17 Nuzyael 720

[GM]

Just as the sun begins to light the eastern sky you are awoken by the guards standing their watch. Soon the camp is alive with activity as seven hundred men prepare their morning meals, wash and prepare themselves for the coming day.

The day is cold and the sky is hidden by thick heavy clouds, a strong wind blows in from the north west.

A cold meal is ordered for breakfast and so warriors sit by embers trying to warm themselves as the eat sparingly from their meagre supplies. After the morning meal Vidar gets you to gather around as he offers praise to the Grey Slayer.

Just before you are ready to move out there is a delay, a further 2lbs of food as been acquired to supplement your rations. Giving you a total of around 17lbs. You are informed that this will be it - there is no more until we are able to resupply from our victory against Froyby or until we get back to Daaslund so make it last.

By early morning the column is ready to move and so the skirmishers head off ahead of the main force. Your position withing the warband remains unchanged, you are still near the head.

The warband heads east again out of Deje following a little used trail that leads to a copper mine in the mountains. About three kilometres along the trail you leave the last of the meadows, pastures and fields behind and enter the foothills and forests of the mountains.

About a kilometre later the warband leaves the trail altogether and now begins to enter the wilds, leaving all sense of civilisation behind. By high sun the weather has not improved, the day is still cold with thick cloud cover the wind has lessen somewhat but still blows in from the north west.

You continue to take an easterly course heading into the mountains. By late afternoon you have just started to make your climb up into the mountains when a site is found to make camp.

With about a 1/4 watch left of daylight you are able to gather enough wood to keep the fire going duing the night. Barak is able to quickly get the fire started as Algared begins to organise a portion of everyones rations to make a stew for the evening meal.

You judge that you did not cover the same amount of distance today as yesterday, but some of todays march was through forests and not along any trails. Nestled against the mountains you can see that you camped at the foot of the mountain range. The climb will still be steep and difficult tomorrow.

Erdrick takes this opportunity to make a few notes in his journal, this seems to take most of his attentions until the fading light makes it to difficult to continue, he then takes his meal and with little conversation prepares himself for bed.

[Kugald Daas]

As soon as he has had a quick bite to eat, Kugald seeks out Thaldirs, "Reporting for watch as ordered. Where do you want me and my men? And, what are your orders for the night?"

TTYL

- Kerry

[GM]

Thaldirs smiles at Kugald approaches "We need you to stand watch to the south and tonight, we do not expect any trouble this close to home, it is more to keep everyone happy that they can go to sleep without some goat gutting them during the night" he says with chuckle.

"So just keep close to where you are now and make sure that whoever has the last watch that they start to wake everyone right on first light" leaning a little closer he whispers "lest the Daas think we are wasting his daylight and decides to hang someone as an example!" he winks as he finishes his answer.

With that Thaldirs turns and wanders around the camp he is seen chatting with the other warriors and taking a hand here and there in greeting.

[Algared]

'So we are responsible for the whole night's duty for the south, are we dividing into watches or will the whole band be patrolling in pairs?' Algared asks when he joins Kugald shortly after cleaning and packing away the cooking utensils.

[ooc just for accounting purposes how much of our food supplies are we depleting each day? and am i right in understanding we each have now around 17lbs of rations + whatever extra we had?]

[Kugald Daas]

"Normally, we would just have one shield pair at a time. However, since we are sentry for the Daas' army, I think its best if we have two sentry pairs. (OOC: I am assuming Thorin is joining us). Thorin and Barygg, Jurri and Erdrick, you will be on from 8pm to 1am. Algared and Barak, Vidar and myself, will be on from 1am until dawn (about 6am). Clear?"

"At least this way, we will each get some sleep."

"It will be a long hard march tomorrow."

He takes the first four aside. "Thaldirs doesn't expect trouble, but look sharp. Thorin, you are in charge of the first watch. I will take the second watch. Patrol back and forth along the south edge of the camp in pairs. If you see someone or something, have your partner confirm it. Then, challenge them. If they aren't part of our army and are a threat, sound the alarm...beat on your shields with your spears and call out 'Alarm' as loud as you can, and keep calling it out until help arrives. Use good judgement. We don't want to be surprised, but there are few who would attack 700 armed warriors, so don't succumb to seeing ghosts where there are none. If you see someone and they are not a threat, but don't come forward, flag the other sentries and pass the word so everyone can be on alert. Wake me if you have any doubts at all."

"In any event, wake us half way through the night...when Orion (OOC: Or the Menglana equivalent) is half way across the sky."

TTYL

- Kerry

[Barak Daas]

Barak responds "Shouldn't we be capturing people even if they are not a threat? They might be spies or if innocent they may inadvertently reveal our position to the Ibanvaal."

Barak then tries to work out what the mysterious '8pm' and '1am' mean...

[Kugald Daas]

"Yes, capture them if you can, but they may be part of a larger party. When in doubt, don't be afraid to call for help."

OOC: I use modern time just to make it easier.

TTYL

- Kerry

[GM]

With the great warband now resting you stand your watch protecting the part of the southern section. The night is cold and it is difficult to patrol your line and stay warm, the wind from north west does not make things any warmer, there is some protection in the trees however and while on the ground you can see the tree tops moving from the wind by the light from Yael.

There is little of event till high moon....

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