[IC] The Protectors of Greensfen (Part II)

"Karis will do, should you need to call me," Karis introduces herself. She eyes Bray's instrument dubiously.

[sblock=bandores and other silly instruments]Looks like Pat Metheny's Pikasso guitar.

Meanwhile, Wikipedia talks about bandoras, which are basically bass citterns, related to the orpharion. A much more practical instrument for an adventurer than a lute, though I have to say I prefer the sound of the lute and its relatives (e.g. theorbo).
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Kraegyn spoke little as the group traveled to the smithy, instead taking the time to observe each of the others- he knew he could keep up with the conversational pace that Blay set. Luckily it seemed as if these new folk were mostly people of action as well- he hoped some of their gruff nature would wear off once he had a chance to prove his value.

Once they arrived, he was obvioulsy momentarily distracted by all of the weapons and weapons-to-be scattered about the place. They were, after all, the tools of his particular trade. As the map began to take shape, however, he loomed over the tabel and looked closely at the details. "How long, do you think, would it take to reach Andusk? Could we make it by nightfall?"

OOC: [sblock=music geekery] The faithful of Kord only recognize two types of musical instruments- bagpipes (of course) and drums (the bigger the better). Or at least something where the volume goes to at least 11... The side chatter, though, has my music-geek wife reading over my shoulder- at least some of the music we have around makes the theorbo look positively futuristic. Too many SCA friends, I guess... [/sblock]

Karis peers at the map as well. "What dangers are there in the area? Bandits? Beholders? Boredom?"

Turning to Kraegyn, Dardus replied, "Yes, you should be able to make it be nightfall, even on foot - I regret I cannot lend you any horses as we are very short as it is."

To Karis, he answers, "On the road, the concern is always robbers. But Andusk itself is about as safe as Greensfen, such as it is. I would strongly recommend against travelling at night through the swamp - there are too many rumors of dangerous beasts there, and while I'm sure not all of the rumors are true, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are"

Rellek looked at the map, his mind studied the areas around Greensfen but his knowledge of this area was sketchy at best. He thought about what Dardus said, so far they had been fortunate.

Rellek traced a fine scaled finger along the road between Andusk and Greensfen, when he spoke in his usual quiet manner to Dardus,

Honoured Dardus, what can you tell us of the areas North and South of the road? Are there points convenient to ambush or waylay?

Ab

"Well," Dardus replies, "you've some experience with the Dead Forest, and as you can imagine no sane highwayman would set up camp there. No, it is mostly from the south and from the road itself they come, when they do. Although if there be many more orc encampments like the one you found, then they may not be coming from the south much longer," Dardus says, grinning.

"You know what it's going to be like, don't you? Whichever way we go we'll probably stumble onto something we'd rather not meet."

Joshua sounded downright miserable but what's new!

[sblock=bandore]So which end do you blow into - the big end or the little one?[/sblock]

Blay had taken the map while the others discussed their options and questioned Dardus. He was apparently doodling while absently-listening to the others. After Joshua spoke Blay re-entered the conversation.

"Woebegone the Wizard is right. I may be new to town, but stories of the dangers of these roads have traveled farther than the roads themselves do. Here, I have illustrated the difficulty specially for our dragonborn friends: Kraegyn, because being willing to devote one's life to the service of a god strikes me as being rather heedless to danger so a reminder is always good, and Silent Blue Lizard, because I once had a cousin who was as silent as he, until it was discovered simple and colorful pictures were all he could understand."

With that, Blay slaps the revised map back onto the table.



"It seems we needn't make any decision about the route to take until we arrive at Andusk. I'm sure when we arrive the correct path will become ever so much clearer. And I am ready to leave immediately, as well." Blay turned to face Dardus now. "And, if I may, I was wondering if you could illustrate with words in the same clarity I have illustrated your map, and I ask this strictly for my sake and that of just one of our dragonborn friends, but just why are we going east anyway?"

[sblock=ooc]You can assume we picked up the information in the plot synopsis on page one of this thread from townsfolk before meeting the team. Just a short summary of the efforts so far in this thread and the actual objective of our journey would be helpful. Also, covaithe, that pikasso guitar rocked. I would have loved to see something like that live. TheDigger: actually you have to blow into both at once, so its a two-person job. Thats why I brought Kreagyn along [/sblock]