth cast strange shadows across her face as she stares intently at the horse on the ground, looking for any sign of life or a cause of death.

OOC: Caith casts THIRD EYE to boost her INT and PSY to 16, and SENSE AURA for 6 MP. Is this horse really a horse, and are they really dead? If so, what did they die of, and how long have they been dead? If not, then are they treatable with the herblore and healing magic Caith knows of? And she's checking to see if they happen to be some sort of horrible beastie lying in wait...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Tue 03 Dec 2019.