Tests and Trials

[NotStickFigures]

Jaq waits a minute in silence and shrugs, 'Who knows...can trees whisper and talk?"

[Rodgeir]

The trees remain tight lipped.

Lurn grabs the leather and reads,

"As thanks from our tribe. Be well, travel safe."

[The Lost]

(For a moment there I thought I posted in the wrong thread! )

[Dlover]

"From the letter, it's a gift for Ves, as thanks for helping their tribe. I guess she was the one who handled the talks with goblins. I'm not sure what of all this is meant to be for her, though, maybe just the one the note was in? Since the rest is food, they may need it."

[Rodgeir]

((Jaq saw they were bringing the bags towards the camp and based on the conversations that happened near him they were aware of the camp's location, if not his.))

[NotStickFigures]

Jaq shakes his head, "No, they knew we were here and were headed right towards our, or Joe's hut. They must of been what had seen us earlier in the evening. Only the hidden voices scared them off, and then they just dropped the bags and left quickly. I don't think they are coming back, yet I'm not sure why they think that Ves might be here with us, either."

[spiderwrangler]

"I mean... we kind of stick out. If it's the same group, they might have just figured she was?"

[NotStickFigures]

"True, I wonder what she has done for the goblins that they are so fond of her? It's good to know she has been doing well since we parted ways."

[Dlover]

"Have you forgotten that we interfered when hobgoblins were raiding a goblin village and saved their tribe from being enslaved?"

[NotStickFigures]

"True, but the note stated Ves' name...but you are right, I'm uncertain if they knew any of the rest of our names."

[spiderwrangler]

"Ves is nice and short, easy to spell. They'dve run outta hide before they got both of our full names on there, Jaq!"

[Rodgeir]

((I think everyone introduced themselves to Himmack? I know that Kroshav did for sure. The spelling your names is a struggle even while looking at them.))

[spiderwrangler]

((Yeah, he introduces himself to everyone. Kroshav had to carry around a piece of paper with his full name spelled out for longer than he'd like to admit.))

[Rodgeir]

((Anything else? Otherwise I will continue with the watches?))

[NotStickFigures]

"Well, I have no idea what talked to me. But, I guess they aren't harming us."

Jaq will go and get the rest of the goods that the goblins dropped for 'us' and Ves unless someone objects. Other than that, he is done.

[spiderwrangler]

((If we don't seem in immediate danger, Kroshav will turn in, but ask Ealu to holler for him if something happens.))

[Rodgeir]

The rest of Jaq's watch passes without incident and he awakens Lurn to take over.

Very little seems to moving in the woods during the third watch. Lurn thinks he spots something shift right on the edge of the light but after a half hour determines it must of been a trick of the fire light.

Kroshav's is, if anything, more uneventful until the very end when a few deer bound beside the camp. They don't seem to be running from anything but do appear to have a destination in mind.

Kroshav hears in his head,

<Oooohhh, look! Odd horses. Oh Charlie says they are deer horses.>

The sunrises on chilly morning, frost glittering on the ground. The mountains, still distant, looming large and completely covered in snow now. The destination shouldn't be too long off now. Hopefully. Unless it's actually on the other side of those mountains.

((The bags are enough food for 10 days of rations for everyone.

Anyone doing anything different or keeping on?))

[spiderwrangler]

<I'm glad you two aren't scared of them, that's what the Lieutenant's horse was scared of.>

Kroshav does his morning training, and the cold must have made his eye water a bit when he turned around to spar with Jolly and he wasn't there. He channels his energies in that direction towards getting Jaq to do strengthening drills and Lurn to do coordination drills with his remaining arm.

"It might not be the most fun now, but better to be a bit sore now that be in a pinch and not be able to get your arm to do what you want!"

[NotStickFigures]

Jaq nods quietly, knowing his arm will be sore, but knowing the training needs to be done.

[Dlover]

"Make sure you're all eating properly. If we have to head up into those mountains it may become a rather tiring trek."
Lurn joins in on the training gladly, though only uses his shield, leaving his mace aside.

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav hands Jaq some fist sized chunks of firewood to throw at Lurn for him to block with his shield.

((If they humor his training instructions...))
"Good! Well done! Ooo, he almost got you there, Lurn!"

[NotStickFigures]

Jaq pulls a bit of a face when Lurn mentions trekking UP a mountain. "Ugh, I've never climbed anything like that, and I doubt with snow and more coming that would be easy. But I don't think that is going to end up being a problem. For some reason I envision the ruins of this grand library nestled in a secluded but wooded area that is carved right into the side, but bottom of the mountain!"

[Rodgeir]

((Also based on your tests using the golem and some geometry you figured it was definitely on this side of the mountains.))

[The Lost]

"Tha only person tha needs ta worry about climbin' tha is Lurn. Ah have spid'r climb ta help ye Jaq. Maybeh I can put on one o tha horses so tha they can move up n down tha mountin' with ease with multiple o us."

(Instead of Shatter, Joe has spider climb for today)

[NotStickFigures]

"Very nice, Joe. Your varied skills were missed when we split ways due to the war."