In reply to Antru Mistseeker (msg # 90):

Alleycat suddenly tensed as someone called out from behind him. After a split-second he relaxed, having recognized the voice. He pulled on his horse's reins, and managed to get its head pointed in the direction of the newcomer.

"You're good," the Waterdhavian said, with the same inflection as if he had said "It's raining." "Not many people could tiptoe up on me without my noticing. Hells, even your horses were quiet."

Mekkar briefly turned his head skywards. "I suppose that the rain helped to drown out any noise from your approach. No pun intended. But, still -- good work."

He considered for a brief moment, then nodded to the Elf as if he had come to a decision. "You'll do."

Alleycat glanced at the party that was gathering at the bridge as Antru spoke of keeping the Half-Orc on a short leash. "At least we know that one is . . . undependable. Or, mayhap a better way to put it is that she is prone to fits of Orcishness. All of us will be watching her."

"She caught us all by surprise before. I don't see her doing that again."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Amorette approaches the bridge, her riding dog's trot slowing as she nears the group. She takes note of the masked woman and decides to keep her distance a bit, though she regards her bonds that held her with slight distaste. Looks like the governor was not messing around.

She gives the rest a short wave. Water sprays from her cloak, and the dog gives a quiet whine. "Easy, Jax." She pats the mastiff's soaked fur.

"You should learn to intend your puns. Its much more fun when you do." Antru says with a smile and slight pause as if a thought had struck him. "Rain dose tend to have that effect though. But the same can be said for ones own thoughts if one dwells overmuch on things." Antru strokes his horses neck as looks over Allycat. "I'm sure the Lady Sora will keep her well in hand. And if not..."</purple> Antru gives a bit of a shrug as he leaves the rest unsaid.

In reply to Antru Mistseeker (msg # 93):

"Ever the entertainer," Alleycat said with a chuckle as Antru spoke of how to use puns to the best effect.

"I agree that there is nothing to be gained from belaboring the Half-Orc all the way to Waterdeep, and back again. She will either work out, or she won't. If she does, I will be glad to have her fighting with us. Everything else aside, she is a formidable warrior."

Mekkar rather laboriously hauled the horse's head around so that it -- and he -- were looking in the direction of the group over by the bridge.

"Shall we join them? It looks as if most of the group has gathered."

Alleycat looked dubiously at the horse and the horse looked dubiously at him. "If I fall off of this beast, cover for me."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

”Trust is important in riding. If you can’t trust you’ll fall. Otherwise just relax and move with the flow. It’s much like life in that regard.” Antru says as he mounts his horse and settles into the saddle. He uses a light hand to guide the horse forward. The secondary one trailing him as he makes his way over to the gate.

Bross greets Faim- who, after all, rode out with him before, and lent his cart to help Billy- warmly. "Here we go, again, eh?"

When he sees GreySky approaching, he simply asks "You set to ride? Did they give you your weapons back?", as if she hadn't been in jail and he hadn't bet his own freedom toward her release- and as if she were there alone. He'd been given a 'mount' for GreySky, but he stowed his pack on it rather than offer it up first.

When Amorette approached, he nodded and said something to her, this time in Common. "After all that's happened, nobody would blame you for staying behind. But you're not. It's humbling, how brave that is."

He made room for Hargrin and Taria (if she's coming) to join them, and started discussing ideas. "I'm... not used to such things, but I hear tell of bandits, all the time. In a way, I guess, we're bandit-ing them, now."

"I hope we find them on the move. That would be easiest- stop the lead cart, the whole train of carts would stop behind them, then we go down the line breaking wheels, and the rest can draw them off into ambushes or something like that."

He shrugs. "Or, so it seems to me. Anyone done this, exactly, before?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Cat gladly takes out her staff from her mount and gives an affirmative nod to Bross, she spins her staff in agreement that her weapons have been retrieve. She also looks to Bross and mouths the words,"Thank you for your support!" she silently says with a smile and gives Tall cut a curt bow, she then mounts on to her steed and rides along with the others.

In reply to Antru Mistseeker (msg # 95):

Alleycat watched Antru intently, hoping to learn a few things about horseback riding. At least that was what the Waterdhavian had heard it called. ~~To call it that seems . . . unnecessary. Where else would you ride upon a horse, other than on its
back?~~

Unfortunately it was quite dark, and Mekkar couldn't see much. The rain clouds blotted out both the moon and the stars, so without some artificial light . . . well, it was very dark.

He grunted when the Elf began explaining about 'trust'. "You must have a different definition of 'trust' than I do. I don't trust anybody. Not until I've worked with them for a long time, any way. Trust has to be earned."

Taking a deep breath, Alleycat tentatively nudged the horse in its sides with his heels.

"Move, horse," he muttered.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:56, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Bross muttered. He wasn't much of a mutterer, before the last few days, but it's been a dizzying chain of events. He then makes a clicking noise with his tongue.
[This is a standard 'come along, horse!' noise, typically made toward trained horses. If I need to roll Animal Handling, let me know, coming right up.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Sora looked around and nodded, seeing most of the people there, she mounted her horse, and came up beside Antru, speaking in elvish. [Language unknown: "Tirom miica bell miisof ne lowh m ombeel ast oreeveame ca astpl n cher ie avesi. Omwa ll enmemo ion."]

She looked at Bross and his effort, shaking her head, she looked forward. "Who has skills in stealth and tracking? Those should take lead."

At the mention of tracking skills, Bross looks up, but he otherwise continues to kibbitz with the people he was speaking to. [OOC: Bross does.]

In Common, he added " Maybe we should catch up before we start thinking about how we're going to Stealth on 'em. Scouting's good, but seems to me it won't be hard to find them- they've formed a caravan, sounds like- Dragging a ton of gold and such at that. 'Tracking' miles of wagon-ruts and the hoofprints of their outriders should be easy.

 I'd be worried if they camped up, honestly. That could be like a small fort... and I don't fancy a stand up fight with that half-Dragon fella... And sneaking up on them in camp and doing a cutthroat on 'em probably gives us one good shot. And it'd have to be all of us, likely as not."

He is clearly brainstorming as much as not, looking to the people he was speaking to for input. He nudges his horse into motion, along with the supply animals.

To Amorette, he asks [Language unknown: Th os nti, uthaat ev ill diis e ol Oer Ill on? Ess nte und u enmori m virdaysti latra ithainest eeur, ma sheerawil hesere utleun iouun ecmoen.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Antru hands off the spare horse he has to Catrina. Looking to Sora he replies. [Language unknown: "Ec kor ar leivdi tenaie encat haonar o wer ineventhu. Ncioei omngla ol unmeit t whiin p."] He gives Sora a broad smile and a wink. Clearly he was in a better mood and much more his jovial self. [Language unknown: "The ndeersure u evivnt anyons'ughoveout, menherent pound io ort we tiorutoerrat. Ar k le ssri oulek ncnte. En eenicaher e verderart ble mi tebeev.]

After having his say with Sora, Antru addresses the rest of the group. "They should be easy enough to follow. I've some skill in staying unobserved, and am happy to act as forward scout. However I would put that we stay cautious and gather more information before we decide to act. We are acting on limited information at the moment, and acting on what we have is dangerous at best." He gives a small glance at Catrina as he says this last part.

Hargrin joined the party on his mule, looking a touch enviously at Amorette's mastiff. Unfortunate that the beast wouldn't be up to a dwarf's weight- though some might say the mule suited him better in more ways than one. The weather appeared to bother him not at all, priest of farmers who often needed a word or a hand at odd hours and less than ideal conditions.

After a few moments of taking in the threads of the group's conversation, he volunteered "I've some skill at following tracks, though I'm not the quietest around." He rattled his chain mail slightly in emphasis. "I would be happy to seek Chauntea's blessing upon someone's efforts if they do scout, however."

"And I agree with Tallcut- best to see exactly how things stand before we start deciding how to go about solving the problem."


OOC: As a general fyi, if anyone needs to make a skill check and has time to look to Hargrin first, he'll usually be happy to "seek the Lady's blessing" and cast Guidance on them to get that extra d4 for a minute.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

In reply to Catrina GreySky (msg # 97):

It seems the guards were very happy to part ways with the large donkey provided to Catrina for a reason. It nips at her as she leaps to mount it without so much as an introduction.

[Ooc: so Bross' general idea, for starters, is to ride to get within visual range of the wagons, preferably from high-ground, like a hill. If we don't make a spectacle of ourselves we should get a good look. Anyone opposed?]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

Sora looks at bross and Hargrin and nods. “My worry isn’t the actual caravan - mine is if they have people branching off to guard their backs. It’s all good sneaking up on them, but I’d rather not have an ambush of a rear guard.”

She looks at antru with a raised eyebrow as he winks. “Behave yourself…and keep your mind on the task, rogue” Though her tone was serious, there was a slight smile on her face.

When the donkey nipped at cat, she sighed. The town were determined to punish her even away from town. “Try not to kill your mount - he drops and you walk.”

Bross turned to Hargrin, and asks for Chauntea's blessing, before they ride. And then starts, taking the pack-animal with him.

Cat waves her finger as her steed tries bite her, though she doesn't really feel much from the bite if it did try it. She then pets her steeds head and mane,"Shh! Shh!" she calmly quiets her steed down, ignoring any bites that it did try on her.

05:46, Today: Catrina GreySky rolled 14 using 1d20-2.  Animal Handling.

The storm rages on. Visibility is reduced to a few hundred feet until darkness falls an hour or so after you started your ride. Then your vision is restricted to the limits of your dark vision if you have it. Those who do not have dark vision can see the shapes of the other riders within ten feet of them. Progress is very slow in these conditions.

Still the trail is obvious. The road is filled with drenched tire ruts and footprints. There is no indication of any groups leaving the trail.

Amorette overhears the Elvish conversation, and acknowledges Bross’s request in Gnomish with a nod. She certainly doesn’t mind guarding their flank, but she has no intention of chasing off after anyone. If the gold wasn't good enough and they want to leave, they can leave. As far as the woman in the mask... Sora and the others seem to have talked some sense into her. That's a good sign.

The dragon attack had left them all wary, that was true, but what they need now is to work together. There is no way they can defeat the cult if they are all too busy keeping individual tabs on each other.

She knows what her greatest source of agitation is, and decides to face it. Sitting up straighter, she directs her dog toward that masked woman and her biting mule.

“Hello. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting these other fine folk, but I do not think we have been introduced: I am Amorette Springspell. I assume I can count on you to keep the big bads busy while I sling creative insults from my mount.”

Her eyes slide jokingly to Hargrin. “Provided the dwarf doesn’t take Jax for himself, the way he’s eyeing him. I have shorter stumps than even you, Bitterbrew!" She wiggles a foot at him. "Don’t steal my mutt on me or I'll have no way of keeping up with this lot."

Turning to the rest, she grows serious. "I have no great skills at tracking or skullduggery, but I am small and hard to notice, and I can see well in the dark. I have an illusion or two up my sleeve as well. I'm happy to assist anyone who leads us at the front, or to help disguise our approach."

In reply to Amorette Springspell (msg # 110):

Alleycat regarded Amorette as he listened to the Gnome's suggestions. After a moment he spoke up and replied "I'll admit to not having the eyesight that you do after darkfall. Having another with darkvision in the lead might be a good thing."

"As far as your magicks are concerned, although I am certainly no expert in such things, I have heard tell that in most cases one's available magicks are limited. In that respect they are similar to arrows or bolts, I suppose. If that is the case, I would say not to use them for our forward-most scouts unless we foul up and blunder head-on into the caravan's rear-guard or flankers."

"If, indeed, your magicks are limited, it seems to me that they will be of the most use when we choose to make our move against those who are escorting the caravan."

Amorette smirks at Alleycat. "No expert, he says. You're certainly knowledgable enough! Normally, you would be correct. But making an illusion for a gnome is almost as natural as breathing. You'll find no limitations to my little tricks and annoyances. But if it's my eyes you need, I'll join you at the front and keep a look out."

OOC: What Amorette is referring to here is actually a racial trait that allows her to use the Minor Illusion cantrip.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:09, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Catrina, after listening to Amorette's introduction, she moves her thumb to jab at her chest, pointing at herself pridefully. Then she moved her hands on top of her head where she place two fingers on each hand and they start making a floppy-like motion. She then purrs like a Cat and then points at a greyish cloud among the dark clouds forming around them. She then starts posing in a bravado kind of pose mixed in with some wrestling moves all while she balance herself to ride her biting steed. She then gives a silent laugh, but it can easily be seen as a boisterous one, she then gives a bow and continues to pet her ever biting steed.

In reply to Amorette Springspell (msg # 112):

"Ah," Alleycat replied to Amorette, "in that case, I stand corrected."

"That being so, I would say to use your magicks as you see fit. You certainly know best what . . . tricks and annoyances you have available to you, and how to employ them to the best effect."

Upon mentioning the Gnome's tricks and annoyances, Mekkar flashed a quick smile, one that had come and gone in an instant.

Sora smiled as she watched the woman move her hands as they rode, her natural eyesight in the dark better than most humans. "We're out of town now...you can talk now." She muttered as she looked forward.

At the mention of magic, she looked at the gnome. "What kind of magic do you use? Offensive spells, or more charm and illusion?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:23, Fri 11 Feb 2022.