CH. 04 - Consequences

[Jherek Everfull]

One of of these days Jherek and Theron would make the Reeve feel foolish for the way they have been judged. He waits for the map to roll out and is beaten to the table by Theron. He lets the gnome ask his questions before giving the little map a once over.

"Everything to the west of the line is theirs. If they've been expanding they could stretch as far north as the river by now. What few interactions I've had with this tribe on my gaming expeditions were not pleasant." Jherek avoids Katya's eyes while he speaks his piece. He knows she will likely find his knowledge of the forest and hills distasteful given last nights conversation.

"That area beneath the Fangs, the tributary, is a swamp. No one goes there. It's a very unpleasant mire and is cloaked in foul stinking miasma even in winter. I've only been once, the game wasn't plentiful and the place filled me with a nameless dread. However, I believe that using the swamp would allow us to swing around the northern flank...as the Dame and Goblin Cheif have suggested."

[Ezeze]

Katya reaches out for Damon's arm as he passes, indicating that he should tarry for a moment. When the others have mostly filtered into Ser Walls's office she asks "is everything alright?"

Whatever his reason for staying behind, Katya will reassure him; "about what you said last night, during the dance? I know what that feels like. No one doubts your bravery. I hope you don't, either."

The exchange only takes a few seconds, but nevertheless Katya is the last one to enter the Reeve's office. She drops her eyes when Ser Walls addresses her. She feels slighted at both the Reeve's surprise and her comment, but consoles herself that there will be no shortage of opportunities to prove herself in the coming days.

She pays careful attention to the Reeve's and Jherek's answers to Theron's questions

Detect Evil on Ser Walls.

Then when they have been answered, asks her own

"Is the map accurate to scale?" - the answer seems obvious, but it is important to verify before she starts estimating the mileage. She runs her finger along the suggested path. "We should probably prepare for four days travel in both directions, then. Hopefully it will actually take less, but it pays to prepare for more. It may serve us to bring a pack animal, but I hesitate because Garnet's vision seems to imply that we will be going underground." She looks at Theron "and while Theron suggested that we may be better off waiting for the Hooded One to show himself above the surface" she recognizes his objection from the moment before the Reeve entered the office, rather than force him to repeat it "we should prepare for the eventuality of needing to descend. Especially since we do not know how close the Bloody Spear are to mobilizing."

Katya is tempted to state that she does not think Ubisek was lying, but was not prepared to discuss why she thought that.

[notARobot]

(OOC:  I seem to have misinterpreted the map.  So that dotted line represents the Bloody Spears' southern/eastern borders, and not their northern/western borders?)

"Ah, I misread the map.  Thank you for clarifying, Jherek," Theron says, then turns once more to regard the map.  "So that line demarcating their border, then, is the area where Ubisek warned us the bulk of their army is stationed?"

During one of the lulls in the back-and-forth discussion of geography and logistics, Theron glances across the room until his eyes come to rest upon Lillian, whom he studies as though noticing her for the first time.  "I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, my dear," he says, introducing himself.

"I am Theronymous Wiggledigit, an entertainer and purveyor of delight to the fine folks of Buho.  As I believe you are, yourself?" he says, gesturing to the neck of the lute protruding from the pack she carries.  "I hope you'll forgive me if I caused offense by dismissing your earlier suggestion.  Katya has a point; while I maintain the safest course would be to avoid venturing underground, we may have no choice in the matter.  It would be wisest to prepare for the broadest range of eventualities."

[HorizonsDream]

Ladonna finally manages to take a look at the map after everyone else, then looks to Jherek. "If the goblins avoid this swamp," she says, pointing to the map where the swamp is situated on the map. "Then doesn't that suggest that something that the goblins even find dangerous lurk within those murky waters?" she asks. "I admit that the goblins would not be expecting us to emerge from the swamp, so we will have the element of surprise, but is it worth the risk?" she asks. If we by pass the swamp, and come in from behind the goblin camp," she says, tracing her finger further down the river and then down behind the goblin camp. "We still have the element of surprise and we are dealing with enemies that we know. We have no idea what is in the swamp."

[Jherek Everfull]

Jherek turns to acknowledge Ladonna, then uses his own finger to emphasize his new point. "I agree, it could be doable along the river, and we would be able to surprise the Goblins all the same...but I believe the trek along the river would leave us very exposed. It takes one patrol and we are gonna get stuck in." He shakes his head and points back to the swamp. "Here there will likely be come big bugs, maybe a a few predators...but most animals will avoid us unless we provoke them. Even trying to be quiet, the amount of steel and mail this fellowship will be toting is gonna make a terrible racket."

He steps back and addresses the group as a whole. His face serious as he makes eye with each party member while he speaks. "I figure we lose...." Mental math, yay. He concentrates for a second or two. "A day, maybe two if we cut through that bog. It exsposes us to fewer Spears and arrows, but a bit more of the wilder world. I don't mind a good fight, but im partial to all my bits I'ld like to keep them. Besides, the a big roach or spider is easy enough to smash up, right? He turns back to the map and nervously fidgets with the haft of that nicked axe. He stays silent for now. Hopefully the Reeve would have some more information.

As he looked at the map he became more and more curious about its accuracy, just as Kat had asked...but his thoughts also strayed to the landmarks placed on this map. It was more detailed than the scrawlings he and his friends made...and as far as he knew, none but the Boys were crazy enough to step in the Bloddy Spear country.

Katya and Theron also made sense. He knew their world was full of terrible wonders, but something being wonderous doesn't always need to be seen. He'ld prefer not having to fight anything that requires the blessings of a God to beat. His Da told him stories when he was a wee scamp about skeletons and dead but alive again wizards...holy warriors were needed for that sorta thing. Looking at his companions he sucks his teeth, not an Enforcer sort among us. His eyes linger on Ryan, Garnet, and Kat...more so the previous two. Did they have that sorta power?! The kind from old stories. He wondered if that was why Katya had been so interested in learning to fight lately. He chuckles shaking his head because...did it really matter?

[Nuke]

As Damon walks out of the Reeves office, Ryan stares him down not saying a word. He listens and looks at the map as well.

"We want to move fast, with little risk, yet still maintain the cover of the swamp." Pointing at the map, he draws a line straight west. "Beeline to the Fangs, head south until we can ford it, then skirt the edge of the swamp. From there, we should have a short trip into the heart of their territory."

He looks around, judging the bulk of their burden. "A mule for our consumables, would be a good idea, even if it ends up a causality."

[GravityEmblem]

"I understand." Lillian says. "I don't have a lot of experience in adventuring and combat, but I will attempt to help in any way that I can. Anyway, my name is Lillian. I am-or, was-a travelling bard. I play the lute, and work at Buho Inn for food and shelter."

[Daos]

Katya hangs back a minute to speak with Damon.

"It's my mother...she collapsed this morning," he says, frowning.  "I'm not sure if it's the stress of everything going on right now...or something else.  But she doesn't have any one else to look after her.  So I came to tell the reeve I couldn't go on this mission."  After her comment, he says, "Thanks...but it has nothing to do with bravery.  I'll do whatever it takes to protect my home.  But right now, my mother needs me more."

Once in the reeve's office, Katya looks into the woman's soul.  She sees nothing that really stands out.  Just the standard background evil that just about everyone has in their soul.  There is no significant evil in her at all.

At Theron's questions, the reeve clarifies that the border shown is the southern border.  The 'settlement' he refers to is where she believes the Bloody Spear's village is located.  The 'clearing' is actually a swamp.

At Jherek's suggestion, the reeve says, "Going through the swamp may be dangerous, but it would likely shave off at least two days off your journey."

At Katya's question on if the map is to scale, Derica nods.  "As close to it as I could get.  I made this map myself, 20 years ago, right after the war.  Numerous patrols were sent in the area, searching for stragglers from Gressek's army."

When Ryan suggests that bypassing the swamp altogether would be faster, the reeve disagrees.  "Bypassing the swamp will likely add another two days to your journey.  But I'll leave it up to you all to decide the best course of action.  Remember, time is a factor.  If the Hooded One isn't neutralized before the army marches on us, it will likely be too late.  And if they march before reinforcements arrive, I don't know if Buho will survive."  When he mentions a mule, she says, "You could likely buy one from Rolf, but I can assure you from personal experience, horses and mules won't be able to make this trip.  Not through the hills or the swamp."

[Ezeze]

Katya inhales deeply, standing straight and trying to sound authoritative. "I trust your judgment about the mule, Reeve, and I trust Jherek's judgment about the swamp. I think our best course is going to be through it."

"If we cut directly West across the Northern part of the swamp we can minimize our time in it while still getting most of the benefits from crossing it. How deep is it in that area?

"What kind of supplies are the Watch able to provide? Hardtack would be useful, and Lillian mentioned torches."

[notARobot]

Responding to Lillian, Theron says, "I expect your travels have left you as well-prepared for what lies ahead as any of us.  My uncle spent a great deal of time transporting goods to and from the capital, and he brought back with him many a story of the dangers awaiting the unwary out there.  That you're still here to tell of your journey must mean you are either very tough, or very lucky -- and I consider it good fortune to have you along with us, in either case."

Listening to the group debate which route to take, Theron chimes in.  "As Miss Marche pointed out, the fact that other creatures think it better to avoid venturing within the swamp leaves me suspicious that there might be a good reason for that," he begins.  "And if there is anything lurking there...that perpetual cloak of miasma Jherek mentioned would make it far too easy for us all to stumble right into an ambush.  Given that we're so constrained for time, though, it may be worth considering regardless."

"Speaking of which...I'd like to propose we hold off on arguing the point, and begin preparing to depart from Buho immediately.  Whichever way we wind up going, Ser Walls' original suggestion seems sound -- we follow the Dark River westward until we come to the river's fork, get the lay of the land, and then decide on how to proceed from there.  If we tarry too long here trying to decide which path we should preemptively commit to, the goblin army may be upon us before we even set out."  Theron glances around cautiously, trying to read the room by studying each of their facial expressions in turn.  "Do you have any last-minute advice, or further information to offer us, Ser Walls?"

[Jherek Everfull]

Jherek nods his thanks and approval to Little Kat when she agrees with his assessments. He also nods agreement in regards to the general uselessness of equines in and around the bog. Katya's questions about supplies was important. He was good in the woods, but his ability to feed himself and a few others would be incredibly taxed once they hit the hill country.

He looks about the room to weigh the other folks faces and demeanors...he couldn't read the Stone Boy...Garnet seemed ready to faint dead away. Ryan, Ladonna, Theron, Kat, and the Bard Lilian seemed ready to go...he struggled to pick out Finbul from the crowd. Upon finding him, the Butcher moves so as to get a better look at him. What would the Druid know of the swamp? He's kept mostly quiet since we arrived. He watches him for a second and sucks his teeth, then turns to see Walls as she addresses the final set of questions from his allies.

"I think Theronymous is right, we should leave soon. We can cover ground quick in this friendly territory, but I feel like we will be slowed considerably once we cross their border. In fact, Maybe we leave in two groups? A group to scout the way to the fork, and another to come behind with supplies?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Time is a factor, so I suggest that we all meet up in twenty minutes so that we can all do some last minute preparations," Ladonna says. "We probably won't make the fork in the river today anyway, so we have time to figure it out."

[GravityEmblem]

"That seems reasonable to me. We best be off. Time is not on our side."

[notARobot]

Theron turns to Jherek, giving his friend an apologetic look.  "I fear the risks of travelling in two separate groups may far outweigh any potential benefits," the gnome says.  "Four or five people would have a much harder time defending themselves, compared with all nine of us together.  And most of us are not as experienced at navigating through the wilderness as you are -- what if our two groups could not find one another after splitting up?"

Indicating his agreement with Ladonna and Katya, Theron says, "Certainly, we're unlikely to make it very far without provisions and equipment.  Your time frame sounds reasonable, Miss Marche -- are we agreed, then, that we'll regroup in twenty minutes at the eastern gate?"

[Daos]

Ezeze said:

"How deep is [the swamp] in that area?"

"A couple of feet at most," the reeve replies.

Ezeze said:

"What kind of supplies are the Watch able to provide? Hardtack would be useful, and Lillian mentioned torches."

"Our supplies are spread pretty thin, at least until reinforcements arrive from Hart," she answers.  "You might try Rakit's place.  He tends to have a little of everything squirreled away."

notARobot said:

"Do you have any last-minute advice, or further information to offer us, Ser Walls?"

"If you’re facing goblins, always post a rear guard—unless you can post two," the reeve says sagely.

"Alright, sounds good," Finbul says.  "Let's grab what supplies we can and meet at the north gate."  He glances to Theron.  "The east gate is in the wrong direction," he adds, matter-of-factually.

"I...uh...that is...I-I can...create water..," Garnet offers.  "I mean...i-if it comes to th-that.  G-Gonto will g-give us w-water."

"Yeah, me, too," Finbul says.