Dominic signs as well, with all due flourish.

Fayne eyed the Elf and the noble for a moment before reaching over his shoulder and unslinging his short bow. He reached up and checked his quiver of arrows tugging on each one to make sure that it could be pulled freely when the time called for it. His nimble fingers tugged on the bow string and the tension it held. Normally he would leave the bow unstrung until it was needed, but weeks on the run and through rough country he didn’t have the time or the inclination to leave his ranged weapon unstrung. With his bow quickly checked and arrows obstruction free Fayne lung the bow back over his shoulder as he pulled free his short sword.

His green eyes scanned the blade for nicks and dents, a quick swing and twirl of the well maintained blade whistled through the air for a moment. He looked at his current companions before he crouched and took up a clump of mud and smeared it over the blade on both sides. ”Glare” He said in a solemn whisper as if to answer a question, or perhaps to head off a question before it could be asked.

Rising once more he thrust the blade back in his scabbard and nodded to the Elf. ”Need more” He said gesturing to Enialis then Dominic and finally himself, before off to the distance where the Rimewood waited. He held up one gloved finger, then a second, most likely indicating adding one or two more people to the patrol group.

Dominic quirks an eyebrow as Fayne wanders back to his corned, then turns to Enialis, "He right, you know, whether he realizes it or not. A couple boar spears would be handy. Wolves are the most likely predator, and they hunt in packs. Bows and boar spears help now end. Properly trained dogs are good, too, if you have them. I'm afraid our biggest concern will be the pack surrounding us. I can deal with that, but collateral damage is a factor, so it's not advisable. Best we stay together and back to back if we meet more than a starving loner. Wolves really aren't that bad when you're prepared. They don't do cattle or sheep any good, though."

Smith replies, "You can ask Jessop if he has any bows or boar spears. He ain't got no dogs, though. We've yet to get anyone to risk raisin' animals out here. Ain't likely to see a full pack of wolves along the patrol route, anyhow. Too far from the trees. A desperate pair or loner, driven out by stronger predators, maybe, but there are plenty of critters in the Rimewood that a full pack could take easier then us, and they know it. Problem is, desperate animals, they tend to take bigger risks, and they fight to the death."

Fayne turned and stared directly at Erret and gave a slight nod at the man’s words. The noble was speaking as if he were off on some grand hunt in the woods with a gaggle of guards and his friends. The true wilderness was far different, especially on the very edge of civilization. But he didn’t need to explain that, Erret was doing a fine enough job.

”What creatures?”

An actual question this time, with inflection, though only two words strung together, it appeared that he was trying to ask what kind of beast and monstrous creatures they could expect along the patrol route.  Erret spoke of desperate animals, but Fayne was more worried about what else might come lurking particularly close to this new frontier settlement. The more information one had, the better prepared one could be for unforeseen situations that had even the slimmest chance of occurring.

Enialis nods at Dominic,"I agree, you should go buy those spears and bows at Jessop. I'll be here to look for more people to join our group." and he ponders a bit on Fayne's question,"Oh yeah, what kind of creatures will we encounter on the patrol. Best to be prepared, is what you humans say."

Smith answers, "Well, I can't speak to what might actually try an' come through the perimeter, but the woulds surely hold hares, foxes, muskox, caribou, stoats, ground squirrels and other rodents, wolves, bears, giant spiders, goblinfolk and orcs. There might be some human tribes, as well. Those last three might be reasoned with, I leave that judgement up to you, but if ya start a war with local tribes, ya best be prepared to fight in it. Towards the south, Tritons from Torakkum keep our mutual border pretty clear, but you must not kill anything you find on the beach! In fact, you ought stay off the beach, its off the patrol route, anyway."

Entering from Guarding the Lumberjacks

Odilon once more strode into the town hall, his coin sack a little heavier from having defended the Lumberjacks against a massive bear. He walked up to Erret and addressed him in his lower raspy voice, "Well Erret, we've returned and the Lumberjacks have brought back a great haul." he smiled knowing the wood would go towards building the beginning infrastructure of the fledgling town. "Any new work for an old stone like myself?"

Xannan follows Odilon into the town hall.

"Yes, what else needs doing? Perhaps Odilon and I can help by joining a Perimeter Patrol group? Maybe we could go hunting for pelts ..."

Enialis eyes the two newcomers, his ears perked up at the mention of the perimeter patrol, he decided to walk up to them,"Why hello their, it just so happens that me and my group are looking for one more member to join our patrol group. We would be happy to take one of you, unless you two would rather stick together, I guess having more members is technically allowed, right governor."

Fayne listened in silence as Erret spoke about what possible creatures they could find out on patrol, his eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of the various tribes that might lurk within the wood. The possibilities of a sudden war weren’t enticing in the least, especially with the barely constructed frontier town. So if they did run into a member of the tribes it was best to leave things amicable, unless they happened to attack first.

When Odilon and then the Halfling approached Erret and mentioned going out on patrol, Fayne was of the mind to say something, but the Elf finger wiggler approached them and spoke up before he could. Not that he was complaining, rather he shifted and moved to stand behind and to the right Enialis with arms crossed giving a slight nod of confirmation.

With that action, Fayne was giving his silent support to Enialis. Though they had just met, soon they would be out on patrol and in possible peril; a show of solidarity now could mean the difference between life and death.

Smith says, "Enialis has the right of it! Five people in one patrol group is fine an' dandy!"

Xannan bows to Erret, then bows to Odilon, Fayne and Enialis.

Speaking to Erret, he says "Your first task of guarding the lumberjacks was completed most successfully.
I aim to complete this next task in similar speed and ease."

The little gnome kept grumbling to himself, this had better be worth it, as he made his way into the small frontier settlement; his hand straying to the letter in his breast pocket of his jacket, and towards the town hall in the middle of the, what would you call this?as he looked around at the makeshift buildings of the settlement; shivering from the cold wind howling out of the North. A fool's errand bordering on stupidity or courage.He thinks with a nod and shakes his head. Leave it to you to open your big mouth. He thinks to himself with a slow grin appearing on his face. Well, let's make this work...

His steps make steady progress as Alban finally reaches the town hall and notices the jobs posted on a bulletin board near the front door. Looking over the postings he was not surprised at what he found. The usual fodder for foolish adventurers. Well, I will have to start somewhere. Alban moves towards the front door, opens it, and steps inside the hall; its warmth seeping into his small frame and taking away the chill of the wind outside.  Closing the door behind him Alban scans the room and its occupants; looking for the one in charge...

"Mr Evert Smith?" He announces out loud with a polite smile on his face towards the crowd of figures in the room to see who would greet him. What a strange crew? He thought while taking in the sight before him, but then look whose talking. You've worked with stranger.

Fayne glanced at the two new comers then back to Smith, his eyes turned toward Dominic, then to Enialis before speaking in his usual singular worded way. ”Ready?”

Even though Fayne had gotten in that day, he had checked and readied his weapons; the two new comers looked like they had just pulled a shift but were eager for more. The Halflings words though reeked of over confidence, well at least to Fayne they did, but then again it was possible this little Halfling was extremely competent.

The sudden gust of cold air immediately garnered Fayne’s attention, his eyes turned from the others to the Gnome that entered. His head tilted slightly for a moment before he gave a slight nod to Alban as the Gnomes voice broke through the cacophony of the others. With that Fayne headed to the door to wait for the others within his group to head out for their scheduled patrol.

<< Coming back from Guarding the Lumberjacks

Getting a solid bit of work done was good for the soul!  Such was a notion Adalheida lived by and believed with all her heart, as she most certainly felt better after a job well done.  Achy legs and chilled bones were just part and parcel, really.  The towering Centaur was grateful to be back in the settlement again where she could manage some business of handing off the goods her group had been blessed with in the form of a freshly hunted bear.  But the delay in getting her market tasks done put her off schedule - the others had already gone on without her to other affairs!  It left her in a bit of a pout as she perused the job postings only to find that there didn't appear to be any pressing matters listed.

Surely there was more that needed to be done?  The Centaur stooped her head down as she headed on into the main hall once more to seek out the townmaster himself, though she had to step delicately as she noticed Alban nearly underhoof.  She hadn't realized there were Gnomish folk about as well and offered the fellow a polite smile from her looming height before she joined him in a summoning call.  "Master Smith, you have company!  Don't leave our bones to grow lazy when there must be work to do!"

Smith was in the midst of correcting Alban about his name when Adalheida came in. "Well, we could always use more patrols along the perimeter. Or you could organize a huntin' party."

Odilon saw Adalheida come in and summon Erret's attention, "Ah Adalheida, good to see you again." his face upturned in a polite smile, wrinkles deepening showing his age. "Maybe we join the next patrol together? Will be nice knowing someone as we patrol"

Enialis looks at the two newcomers oddly, especially the one that just arrived,"A centaur, I never thought of meeting one so far away from the woods. A pleasure ma'am.", Enialis gives an elven bow to Adalheida and turns back to the group,"Anyways I don't think we have anymore questions, unless the two newcomers have some questions, we should be heading out."

Azu approached the red haired man and without blinking gave him the hug he seemed to be asking for., then spoke, ”Hello good sir, I’m Azucondie, call me Azu. It is very nice to be here. I’m a clown. Do you need any clowns here?”

A shout is heard from just outside the wall. "Nor'east signal fire is aflame!" Smith says, "quick, there is no time to waste! You can patrol when you get back! Head for that tower!"

Adalheida offered Enialis a nod of greeting, though she had a bit of a wry grin all the same.  "Newcomers?" she cast a joking look over to Odilon and shrugged, though she set aside such matters as she dug around in her bag for a moment to retrieve a small trinket.

"I'd like that, Master Odilon~.  And here - for your bravery earlier.  I thought you might like this." the Centaur offered a simple bauble down - a stout, polished bear claw set into an ornate bit of complicated knotting on the end of a necklace loop.  She'd claimed to be a craftsman earlier and it seemed fine detail work was not beyond the Centaur's abilities despite her being so large a creature.  But such friendly affairs had to be set aside as an emergency seemed to spark up with Smith's sudden call to action.  An alert?  It had to be trouble!

"To the northeast?  Will do!" she chimed quickly, eager to do some more good.

Adalheida will volunteer for the Signal Fire Alert

Odilon took the trinket from the Centaur with a smile, "My my, what a beautiful.." but then the alert was sounded and Odilon looked to Adalheida a bit worried before slipping the trinket over his head and then following her out the door.

At hearing someone correct his mistake Alban shakes his head a little.  Just arrived and already you're in trouble with the person in charge.  Nice going, moron.  Even for you, that takes talent.  Moving aside a little to let the centaur into the room Alban regained his wits and started to make his way over to Erret Smith.

However, halfway across the hall the shouts about a signal fire being lit draws everyone's attention outside to the settlement wall.  Alban turns back towards the door and heads outside back into the cold towards the raised alarm.  Here we go.... Alban continues running with the others to the northeast and the distant light of the fire.


Alban will volunteer for the Signal Fire Alert

Azu seemed unphazed by the alert. She looked at the red haired man and said, ”Sooooo...that’s a no on the clown thing then?”