The Blades woke a few hours before sunrise.  A stiff breeze blew in from the south, dry and firm, promising a hot day.  The temperature was quite bearable, but it was early.  The arrival of sun would heat things up considerably, as the day went on.  Across the ravine, Hannah's horse slept, legs tucked under her.  The reins, looped loosely around a branch the night before, had come loose as they were intended to.  As each of the Blades woke, they attended to their morning routines.  The road beckoned to the west, an hour over rough terrain.

---

OOC: I need prepared spells for the day from Hannah and Kursak.  Please include them in your first posts of this thread.
For the day's journey, give me a marching order (Lucidity has suggested one in Tenser's Floating Bisque), and let me know any special preparations you might have for the journey ahead.

The clear sky, stretching into the horizon with its stars fading in their cloak of blue-black, pushed out by the reds and oranges of morning.  To the horizon.  The promise of a blank slate filling the sky.  Blank and unknown.

"Do you think it might have been different?"  The Inquisitive posed the question as she took up the lead position, guiding Rain's pony in the direction of the road.  "If we had paid the bandits their toll?" she asked.  "Could we have avoided the loss.  The pain and death?  And the troll?"

"I like to think that I learn from these things," she admitted.  "Mistakes.  I consider that this might have been a mistake.  Perhaps we should have paid.  We might have been on our way.  Lighter only some more easily replaceable pieces of gold."

---

OoC: Taking point in the marching order.  Perception checks, please.

Lucidity Velderan rolled 17 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 11.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Mon 05 Feb.

Tyrsoir woke up looking a little better and though he was not totally over his experiences, he was on his way to recovery - physically. The drake stood up and when the line was established, he stood by Yawgo .

Maglynn shrugged.  "Could things have gone differently?  Of course.  We could have turned back.  We could have murdered every single person there.  Would we then be questioning our actions?  Probably."

"For now, shall we try once more to acquire Hannah's horse?  Perhaps Yawgo now feels rested enough to assist?  "



OOC: With Yawgo no longer having exhaustion, skill in animal handling and guidance.  I'd say one more attempt with Lucy and Yawgo is worth a try.  At worst we waste a little time and Lynn wastes a spell slot.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:28, Sun 04 Feb.

ROLL: Yawgo rolled 13 using 1d20+1d4+4 ((5,4)).  Animal Handling + Guidance.

Yawgo's attempt to coax Hannah's horse to the other side was no more successful than Lucidity's attempt the previous night.  In the end the decision was made to set her free and continue south, at the somewhat more sedate pace that Tyrsoir could manage.

OOC: Is there anything you wanted to do or accomplish on the road south?

Hannah untied her horse's reigns and set it on it's way before rejoining the group.

---

prepared spells are compelled duel, detect magic, divine favor, shield of faith, thunderous smite

The gnome prepared for the journey, looking wistfully towards the ravine and bridge that had claimed her dogs. She had begun to get attached to the big furry cuddlebears and the pain was almost like that of losing her friend Rain. "Yes we could have paid, and taken the easy path. But we Silverstring scuff at the easy path. My mommy defied the head of our clan, risking exile and losing everything to marry my daddy. Those bandit got what they deserved, and I hope they all die for their crimes. My mommy did not tolerate bandits in her lands, and a lot of them hanged, before they finally learned to leave us alone. I'm my mommy's daughter and I think she would be proud of us. I still want to find and raid their camp though."

She left out the part where Dame Silverstring would have forced them to repair the bridge and the terrible anger she would have showed to her daughter to have disrupted the sacrosanct business left without an easy road...
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Sun 04 Feb.

Lynn watched wistfully as the horse had to be set free.  Hopefully it was found before it became a meal for some predator.  Still she had done all she could think of to try and save it.

She rode quietly in the middle of the group.  Grant she let sleep.

The Blades made their way southward in relative silence.  Frilia grumbled about the bandits and the bridge, and floated the desire to hunt them down and raid their camp, but no one entertained the idea seriously.  The day's travel was slow, due to Tyrsoir's reduced pace, but the day was blessedly uneventful.  Evenfall found them a dozen miles down the road from troll bridge.  The sun had set about an hour ago, it was time to start looking for the next camp site -- or push themselves harder to keep going.

---

OOC: Leaving this open for some roleplay as you set up camp and partake in the evening meal.  When you're ready, just send your character to bed.  If you're taking watch, give me a quick perception roll for your watch period.

Frilia again helped with starting the fire, showing off the little magic she had, as Yukiko found a high perch to settle down for the night. She was not totally over what had happened and had to isolate herself to go pray to Moradin, like her family had done for generations, just to try to recenter herself. She took a watch in the middle of the night, since she could see better in the dark.

Today: Frilia Silverstring rolled 11 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 8

After setting up her bedroll and eating another meal of rations, Hannah once again took to the first watch, her eyes scanning the darkness while the others rested.

---

14:50, Today: Hannah Demsersk rolled 14 using 1d20+2 ((12)).

Despite the trauma the drake had been through, Tyrsoir looked to be physically healing well. Most of his cuts had healed over to some degree and his bruises looked less dull on his white scales. He woke up and was walking between Yawgo, Frilia and Hannah - the three original members of the group who he had known since he hatched.

The walk that day had proved to be hard on the drake. His rest had helped his exhaustion a little, but he still felt the effort keenly so much that within an hour, it was his slow pace setting that of the group.

When camp was set, he again lay on the ground, but instead of falling asleep he watched the group go about their tasks. when watches came, he actually stood up and came to hannah's side and sat with her as she watched.