The four Wardens, as well as Sir Rand, Dame Winter, and six of their cavalrymen, are chosen to eat the magic feast. Meanwhile, Steward Wingate, Sir Ram, Sergeant Kelly, Sergeant Lowe, and Herman Rand dig into their ordinary but still enjoyable breakfast.
The young lady servant Michelle Brown brings a large iron pot into the dining room and speaks a strange word.
A magnificent table, complete with chairs, silverware, and food and drink suddenly stands before you.
The sweet beverage immediately makes you feel good, and as you dig into the food, your confidence for the coming battle grows. You feel invigorated and healthy.
The food itself consists of bread, fruit (including mangoes), something that resembles boneless but tasty meat, and some dishes you can't identify but which have savory sauces. There is pie for desert. All is of excellent quality.
The feast takes a full hour to consume, and the beneficial effects do not set in until this hour is over.
[sblock=ooc]Gain 1d8+6 temporary hit points (die roll is below), a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and Will saves, and a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against poison and fear effects. It lasts for 12 hours.[/sblock]
After the feast, the group makes final preparations for the expedition, which will (unless you decide otherwise) consist of the four Wardens, Dame Winter, Sir Rand, the six riders who ate the feast with you, and twenty additional cavalrymen, as well as the horses. This is almost the fort's entire force of cavalry, save only for Sir Ram and one other rider who requests to stay and assist him.
The mounted men and women mass inside the outer wall.
Dame Winter tells Sir Ram "Good luck, Sam. You'll need it as much as we will."
He replies "Be careful, Ann. Come back. I know you will."
The two armored knights exchange a somewhat awkward hug. Along with other observations you've been able to make, you can guess that the two of them shared a close relationship at some point in the past.
ooc: Any last minute preparations? BTW, just about any reasonably cheap mundane item is available within the keep, though perhaps in limited quantity. In this situation you can certainly take supplies without worrying about payment.