(011) The Expedition North

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Mads the Fair

Mads rouses quickly, not being able to get much rest anyway. It's almost as if staying at the warm Inn was ages ago. At a whisper, Mads says "Thanks for waking me--I don't trust noises to the wind these days." Considering for a moment and wiping his yes, he continues "Do you think this Grendel-thing comes from the gorge Ulric spied?"

Mads forgoes his bow in the darkness, opting instead for his war axe.

"That's my guess." whispers Olaf who is making sure his chain mail is on correctly, putting on his helmet and taking up his sword and shield, "Hard to tell direction in the dark, though."

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

After the days exertions, Ulric has no trouble sleeping despite the cold and damp night.

OOC: Ulric was not planning on meditating during the dawn watch; his spells are already memorized. If we make it to the dawn watch.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
"Okay," smiles Anwyn, and trots lightly off, weaving her way artfully between the tight tangle of wiry trees and brambles with hardly a sound. The Elf maid soon vanishes from sigh entirely.

Meanwhile, Olaf rouses Mads, Taines and Victor.

"What, morning already?" blurts Taines before his eyes are even open. "You've got to be kidding me," complains Victor.

But all three rise quickly and quietly and hastily pull their cold boots on when they learn Olaf's reasoning.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
It is the wee hours of the morning. Night is at it darkest, and the air is sharply chill, especially when the reaching wind presses through the copse to find you. No doubt there will be a frost by morning.

The campfire has burned down to embers and there are scarcely more than a few twigs left to fuel it. One of Dieter's lanterns still burns low where it hangs from the back of the cart, providing just enough light to move about the camp site safely.

The mule seems to be shivering and twitching his ears about nervously.

Olaf, who was on watch, is wearing his chainmail shirt. Taines, Mads and Victor have all just risen from their bedrolls and have on only their boots and the quilted gambeson they normally wear beneath their mail -- this for warmth during the night rather than for protection, but it does provide AC8.

The remainder of the company sleep on through the very cold night.

Off somewhere in the dark depths of the copse those awakened hear the distinct snapping of small branches, and the shuffling or shaking of trees. Then there is another long sonorous moan, which suddenly picks up in volume, and is then followed by a substantial thrashing and breaking of trees.

"That can't be good," mutters Victor, and spits. He reaches for his crossbow, and begins to labouriously work the windlass to ready it.

"I'm inclined to agree with ye, lad," says Taines, reaching slowly for his axe as his eyes search the dim wood.

In another minute, Anwyn comes trotting back apace. "The yonder swamp is alive with something foul," she utters breathlessly, "A fell horror comes this way!" She reaches for her pack and picks up her bow.

"Someone get that fire up!" curses Victor, now loading a bolt into his ready weapon.

The mule teeters anxiously as the moaning sounds and those of breaking branches draw louder and nearer...

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
If Padrig, expecting to wake up for this watch is waken by the noise around them using his elven hearing, will awake he will start waking the others and get everyone to light some torches and lanterns, and get ready for battle with spear and shield in hand.

OOC: Is there enough light with torch light to cast a scroll spell if need be?

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

It is the wee hours of the morning. Night is at it darkest, and the air is sharply chill, especially when the reaching wind presses through the copse to find you. No doubt there will be a frost by morning.

The campfire has burned down to embers and there are scarcely more than a few twigs left to fuel it. One of Dieter's lanterns still burns low where it hangs from the back of the cart, providing just enough light to move about the camp site safely.

The mule seems to be shivering and twitching his ears about nervously.

Olaf, who was on watch, is wearing his chainmail shirt. Taines, Mads and Victor have all just risen from their bedrolls and have on only their boots and the quilted gambeson they normally wear beneath their mail -- this for warmth during the night rather than for protection, but it does provide AC8.

The remainder of the company sleep on through the very cold night.

Off somewhere in the dark depths of the copse those awakened hear the distinct snapping of small branches, and the shuffling or shaking of trees. Then there is another long sonorous moan, which suddenly picks up in volume, and is then followed by a substantial thrashing and breaking of trees.

"That can't be good," mutters Victor, and spits. He reaches for his crossbow, and begins to labouriously work the windlass to ready it.

"I'm inclined to agree with ye, lad," says Taines, reaching slowly for his axe as his eyes search the dim wood.

In another minute, Anwyn comes trotting back apace. "The yonder swamp is alive with something foul," she utters breathlessly, "A fell horror comes this way!" She reaches for her pack and picks up her bow.

"Someone get that fire up!" curses Victor, now loading a bolt into his ready weapon.

The mule teeters anxiously as the moaning sounds and those of breaking branches draw louder and nearer...

Olaf goes over and quickly ties the mule's lead to the cart (or double checks that it is tied), then starts waking people up.

He whispers loudly to each in turn, "Up! We've got company.", as he works his way back toward the direction of the breaking branches.

"Form a line to hold the foul beast back." Olaf says as he takes up position between the rest of the camp and the sounds of the monster, "And get that fire going. Most wild animals don't like fire."

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric rises quickly as Olaf rousts him from his bedroll. He grabs his sword belt, buckles it on, then rushes over to help get the fire going.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:

He whispers loudly to each in turn, "Up! We've got company.", as he works his way back toward the direction of the breaking branches.

Michele awakens and looks nervously around. Unless instructed otherwise by Olaf, he takes up a defensive position near the fire and begins cranking up his arbalest.

[waysoftheearth]

tombowings wrote:
"Wait. What's going on?" Says Flewellen. "My watch isn't going a couple of hours." Shivering and the cold winds, Flewellen grabbing his dagger from his backpack.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"Wait. What's going on?" Says Flewellen. "My watch isn't going a couple of hours." Shivering and the cold winds, Flewellen grabbing his dagger from his backpack.

"Something big is coming up from the swamp." Olaf whispers loudly to Flewellen, "I thought you might want to wake up and see what it is."

"Get some light in here, build up that fire and prepare to fight off whatever is out there." Olaf says a bit louder as he moves forward, "And somebody watch our flanks to make sure we don't get surprised from the sides or behind!"