It was morning at the training grounds, about a month after the death of Lord Devon Sylvayn who had been bedridden for months because of a festering wound that would not heal. The knights of the house were training under the tutelage of the Master-At-Arms, Ser Ben Stone.

Like the Sylvayn's and the now-deceased mother of Galad's daughter, Ser Ben sported the coloration of Old Valyria with silver hair and purple eyes, but he was from Coldwater and had been the squire of Lord Royce Coldwater before joining the Sylvayn household as a full knight and advanced through the ranks to his current position. A renowned warrior and more than competent commander.

Well, half the knights owing their allegiance to the House. In addition to the 20 knights serving the House, there were another ten serving Ser Corwyn, the current Lord's uncle.

The ten knights were wearing armor and wielding training weapons as they practiced their combat skills.

The training sword in Galad's hand was heavier than castle-forged steel, as training swords often were intended to make the wielder more used to the weight.

He was used to it; but training weapons had other uses, and today they would keep any of the knights from gaining significant injury that might diminish House Sylvayn's military strength.

Galad enjoyed the company of House Sylvayn's knights and knew many of them well. Ser Corwyn's men were well disciplned, and Ser Ben had a level head on his shoulder when it came to command.

Despite this, today he found himself restless. After running through some standard drills and warm ups he found himself strolling the yard.

He approached a pair of Ser Corwyn's knights at the edge of the yard, both dressed for training, but sharing a moment of respite in conversation.

"Greetings comrades! I find myself ill-at-ease this morning; restless even. At your convenience, I am eager to test myself against your steel, if either of you are willing," he remarked. Many knights were courteous, and some were quite prickly. Galad seldom gave offence without intending it.

"Certainly," Ser Desmond Westbrook said. "How about now?"

Galad cracked a grin at Ser Westbrook’s agreement.

“Excellent! Let us begin.” He turned back to the training yard, retrieving a thick oaken shield from where it lay in the arming rack. He swung the training sword a few times back and forth. It was shorter than his weapon of choice, being modelled after a longsword rather than a greatsword. It was the style favoured by most of House Sylvayn’s knights and therefore the one used for training.

He assumed a standard guard position a few yards from the centre of one of the sparring placements, allowing Ser Westbrook the time to assume his own position. He gave a nod to indicate his readiness.
This message was last updated by the player at 23:31, Wed 05 Aug 2020.

Ser Desmond followed Galad, picking up a training sword and a shield on the way. Testing it out as he walked forward. He saluted Galad with his sword and assumed a starting stance of his own, about as far from the center as Galad was, but on the other side.

Galad turned his body laterally to Ser Westbrook so that he was facing him with his left shoulder and shield, keeping his blade low and to his right, ready to strike, but not signalling an obvious pattern of attack. He readied himself to strike.



09:02, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 8 using 3d6-3 with rolls of 4,5,2.  combat initiative vs Ser Westbrook.
[I've copied this straight over from the roller, but I'm not sure if there's a more appropriate way to insert it into a post]

[Galad is wearing his own splint mail and carrying his own large shield, and wielding a training longsword giving him CD 11, Bulk 3, and AR 8 due to Armor Mastery]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Wed 05 Aug 2020.

Desmond started circling Galad, but he didn't move closer.

[Ser Desmond is wearing full plate, shield, and a training longsword. He won initiative.]

[OOC: Quickness applies to Initiative, so you should roll 4d6 and drop the lowest.

Two movement actions are needed to close the distance.]

Seeing that the heavily armoured Ser Westbrook was keeping his distance, Galad Raised his shield and barrelled toward him, slashing at him with a wild but powerful stroke.


16:43, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 19 using 5d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 6,4,3,3,6.  Charge vs Ser Westbrook.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
[OOC - I've dropped the bonus quickness dice as I was over XP]

I'm gathering from the "two movement actions needed" that I can complete a charge action, which covers twice as much distance as as a move action, but if I need to cover more distance I'll use my greater action for sprint instead, which will penalise any attack he makes against me.

If the attack lands and the training longswords aren't penalised for damage, that will result in 5 damage per degree, plus 2 for the charge]

---

Galad rushed Desmond and struck him with a strong swing of his sword that struck the knight perfectly. So powerful in fact that Ser Desmond was struck to the ground and knocked out.

Ser Gerold Innmann hurried to his downed companion to check up on him. And having made a quick check, he called for servants to take him to a healer. And quickly servants came to his bidding and took Desmond away.



[OOC: Let's say that the training sword does Athletics in damage. Or 4 damage per degree for you. But this roll was a critical hit.]

Galad stared thoughtfully at the hilt oh the training sword, surprised that it had proven so potent a weapon.

Ser Westbrook would have little use for Galad's sympathy; for the wringing of hands over his wellbeing, so he allowed the servants to take him away and ensure his recovery.

He was left restless, so he made a circuit of the training yard, observing the Sylvayn knights and men-at-arms, and seeing if he could pick out the most competent in their number.

[OOC - just seeing who else is here]

Ser Desmond's companion, Ser Gerold Innmann, rose as Galad was walking away. "That didn't take very long," he said. "I'll fight you. If you're still up for it."

But who will take you to the healer?  Galad thought, but did not ask. Instead, he nodded, drew his sword and shouldered his shield and resumed his position in the square. He was warmed up now, and shifted his weight from foot to foot eagerly. He nodded his readiness to Ser Gerold.

Gerold wore a brigadine armor and wielded a training sword in one hand and like Galad favord the large shield for the other.

He warmed up quickly and faced Galad in a similar manner to how Desmond had done.

[OOC I'm away from my books, but IIRC that's the armor he's wearing.]

Ser Gerold's armour was lighter than Westbrook's, though he wore a broader shield. Galad judged it would be harder to land another meaty blow. He followed Gerold's footwork out of the corner of his eye and tried to judge the moment to strike


10:29, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 5 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,1.  Initiative vs Ser Gerrold. [-3 for armour results in an initiative of 2]

[OOC - can I recommend that we ignore the critical hit rules for this training fight and perhaps some other fights? They appear to make heavy armour substantially worse than light armour]

As Galad had done in the previous fight, so Gerold did now and rushed the massive knight. And with a good slice of his sword, he did some damage.


[Galad took 2 points of damage. Fighting 5D+1B, Damage 4, CD 11, AR 8, AP -3, Bulk 3, Move 3, Health 15/13]

[OOC: Which seems to be what they are going for. As even though heavy armor protects you better, it also makes you easier to hit. And thus easier to crit hit too.]

Galad’s instinct was to use his height and reach to knock the other knight off his feet or commit to a single overwhelming strike, but he fought the instinct. He had tested his strength against Ser Westbrook, now he tested his skill against Ser Gerold. He exchanged a series of quick strikes with the knight, each parrying the other with blade or shield, looking for an opening. Abruptly, Galad broke the pattern, striking low when Gerold had expected high and then, while the knight recovered from the attack, feinting to his left to force him away from Galad’s less protected right side, to better fend off his next attack.

(22:18, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 17 using 6d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 5,1,4,4,3,1.  Manoeuvre Ser Gerold. Vs passive fighting.
22:16, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 18 using 6d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 3,4,3,1,6,2.  Attack Ser Gerold With 4 damage per degree.)

Despite Galad's moves, Gerold held his own and would not go to where Galad wanted him. And even though Galad's swing connected, no damage penetrated his armor.

Gerold returned the favor with a swing of his own. It was a powerful swing that hit perfectly.

[OOC: Having considered critical hits further, I'm fine with doing this fight without critical hits as we are fighting with training weapons.]

[Galad took 12 points of damage, unless you want to do something with injuries or wounds. Fighting 5D+1B, Damage 4, CD 11, AR 8, AP -3, Bulk 3, Move 3, Health 15/1]

As Gerold turned aside Galad's feint without breaking his rhythm, Galad knew that the man was his match with the blade, and as he felt a thundering blow to his shoulder, he reckoned the man probably had the edge on him.

Galad slammed his shield into the other knight's chest, hoping to knock him off balance for his counterstrike. He came in high with an overhead slash, trying to find a weakness in Ser Gerold's impressive defences.

He took a step back and tested the mobility of his shoulder after Ser Gerold's impressive attack.


[06:36, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 20 using 6d6, dropping the 2 lowest rolls with rolls of 5,5,5,1,5,3.  Knockdown [pg 174] vs Ser Gerold. [this is vs passive agility-ap]

06:40, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 22 using 7d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 1,5,4,2,2,6,3.  Attack vs Ser Gerold [Ignore last die if Knockdown failed].

Not sure if we're using the fatigue rules [175]. If we are, Ser Galad will take a point of fatigue to move back a yard to put some distance between the men. If we are not, Ser Galad will instead take an injury to leave him at 6/12 hp.]

Galad slammed his shield into Gerold, who was forced off his feet and landed on his back on the ground. The massive knight then followed up with an overhead swing of his sword that struck the downed knight, but only slid off his armor. Galad then stepped away.

Gerold rose from the ground, stepped to follow Galad moving away from him, and thrust his sword past the large shield.



[Galad took 8 points of damage, unless you want to do something with injuries or wounds or fatigue. Fighting 5D+1B, Damage 4, CD 11, AR 8, AP -3, Bulk 3, Move 3, Health 15/1, Fatigue 1/5]

[OOC: Gerold took three lesser actions too. I'm rolling really well for him.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:05, Thu 13 Aug 2020.

Galad was caught off guard by Ser Gerold's quick recovery. The thrust took the wind out of him, and a follow up attack knocked the training sword from his hand, leaving his hand throbbing.

He gave a quick bark of laughter and held up his sword hand in a gesture of submission. "Well struck Ser Gerold, well struck. I fear I must ask quarter lest I find myself in the Maester's care alongside our comrade."

He wondered if he would have done better with his own blade, or mounted, but did not raise the idea, for it would seem like poor sportsmanship, and Ser Gerold had carried the day.

[OOC: Ser Galad Yields]

As Galad yielded, Gerold stod down, switching the sword to his off-hand and while doing so changing his grip on the training sword to blade down. "It's what I do," he replied and nodded. "The tides of war can shift quickly with changing circumstances."

He headed off the training field towards where the two had first met, returning the training sword to the armory.

Galad watched Ser Gerold go with a smile. It was good to be reminded of the discipline and skill of those he would rely on on the field of battle. As he rubbed his right wrist he felt feeling return to his fingers and retrieved his own training weapon, returning it to the rack beside Gerold's.

He had had his fill of mock duels for now, but still found himself restless. He thought of checking in on his daughter, but she was learning important duties, and it was not his place to distract her.

Instead he sought out the Master of Arms, Ser Ben Stone, hoping to put his restless energy to the proper service of his house.

"Ser Ben, if I am not imposing, I had hoped to speak with you for a moment."

"Of course, Ser Galad," Ben said. "What do you want to talk about?"

Galad eyed the man, a little curiously. By birth, Galad was of higher station than the bastard, but the man had risen to higher rank and certainly made a strong impression with his valyrian features, though these were not uncommon in House Sylvayn's retainers. He respected Ser Ben as a man who had earned his position.

"As Master of Arms you must hear more of the threats to House Sylvayn and the lay of the land within its borders."

"Do you know if there is a prospect of upcoming conflict for House Sylvayn? I am eager to be of more active service to our Lord, but have heard little news." As a sworn sword, his prospects for advancement were limited without a chance to earn reputation, which would come from real combat or tournaments, not practise in the marshalling yard.

"Bandits," Ben said. "Right now that's all we've got. "Two of the Lords even went out on their own to investigate the latest reports this morning. I'm not sure why they didn't bring anyone. But I have a feeling that there will be bandits in our near future."

Galad's brow furrowed as he heard this, "Thank the gods they returned without incident, else our reputation would be shredded to ribbons. Men would say that House Sylvayn's knights cannot even safeguard their lord from robbers and thieves, let alone the warriors and champions of other houses.' It was a difficult notion, for it was not his place to reproach his lordship, even if decisions seemed dangerous, even foolhardy.

"Once we have cleaned such miscreants from these lands we can perhaps aim for even more honourable pursuits."

"I wasn't talking about Lord Sylvayn," Ben said. "I was talking about his younger brother and uncle. And they are still out there. And they explicitly ordered me not to come or to send anyone after them."

"I did not mean to cast aspersion on your diligence, Ser Ben. We can often be put in challenging positions when we are instructed to follow a course of action that seems," he gestured with an upturned palm, seeking to articulate his point, "less than ideal."

He thought for a moment. The Sylvayn men had put  Ser Ben in a difficult position, for their safety was in part his responsibility, but they had ordered him not to send anyone to provide for their security. "I find myself a little restless today, and eager to put that to good use by taking in the lay of the land beyond House Sylvayn's walls. Perhaps I will take with me a brace of hounds I have been training. However, I would not want to stumble across bandits unprepared, and you mentioned there was a report of their recent activity?" A slight smile played at the edges of Ser Galad's mouth as he made his inquiry.

It was an obvious ruse, and he did not expect to fool Ser Ben. The master of arms had been instructed not to send others after Ser Corwyn and Vardan; he had not been instructed to halt those who chose to do so of their own accord.

"I can't send you with or without dogs," Ben said. "And especially I cannot send you with or without any other knights or archers or soldiers."

"And since I can't send you anywhere, this seems like a great time to deal with restlessness. In large groups even. As long as you don't do anything stupid."

"Excellent." Galad nodded his agreement.

"Well, you have a far better grasp of the readiness of the men than I. How shall we arrange this large group."

[OOC - I'm a little unclear on what is being suggested, as it's hard to read the tone of Ben's response. Are we talking large groups out looking for the Sylvayns, or some kind of mock combat in the training yard?]

"Who you bring with you to combat your restlessness is completely up to you," Ben said. "I need to remain here at Arrowmark."

Galad rubbed his chin in thought, muttering as he did so  “A group small enough to travel quickly,  but large enough to travel safely. A pair of trackers, a handful of crossbows and another sworn sword, backed by our squires should be fitting. No need for more than ten in all, and perhaps fewer.”

“Very well Ser Ben, I shall see if other have a wish to stretch their legs and put their steeds through their paces.” He nodded deferentially and began to seek out some allies.

As Galad went looking for the trackers, he eventually found Thaddeus, the younger and more attractive of them, near the smithy. Thaddeus also dressed more expensively than his brother or anyone else of his station at Arrowmark.

"Ser Galad," Thaddeus started. "How can I help you?"

Galad hesitated, knowing that his actions could be seen as impertinent by Ser Corwyn, and he did not want to cause trouble for those retainers who might join him on his journey. It seemed best to share little, and assume an authority his rank of knight gave to him.

"There is some concern regarding bandit activity in House Sylvayn's lands. I am taking a small group to patrol. Ser Corwyn and Master V  left earlier in the day, and we will be ensuring their safe return to Arrowmark as well. I had intended to bring with me a small group, including my own hounds and perhaps a pair of exceptional trackers who knew the lay of the land better than I," he cracked a grin as he flattered Thaddeus. The brothers had an excellent reputation after all. "If there are any men of the garrison you consider to be competent at moving quickly over rough ground, we can add them to our patrol and be ready to move in short order."

"My brother and a handful of others went with them this morning," Thaddeus said. "While I was told not to come. They even left the squires behind uninformed. They obviously didn't want anyone to come after them."

"But I'm the best tracker in Arrowmark. I can find them. What would that be worth to you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Sat 22 Aug 2020.

Galad frowned. Half the reason why it had seemed so important to find the two Sylvayns was that Ser Ben had said they left without a proper escort. Now it seemed they had taken a tracker and a handful of others with them.

"Ser Corwyn left you behind and in the dark," Galad observed, skeptically "Preferring to use your brother as his tracker. Was it your discretion he doubted, or your skills?"

"There is talk that the roads are unsafe, and Ser Corwyn's party is small. There is a danger here that extends to your brother. Surely you are not bartering with me when lives could well be on the line?"

[07:14, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,3,1.  Taunt Thaddeus. (Unless you'd like this resolved as a proper intrigue)]

"I am joking with you of course Ser Galad," Thaddeus said. His arm started moving as if he was going to jovially slap Galad's arm, but thought better of it.

"And my brother might be as good as I am, but he's not currently in Arrowmark. So he doesn't count. But either way, you've come to the right place."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:50, Tue 25 Aug 2020.

Galad chuckled as Thaddeus moved to pat him on the arm. It seemed the man was not so callous after all.

"Excellent," he remarked, "we should have little difficulty surveying the land or ensuring the safety of our comrades."

"Are there any men of the garrison you would recommend to accompany us? We should move quickly if we are to make progress this morning."

"I could certainly pick a few," Thaddeus said. "Though if you want another knight to accompany us, it would be better if you talked to them."

"Indeed. Seek out these men and make yourselves ready, for we ride as soon as we are gathered. I will seek out a knight to accompany us, and ready my hounds." He replied.

Galad thought immediately of Ser Gerold, a stawlwart knight and swordsman, but the man was one of Ser Corwyn's cadre, and might take offence to Galad's goal. Instead he wondered if a more junior knight might serve to accompany him, one more likely to follow his lead. Failing that, perhaps Ser Corwyn's riverlands squire.

He began his search anew.

[OOC - any impressionable NPC knight not in Corwyn's Cadre, or Ser Quintane's squire, would serve as an extra sword in this instance].

As Galad was looking for another sword, he saw Brynden Quintaine, Corwyn Sylvayn's 15-year-old squire around the corner from the doorway to the kitchens talking to a smallfolk girl. A 5'4" boy still preferring leather armor and further away from knighthood then he should be because of his proclivity of doing what was needed whether it was honorable or not. Winning at all costs, even if it meant fighting dirty.

His brown locks framed his face as his left hand played with the girl's hair. There was a bucket of water at her feet. She was obviously supposed to be doing something else.

That was the problem with squiring for a knight like Ser Corwyn; you were often left to your own devices while your master attended to more important matters.

"Quintaine," he barked, "gather your kit. You were not left to your own devices so that you could distract the servants. We'll be riding on patrol in less than thirty minutes."

He paused to see if Quintaine would need more encouragement. His last stop would be the kennels, to collect his hounds.

Brynden quickly looked towards Galad. "Yes ser!" He turned back to the female and said something as he untangled his fingers from her hair and left in a hurry.

About a half-hour later, Brynden was ready and waiting. And Thaddeus had returned with four archers and two guerillas.

Galad had aimed for fewer than ten and arrived at eight, and so considered the marshalling a success. Given that his mission was something of a risky venture, he was satisfied that he had drawn no other knights into it.

"Very well, Thaddeus, Brynden, Men, let's make way."

He mounted his own steed; the combined height of man and mount left him towering over his compatriots.

The others mounted too, following the example of Ser Galad. Though none of them was of his impressive size.

Thaddeus headed out first to track them. And by this time, it had begun to rain lightly. But that didn't seem to phase him. It took him a little while to find the correct tracks, but after that he made things seem easy.

The group traveled into the mountains, onward and upward for a few hours. Well, there were a few downwards too as these were not one peak mountains. It was slower than on level ground, but still traversable on horseback.

Until you heard the sounds of combat from the other side of the next peak.

Galad's pulse began to thump in his head as the clamour of battle reached him.

"Archers, dismount, you'll be claiming high ground, and covering an orderly withdrawal if it is required," he commanded.

He turned to the guerrillas, and Thaddeus "Two of you will ride with me, the other shall stay with the archer's horses, to ensure they do not flee."

Finally he turned to young Quintaine, "ready your steel, boy, and guard my flank, for today our lives are in the hands of the Stranger."

He slammed down his visor, allowed the archer's a moment's head start to cover the distance on foot, and spurred his horse into a charge over the peak.

Only Galad and Brynden remained mounted.

"We fight on foot," one of the guerrillas said as he dismounted.

"And I am a hunter not a warrior," Thaddeus said. "But I'll shoot them from up here."

The hunter and the archers hurried over the peak and stopped a short distance down on the other side so that they wouldn't leave themselves exposed with only sky behind them.

One of the guerrillas remained on the far side with the seven horses. While the other headed over the peak and down the other side on foot, getting closer than the archers had.

While the two horsemen quickly passed all of them.

Getting their first view of the other side, they charged downhill. There were perhaps a dozen bandits facing less than half of that some 25 yards or so past the peak. And of the Sylvayn forces, two were already on the ground.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Sat 05 Sept 2020.

Galad urged his mount into a canter, building up momentum as he raced downhill. As he felt precious second tick by he tried to distract the bandits from encircling the Sylvayn men.

"For House Sylvayn," he roared, "Your doom is here!"


[07:32, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 1 using 3d6-3 with rolls of 2,1,1.  Galad Hunter - Initiative.
Galad commands steed to sprint 16 yards, leaving him 8-9 yards from the closest bandits [max is 6*4=24

Galad
HP - 15/15
Fatigue 0/5
CD - 11
AR - 8
]

Thaddeus unleashed his first arrow from his hunting bow and it penetrated the bandit's eye and brought him to the ground. The second arrow penetrated their hide armor and brought a second bandit to the ground.

Brynden rode into the fray and with a swing of his sword, he brought one of the bandits to the ground.

Vardan was on his feet and with his sword, he brought another bandit to the ground.

The four archers unleashed arrows from their longbows. The four arrows of the first volley struck four different bandits, but only one of them was brought to the ground. In the second volley, another four arrows struck home, bringing another four to the ground, including the three that had been hit previously.

The guerilla who had been running down the hill for all he was worth, slowed down to a walking pace and didn't reach the conflict.

The guerilla that Corwyn had brought with him swung, but his sword was ineffective against the hide armor.

One of the bandits pulled Brynden off of his horse, but his battleaxe was ineffective against the squire's soft leather. Three other bandits attacked the prone squire wielding their battleaxes in two hands and did substantial damage.

Two bandits attacked on Corwyn, he too fighting on foot. The battleaxe of the first was ineffective against the Lord's full plate armor, but the second connected with a devastating blow, cutting through his armor.

The final bandit closed with the approaching guerrilla and connected with a good swing of the battleaxe.

Corwyn countered, but the first swing of his sword was absorbed by armor. But he swung again and this time he brought the bandit to the ground.

Now that Galad was closer and had had some time to view the wet hill, rain still drizzling as it had down since they had started this expedition, in addition to the ten bandits that had been downed since Galad had arrived, there were an additional dozen or so bandits on the grass, with two Sylvayn horses. The other three horses were missing. Josua, Thaddeus brother, and another guerilla were the two friendlies on the ground.

[What do you do?]



[Result:
Brynden took 6 points of damage. He is at 6/12.
Corwyn took 5 points of damage, but traded them for a wound. So he is at best at 9/9, but he has been damaged previously in this combat.
The Guerrilla took 1 point of damage. He is at 5/6.

]

[OOC: As your group was moving across the peak, I'm letting that movement take place before your first round of combat. Or in other words, when this round begins, Galad has already moved 16 yards downhill. You are close enough to spend a lesser action to move so that you can spend your other lesser action to attack the bandits.]

Seeing Bryden pulled from his mount and set upon by bandits,  Galad cursed at the foolish charge of the squire, and readied himself to go to his aid, but the sight of Ser Corwyn farther downhill, beaten down and bleeding gave him pause.

Instead, he bellowed over his shoulder, back up the hill "Thaddeus, safeguard the boy!" The archers would have a clean shot at the bandits assailing Brandon, for he had been knocked to the ground, and was near the edge of the fray, whereas Ser Corwyn was not.

His steed chewed up the ground to Corwyn in moment, and with a meaty swing of his greatsword, Ser Galad slaughtered the bandit circling the knight.


[07:18, Today: Galad Hunter rolled 21 using 6d6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 6,6,2,3,4,1.  Charge vs Bandit 11 Damage per Degree.]

[OOC - Galad is going to rely on his confederates to safeguard Brynden for a round if they can. I also realise I rolled for a charge rather than a move-attack, and can redo if needed, but I think the attack will probably have the same result.]

The huge knight easily and effortlessly cut down one of the bandits.

Two swift arrows were let loose from Thaddeus bow, sticking in the back of one of the bandits beating up the squire, as he had been ordered, and brought the bandit to the ground.

Brynden rose to his feet and cut down another bandit.

Vardan was better at the bow than the sword, but the heir to the House was still on his feet. He moved to Brynden and swung at one of the remaining bandits, but not doing enough damage to bring him down.

The first volley from the archers stuck two arrows in each of the remaining bandits near Brynden, bringing both of them to the ground. The second volley pincushioned the last bandit with four arrows and brought him to the ground.

[Combat is over. What do you do?]

Galad dismounted his steed briskly and he offered his hand to the wounded Ser Corwyn.

"See to the wounded," he shouted to those behind him, "and gather those loose mounts," he ordered the guerrillas, before addressing Ser Corwyn.

"Can you sit a horse, Ser Corwyn? I saw you take a nasty blow as we arrived."

As it turned out, only Corwyn had been seriously wounded. Now that things were over, the others could shake it off.

"I'll help them look for the horses," Thaddeus said and whistled towards the where they had left the horses. And when the final guerrilla poked his head over the peak, the tracker waved at him to come down and bring the horses.

"I'll make it home," Corwyn said. He gave neither thanks for saving his life nor a reprimand for disobeying his orders.

When the horses had rejoined them, Thaddeus and two of the guerrillas went looking for the missing horses.

"Given your injury and the distance back to House Sylvayn, we should depart as soon as possible," Galad asserted.

"I did not believe mere bandits could gather in such numbers on House Sylvayns lands."

"You never know when bandits show up," Corwyn said. "They have a knack of showing up when and where you least expect them. And I agree, we should leave as soon as possible."

About a half-hour or so later, Thaddeus and the guerillas returned with the missing horses.

While he waited for the scouts to return, Galad did a quick search among the fallen, hoping to find some clue that might help in locating. Hideout or further information about the presence of these men in Sylvayn lands.

When the scouts returned with the missing horses, he made ready to saddle up and return to House Sylvayn. There was little reason to continue the day’s adventure with wounded in the party.

The return trip was slower. With fewer horses, not all of them could ride. But the trip was fortunately uneventful. Though it had taken a sizeable portion of the day.

[OOC: Anything in particular that you would like to do? We have a couple of new characters on the way, but they aren't quite ready yet. And the other two characters are still earlier in the day in their thread.]

Galad moved up and down the line of riders throughout the early afternoon, and soon found himself beside Thaddeus, the tracker.

"You fought well," he remarked, "though some knights might look down on the bow as a weapon, you provided House Sylvayn leal service with it today. How fares your brother"

[I might just spend some time introducing/getting to know some key NPC's on the way home, as it will make it easy to step into whatever thread needs me later].