Once Grant had led Lucy to the 'meeting spot' and done a scout of the area Lynn dismissed the owl.  She'd kept him up far longer than usual and she knew he'd be grumpy.  She'd be hearing about this for some time.

She called across the cavern.  "Lucy.  Are you hurt?"

"I am not.  Thank you for asking."  The Inquisitive turned instinctively to the west where she knew the troll had been, and where she hoped that it remained.  Her eyes scanned the scrubby terrain with careful and thorough method before allowing a true sense of relief in her partial reunion with the others, and returning her attention across the way.  "I will not ask about you and the others.  I witnessed the fight with the troll.  Rain's Tyrsoir ... "  She shook her head, letting the silence speak for itself.

"I believe I have enough rope to allow me to cross to your side," she began again, returning to business.  "But, I am loathed to leave the horses behind.  Aside from their value to us, I question their ability to survive for long in these wilds.  And we cannot possibly contemplate abandoning Rain's body."

Velderan shook her head, and, in jest, called out, "If only we could devise a way in which the horses might climb the cliffs.  But, all joking aside, however, why do we not settle here, and consider the problem in the light of tomorrow morning?  I've seen workers in Emon lift and lower miraculous weights with the assistance of pulleys.  Perhaps we might devise such here."

"We've still got a thief to catch, and time's wasting fast. We need to get a move on soon, even if it means leaving some of the things behind now that we're down horses."

cast Vigilant Blessing on Hannah (advantage on your next initiative roll)

"I have been considering that.  I do have a spell that will allow someone to climb up and down cliffs without issue.  But I'm not sure if it will work on a horse as usually the recipient has to accept the spell.  Even if it does work, it would need someone very skilled in horsemanship to convince them to climb up and down I imagine.  But I'm willing to try if needed.  I only have the strength to try once without resting though."

"Does anyone else have any ideas or spells that might help us transport the horses across?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Tue 30 Jan.

Hannah placed her hand on the wound at her side and attempted to heal herself, but instead of a flood of warm golden light, it merely flickered and failed. "I don't know about anyone else, but I think I'm too exhausted to do much of anything at the moment..."

---

healing myself for 1 hitpoint using lay on hands lol

Tyrsoir came to the point with the others, his wounds healed a little, but still very tired. The drake again lay down on the ground as the others spoke, his eyes on the horse that held his mother's body.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Wed 31 Jan.

The Inquisitive's eyes went to the sky even before her hand rose to shade her eyes from the glare.  "That's encouraging news, Lynn," she called across.  "How many could you manage with a rest?" she called.

After another look in the direction that concealed the troll, she began again.  "Hear me out.  It is past noon already.*  If we rest here and now we would be miss little more than half the day.  It would be difficult to get far anyway with Tyrsoir in the condition in which he is in.  If we manage to get the horses across, however, we stand to increase the speed at which we travel in the long run.  I believe we would pick up the lost time with the added speed of the horses."

OoC: *See Msg 626 for the time at which we first sighted the bridge.

Frilia was still frustrated at their defeat against the troll and wished for some rain to kill the monster. But the reality of their situation needed to be her focus so she took a deep, relieved, breath when they found Lucidity on the other side of the ravine. The talk about getting the horses across had her scratching her head. "I was raised around farms but I'm not very good with horses, heck we only had ponies and even those were big for us, gnomes. I'd almost need a ladder to climb on one! I don't know how I could help, apart from setting some ropes for us."

Lynn sighed. "Probably only one.  But that's enough to test the process.  I suggest we get someone good with animals on your side.  We can set up rope lines for easier traversal.  Once ready I'll cast my spell on the horse and you can try to lead it over.  If you can ride it up and down the sides you won't even need the ropes while on the horse but I assume you'll need to lead it."

If it works I'll need to rest but if I rest for an hour or so I should be able to manage the other two horses.  If it doesn't work then we can dump the plan."

She looked to the group on her side.  "Those who need rest should do so.  Set up a camp if you are able and relax.  We will be here awhile I think."

"Frilla, Yawgo?  Do you two perhaps want to try and lead the horses."

While she spoke, Maglynn produced the rope she'd used on their side of the ravine near the troll.  She went to work setting up a line once again.

"I am very curious as to how this will work, Lynn."  The excitement was evident in Velderan's voice.  "I have been ... let us say, considering modifications that might make this sort of thing easier for people.  I had never considered applying the same principles to horses," she confessed.

"Yawgo!  It strikes me that climbing down a sheer cliff will be an unnatural, and significantly unnerving feat for your average horse.  And that they will most likely balk at the idea.  Do you think you might come across, and coax them into it?  You seem to the one among us with the greatest natural connection to living creatures.  Though, I might add that, perhaps covering their eyes in some way may make the horses less skittish.  Like blinders used on carriage horses."

OoC:  Asking Yawgo to do the Animal Handling.  Using the Blinder suggestion as the Help Action to give Yawgo Advantage.

Once the general plan was decided (and once Hannah realised that she was more or less not involved) she began emptying her pack and gathering the things she would need to set up camp. "Rain, do you think you could start a fire?" She looked around for a moment, before settling back down, deflated. "Oh... That's right..."

"Please, disregard that, Yawgo."  Fatigue was evident in the tortle as he rose to consider the crossing.  "Please rest.  I will manage."

"Well, you and I have already had some small rapport.  We might as well begin with you."  Lucidity stroked the soft, warm forehead of the deceased bandit captain's horse.  Something in the act brought a calm to herself in addition to that which the horse felt at the time.  "How you could have served such an unprincipled fellow, I do not know.  But, then again, I don't suppose you had much choice in the matter," the Inquisitive crooned.

Paper.  Ink.  A candle.  Two pieces of paper, stained dark, and folded into quarters for stiffness.  Wax from the candle provided some scant adhesion such that the paper blinders might adhere to the leather of the bridle.  "It won't hold for long," Velderan mused as she considered her jury rigged construction.  "But it need only take you across the chasm."

Lucidity Velderan rolled 24 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 20.  Animal Handling.

Frilia heard the tired paladin and quickly wiped her eye before tears formed at the mention of Rain. But Hannah had told her something that she could something about, and that was what she needed. "I'll take care of the fire, that I can do." The energetic little gnome got to work and used her feeble magical powers to light the fire.

Maglynn summoned forth Grant once more, much to the tony owl's great displeasure, sent him back to work, winging back across the ravine to deliver her spell to both Lucidity and the captain's horse.  As the magic flew into Lucidity's body, she felt her feet get sticky; small leave and sticks and pebbles tended to adhere to the bottom of her boots unless she made conscious effort to release them.  Part of her wondered whether a sufficiently strong pot of glue might have the same effect.

She took the cpatain's horse -- a sturdy bay-coloured animal -- by its lead.  The animal looked her in the eye and quite placidly followed as Lucy led it to the cliff edge, and started walking down.  The transition over the edge was the most difficult part, but the horse clearly trusted Lucidity implicitly, and followed easily.  OOC: With a natural 20, I'll say you have advantage on Animal Handling checks with this horse for the next 24 hours.  Crossing at the bottom and returning up the other side was a much easier task.

While the pair -- quartet? -- of Lucidity, Maglynn, Grant, and the various horses did their work, Frilia and Hanna set about building a fire, and a camp site.

Maglynn's horse came across -- if not with as much ease and trust as the captain's horse.  Lucidity found herself needed to hold the horse's bridle tightly to keep the animal's head in the right direction, and the whites of her eyes showed as she went down the cliff face.  Again, the trip up was much easier.

But Hannah's horse was considerably more of a challenge.  Perhaps if was because Lucy was tired, or perhaps the horse was tired, or perhaps it was simply a different animal, but it simply refused to go over the edge towards the bottom of the ravine.  It would approach just fine, but as Lucy tried to guide it over, the mare planted all four legs, braced herself, and became an anchor.  Her whole body language simply radiated obstinate refusal.  it was crazy to go over the cliff face, and she was not crazy, so she wouldn't do it.

As the sun began to set over the western horizon, the party stopped to consider their options...

"I am so sorry, Hannah."  It had been a long day.  The work with the horses had engendered some not inconsiderable affinity in the Inquisitive for the animals.  "I could not convince the creature that it was safe to cross."

"As it is, I believe that we have just enough in the way of mounts to continue onward.  But, I am personally loathed to abandon the beast to the savage mercy of these wilds.  Perhaps someone else might attempt to coax your mount across come the morning tomorrow," she suggested.

"Odds are, the bandits will be back to pick through the remains. Fair odds they find the horse and claim it as their own. There are dangers, like the troll, but a horse is just as likely to encounter those dangers with us as they are alone in a land like this. Its time we get back to moving."

"I agree with Kursak. What matters is we are safe and reunited. We must continue our journey to Bazoxxan."

The drake, still laying down opened his eyes and snorted. Tyr, despite his exhaustion, was still a wild animal, and didn't understand all this talking all the time.

Once everything was in order, Hannah took watch on a nearby rock or log from which she would have a decent view.

---

23:41, Today: Hannah Demsersk rolled 19 using 1d20+2 ((17)).

"Very well."  A nod of her head sealed a compact.  The Inquisitive rose from where she sat, striding to the cliff's edge to test the sticky footing that Lynn's magic had allowed her.  "I will cross again to release your horse from its tack and return shortly to join you on watch."

Velderan's eyes swept the makings of their small camp, taking stock of the situation.  "I think we will have just enough in horse flesh to all ride.  Save for Tyrsoir.  His kind are, I believe, naturally faster than the rest of us.  I do not, however, believe him up to matching our pace at the moment," she commented.

OoC: Lucidity Velderan rolled 9 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 3.  Perception for Watch.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:45, Fri 02 Feb.

"We should not give up on the horse so hastily.  Let us rest and think on the matter.  Perhaps Yawgo can assist once he is rested.  Maybe the horse will be more accommodating once time has passed.  For now I suggest we leave the horse tethered with food and water while we rest.  We can try again tomorrow."



OOC: After a long rest we can try again.  Yawgo wont have exhaustion and even if it fails, Lynn wastes a spell slot she can recover with a short rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:47, Sat 03 Feb.

With at least the general consensus that now was good time and place to camp for the night, and the horse was a problem they could address tomorrow, the Blades of Wildemount set about the chores that were ever-present when it came to setting up camp.  Hannah collected wood -- plentiful from the dry brittle trees around them, while Frilia sparked and tended the fire.  Kursak tended his devotions to the Matron of Ravens, while Maglynn spent an inordinate amount of time cleaning the dust from her clothing and her person, a tiny bit of magic pulling the road and ravine dust until it was a small ball.  Tyrsoir, heart-heavy and sore lay flat on the ground and watched, while Lucy had visions of pulley systems and drawbridges run through her mind.

---

OOC: Is there anything you wish to work on, or do before turning in for the night (or, for Hannah and Lucy, take the first watch)?

Maglynn silently cursed as she cleaned.  She'd hoped there'd be a river or even a stream nearby.  Why couldn't the canyon house a river instead of some strange troll?

Seeing others planning to take first watch, Lynn settled in for a sleep.  She'd take the second half of the watch after she meditated.  She also let Grant sleep late.  She'd wake him when it was her time for watch.  He'd been up during the day and she wanted to let him rest longer.


OOC: Lynn will take the later watches.

Tyrsoir lay down on the ground, his heart as heavy as his body was, only eating and drinking when offered, but most of the time he alternated between staring at the body of his mother, and sleeping

---

<OOC: Long rest>

The Blades spent their night in quiet contemplation.  Undisturbed, save for the ordinary noises of the wastelands: the shift of a pebble on rocky earth as a beetle pushed its way through a pile of stones, the call of a lonely nightbird, seeking a mate, the crackle, pop, and hiss of the campfire as it consumed the dry wood fed to it by those on watch.

The night was long, but uneventful, and morning broke to find them rested and ready to continue their journey.

---

OOC: Long Rest taken.  I've marked it on your character sheets.

Frilia: Recovered all: Second Wind, Action Surge, Unleashed Incarnation, Spell Slots
Hannah: Recovered all: Divine Sense, Lay On hands, Channel Divinity, Hit Dice, Spell Slots
Kursak: Recovered all: Channel Divinity, Spell Slots
Lucidity: Nothing to recover!
Maglynn: Recovered all: Spell Slots
Tyrsoir: Recovered all: Favoured Foe, Breath Weapon, Primeval Awareness, Repelling Swing, Dragon Dash, Chromatic Infusion, Reactive Resistance, Hit Dice, Spell Slots
                Recovered 1 level of Exhaustion: New Exhaustion level: 2 (Disadvantage on Ability Checks (but not attack rolls or saving throws), Speed is still halved).

OOC: This thread is getting close to 1,000 posts.  I'm going to close it here and start Chapter 3.2: The Leave-Taking.