Re: 30 Nuzyael 720

[Barak Daas]

Barak moves towards where his bow is stowed but dosn't pick it up..

[Borygg Raal]

Borygg has been in the boat the whole time, doing normal boat-related tasks. He hears Kugald and looks menacingly at Jorst.

[Kugald Daas]

Kugald smiles politely. Slowly and deliberately, he moves his right hand over Jorst's left hand and pours the dozen coins into his hand. Once he has given him the coins, he turns his right hand vertical and extends it, offering to shake hands.

"It is a deal then? Let Sarajin be a witness to this agreement between honourable men, who find themselves in unusual circumstances. My friends and I best be going."

TTYL

- Kerry

[GM]

Jorst takes Kugald's hand and with a short "Done!" he takes several steps back again, leaving your warband to depart.

[Jurri Grebel]

Assuming we cast off successfully, Jurri will deadpan to Kugald:

"That was generous of you. I won't be singing good things about him in front of the Storzar, though."

[Barak Daas]

Barak glances at his bow, in a subdued voice he says "We should have killed him - he know too much and will earn another dozen coins by selling his story to the Ivanvaalers." As the boat moves out in to the current Barak moves back to hoist the sail "In war, anyone who is not your friend, is your enemy." Then glancing at Algard at the tiller he queries in a loud voice "Ready?" and raises the sail.

[Kugald Daas]

"Aye, we should have killed him, but that would have brought even more attention to us. We need to get off the river quickly."

Kugald looks back at the shore. What is Jorst doing?

"A few lessons learned:"

"One, assume everyone is your enemy until proven your friend. Sad but true."

"Two, we shouldn't use our real names. It will make it easier for our enemies to figure out who we are."

"Three, let's NOT tell those we meet our plans or where we intend to go, in case they turn out to be opportunistic turncoats."

"Four, the less we say, the better."

"Five, we need to have our cover story planned. Decide who will speak and what they will say. And, have a plan if it should go wrong."

"Anyone else got any more lessons from that little fiasco?"

"Here's hopen' Jorst proves trustworthy."

"So, are we sailing back upriver (south) like we told him or are we going north into even more heavily patrolled waters?"

TTYL

- Kerry

[Jurri Grebel]

"South, but only as far as it takes to get out of sight of the thran. Then abandon the boat and head overland due west into the hills. The sooner we are in the mountains, the less chance we will encounter a patrol. And if we do encounter a patrol, just kill them."

[Kugald Daas]

"And if we do encounter a patrol, just kill them."

"Now we sound like proper vikings...."

TTYL

- Kerry

[Algared]

"We know a warboat patrolling the river is to the south, and very close. Maybe we should continue north and take the first creek we come across in the west bank. Hopefully we could follow the creek to the hills. Regardless of the dirction, I'm all for killing the patrols we encounter if we can do so quickly and we're not outnumbered... more we kill now of these invaders less we'll have to fight later."

[Barak Daas]

"We should go just far enough south to have reasonable chance of being unobserved when we get out of the boat. I don't think there is a creek, at least I didn't see one on the way down. Once we get ashore I think we need to head as fast as we can to the deepest cover we can see. We can size up or options there, whether it is best to lie-low or run for it. As much as I need food and sleep, I need my life more so we need to get in to the hills and mountains as soon as we can." says Baeak before trimming the sails afterthe wind veers slightly to starboard before continuing "We also need to decide whether to stick together or split in to two groups. With two groups there is more chance one will get back home. A single party would better deal with a patrol or pursuit."

[Algared]

"We stick together cousin, friends and family through thick and thin."

[GM]

Vidar casts a glare towards Jorst and says "May the coins you gain by this deceipt be the last the Grey Slayer lets you earn!" the he turns and boards the boat. Jorst continues to back away slowly from the warband after taking his money.

While the warband are taken up with the tasks of preparing the boat for sailing, Jorst walks slowly back to where he originally came from, he continues to watch the warband warily.

The rest of warband boards the boat with Barak and Kugald the last to board after having shoved the boat back into the river. Borygg and Vidar dip their oars into the water to bring the bow of the boat around to steer upstream.

With Borygg and Vidar on the oars the boat seems to hold it's position in the current until Barak has the mast up and the sail hoisted.

With the wind now joining in to propel the boat, the small craft begins to make headway upstream.

The warboat is no longer in view and soon the thran disappears from view. The thran on the eastern bank still remains in view but is some distance away.

[Barak Daas]

From the bows, Barak is keeping a very careful watch of the west bank and the lines of sight - as soon as he spots sufficien concealment to get the boat in and everybody and their gear offloaded he point it out to Algarad and Kulgald. We've been down this section of river so Barak should remember when the next thran is coming up etc - and he'll go for the best place he can remember from the trip down.

[Algared]

With the decision to head south, Algared like Barak scans the west bank for a place that will enable them the disembark unseen by eyes on the river and land if he spots a place that appears suitable he'll point it out. Once the sail fills and the boat begins its slow passage upriver Algared calls for the oars to be pulled in enabling the rowers a little rest once the Sjornel is out of sight.

"Well Sarajin blesses us, the warboat is nowhere to be seen atleast.Lets pray that our god continues to bless efforts"

[Kugald Daas]

"Yes, let's go ashore as soon as possible. We make for cover with all possible haste. Once we are out of sight, we lay low until dark and then head for home."

TTYL

- Kerry

[GM]

Time: Beginning 4th watch to mid 4th watch.

Continuing to sail south it is not long before both thrans are out of sight and you are left with nothing but the fields, meadows and pastures along both the eastern and western shorelines.

The hills are close along the western bank. The shoreline has a thin treeline consisting of not more than a single row of willows overhanging the shoreline. It does little to provide any sort of cover or concealment from either the river or the shorline.

Bringing the boat alongside the shoreline there is no where that the boat can be beach, but you are able to find a suitable area where the boat can be brought close enough to the shoreline to allow everyone disembark and all your equipment to be unloaded.

The warband quickly heads west, you intially start moving slowly as you aim at getting your bearings. After several hundred yards you encounter a small hedge running north south, approaching slowly you see that this hedge is the eastern border of a trail that parallels it. The hedge is quickly crossed and so too a small ditch between the hedge and the trail. Soon the warband have crossed the trail and the hedge on the far side and continue their journey.

The ground rises slowly towards the west and within several hundred yards the fields, meadows and pastures begin to give way to an ever increasing number of trees.

Soon the warband begins to notice the rate of climb beginning to increase. In less that a kilometre the warband has climbed tens of metres and are now into the treeline of the forests that cover the mountains to the west. Turning back as you enter the trees from this vantage point you can see the shoreline of the river and nearly 2/3 of the width of the river. Your view of the trail is quite good from here allowing you a view consisting of several hundred yards of the trail.

What is being done with the boat ?

[Jurri Grebel]

What is being done with the boat ?

Jurri's opinion is to just let it drift. Sinking it will serve little purpose and take time we don't have to spare. Who knows? It might even cause some confusion for the enemy?

[Algared]

As they party climb, finally enter the tree line and turn to view their path, Algared suggests "we should try find a good place for a hide and rest up. If we can forage or find some berries and such to suppliemt our rations that would be good as well. If we sleep the night away and move during the day hopefully we'll avoid becoming lost, and be more refreshed. I'm sure both Borryg and Vidar will need the rest more than the rest of us they have been at the oars.

It's late afternoon we've probably a few hours left before dark and we'll need to get that fish barak caught cooked up as well."

[Barak Daas]

"We need a guard at the edge of the wood, to warn us if anybody comes. Other than that the rest of us should head in to the wood and out of sight and see what rest we can get. They I am happy to volunteer to guard, except that I expect my time would be better utilised foraging and hunting. That fish is small for six people and if we can add some mushrooms, roots or tasty greens, or even a brace of pidgeon then it will go further. Tomorrow we need to see if we can find a lamb."

[Algared]

"Indeed Barak and we have the smoked fish we were given, but I'd rather we we use our preserved foods when we have failed to acquire anything fresh, as for a guard, it seemed Borryg and Vidar would be better option fopr guard. Yes i know you suggested one, and two will reduce what we forrage, but they both rowed quiet a bit today, they can share the duty and rest. Though before we forage we should also set up camp. and gather what fire wood we will need. Of course is Borryg and Vidar feel up to the task of foraging then I'm happy to sit guard. What say you Borryg and Vidar?"

[Barak Daas]

"I agree, but maybe we split in to three. One to guard, one to set up camp, and one to forage. It is better to forage whilst it is still light and can tell the blue and red mushrooms apart"

[Kugald Daas]

What is being done with the boat ?

Once they pick a spot along the shore, Kugald calls for the sail to be lowered and the mast to the taken down. They row close to the trees. He waits until everyone and all their equipment is safely out, and then, using his hand axe, he breaks a hole in the very bottom of the boat, close to the keel. Once water is flowing freely into the boat, he hops out, still keeping hold of the rope attached to the bow.

"A waterlogged boat will move slowly, with the current. Without the mast and sail erected, it will be harder to see."

On shore, he dries off, and then quickly and efficiently dons his armour and packs up his equipment for the march home. Only when everyone is completely ready does he let go of the boat (now quite full of water). "It will take a little while to reach the fishermen, and by then, hopefully we will be well away from this spot. Even if they alert the Ibanvaalese, it will take them a while to find out where we left the river."

Post by GM It takes some effort to push the now water filled boat out into the river. But with this task done the last you see of the boat as it drifts slowly downstream is the gunwales just above the waterline, soon the boat is lost from view as your warband heads west.

The small band makes for the tree line. Kugald suggests, "Barak, we should try and conceal our tracks if possible, what do you suggest?"

"I agree with Algared and Barak, lets do some quick foraging, but with a guard to watch for pursuers."

"Barak, you take Borygg and Jurri see what you can find. Algared, you Vidar and I will keep watch. Does that sound ok?"

When the other three leave, Kugald looks at the other two.

"We best get that fish cooked now. Vidar, you and I will stand watch. Algared, you go into the woods a bit, just 50 meters or so, find a spot that is well concealed and make a small fire with very dry wood so it makes very little smoke. Cook the fish. When the others return, we will eat quickly and then move away from the fire site so it doesn't lead anyone to us."

Kugald takes out his bow, checking it carefully to make sure it has not been damaged. He strings it. He finds himself a good sentry location and proceeds to take out each of his arrows in turn. Kugald checks that the fletching is still secure, the arrow head is solid and the shafts have not warped.

He sits quietly, straining his ears for any sound out of the ordinary.

TTYL

- Kerry

[Algared]

Nodding Algared moves into the treeline and searches for a suitablbe spot to set up (survival skill). Rather than fry the fish Algared decides to make a broth which hopefully can have some mushrooms or roots added. Algared gathers fire wood to boil water from his water skin before letting the water and fish simmer in the pot. He tries to ensure that there is no smoke, and once the brothe is simmering he searches for more more wood. He'll sort through his meagre rations selecting bits that will add to the broth and flavour and keep the meal wholesome.

Once the meal is simmering away nicely, and wood has been gathered Algared sits and in the quiet to cast Chalsea's sponge. He mutters as he catches himself giving the wrong inflection to one of the key compnent phrases required for a successful casting. After the first attempt he rests briefly and then attempts again, smiling as he feels the form come together successfully. He knows that this casting will enable him to go with less water and thus enable his cooking to use what would normally be consumed. Now he hopes his efforts to prepare this meal with the meagre rations will provide each with enough strength for the tasks that lie ahead.

Checking the meal, Algared then begins to build a lean to that will act as a blind and give some shelter from the elements.

[Borygg Raal]

"I agree with Algared and Barak, lets do some quick foraging, but with a guard to watch for pursuers."
"Barak, you take Borygg and Jurri see what you can find. Algared, you Vidar and I will keep watch. Does that sound ok?"

"Barak, since you are our best (maybe only) hunter, would it be best if you headed off on your own to hunt? Jurri and I may just make things worse. I am not bad at scrounging up roots, berries, and the like so Jurri and I can do that while you try to get us some meat. Sound good?"

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