The Treasure of the Tierra Padre... [Knight Otu Judging]

[El Jefe]

Finding enough to do the job and then some, Oirhandir laughs. "Six of everything we need, and 12 of everything we don't!", he calls, holding up the rope. Oirhandir wades in and starts helping Rogier string a serious life-line.

When he approaches the paladin, he speaks once more. "I was thinking, about the animals", he says. "It would be useful if we could bring them across, but I wonder if they will have any forage in that swamp. I can't decide if we leave them and Norman here, or bring them with us into that mire."

 

[Gurdjieff]

When he approaches the paladin, he speaks once more. "I was thinking, about the animals", he says. "It would be useful if we could bring them across, but I wonder if they will have any forage in that swamp. I can't decide if we leave them and Norman here, or bring them with us into that mire."

Rogier looks at the Bard and says:
"If we want to complete our mission, we'll have to bring the horses with us. Without them we can't move anything we find. Besides, I wouldn't want to let Norman here alone. Who knows what dangers might lurk out here."
He makes sure Norman doesn't hear this though. Treating him like a child would only upset him, even though he isn't more than just a boy.

"Say, Oirhandir, you were a bard, yes? Even though I know little of bardic music, I am aware it can have magical effects. Would you be able to support these horses while crossing, because I can imagine it isn't something they'll prefer doing."


[OoC: If Oirhandir nobody stops him, Rogier will start moving the stuff to the other side of the river, and after that the horses. When/if they are done he'll untie the lifeline and split the ropes up again.]

 

[El Jefe]

Rogier looks at the Bard and says:
"If we want to complete our mission, we'll have to bring the horses with us. Without them we can't move anything we find. Besides, I wouldn't want to let Norman here alone. Who knows what dangers might lurk out here.

Oirhandir is unmoved by these words. "We'll have to leave him somewhere, either here or just outside the cave. But I don't dispute that having the mounts carry everything once across the swamp is better than making several trips to carry everything by hand."

"Say, Oirhandir, you were a bard, yes? Even though I know little of bardic music, I am aware it can have magical effects. Would you be able to support these horses while crossing, because I can imagine it isn't something they'll prefer doing."

Oirhandir smiles wanly. "I know some songs to inspire one in battle, but I've never tried to work a spell over animals. Still, if they balk, I'll try my best."

With that, the elf begins to help Rogier carry the supplies across the Gallgo. "Hey!", he calls to the others. "Would you lend a hand? With help, we can finish this by lunch!"

 

[Pbartender]

Lunch is spent on a spongy hillock on the opposite side of the river.

The swamplands are a dismal conglomeration of swampy areas sparsley strewn with immense, skeletal oak trees that are nearly devoid of leaves, and open expanses of marsh infested with dense thickets of grass and cattails. The ground is universally covered by a stagnant layer of mud and water that varies from ankle deep to waist high. Even the 'dry' ground is saturated with musty water and squishes with every step.

All about you is the ever-present drone of insects and creaking of frogs, interrupted only occasionally by the call of a nearby bird.

 

[El Jefe]

"If the rest of the swamp is like this", Oirhandir observes between bites, "we'd all be better off to have been born frogs!". The elf made the mistake of sitting on a "dry" spot, and is not looking forward to the combination of a wet butt and a saddle.

After lunch, Oirhandir mounts up with the rest of the adventurers, and starts riding east along the bank of the Roars. He scans the opposite bank more intensely than he did in the morning, hoping to glimpse the remains of the old mill.

 

[Gurdjieff]

"Somehow, the idea of being a frog doesn't really sound tempting to me. But to each his own."
Rogier smiles a little while trying to keep his mind on his mission.

Not saying after lunch, Rogier rides on with the group, trying to find the old mill, or what's left of it.

 

[Pbartender]

Another half day slogging through muck and mire brings the party up the faster-flowing River Roars. At dusk, you come across a low stone dam running the entire width of the Roars. On the far side of the river, a spillway channels the water into a millrace that flows past a crumbling stone building foundation that sits on the very edge of the river. Underbrush and trees crowd in and amongst the ruins... The mill has obviously been abandoned for some time.

With a little bit of balance, and a short hop over the spillway, the river could be crossed here.

As you all stand there examining the ruins of the old mill on the far bank, Oirhandir hears an odd plooping splash nearby. When he looks, he can't see anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps it was just a fish jumping, or maybe a frog, or some small water-borne lizard.

 

[Gurdjieff]

"It seems the Gods are in our favor at this late hour. A good place to cross and the mill to spend the night. Any takers?" Rogier stands ready to cross the river first, to check out the mill.

 

[Pbartender]

"It seems the Gods are in our favor at this late hour. A good place to cross and the mill to spend the night. Any takers?" Rogier stands ready to cross the river first, to check out the mill.

OOC: Just to be clear, the mill is on the non-swamp (north) side of the river. It'll be a much drier campsite, but you'll have to cross the river back over in the morning.

 

[El Jefe]

"It seems the Gods are in our favor at this late hour. A good place to cross and the mill to spend the night. Any takers?"

Oirhandir's frustration is mounting. Once again the band had outsmarted themselves, and he was as much to blame for it as anyone!

"Well, I'm almost ready to trade my right arm for dry ground", says the elf, "but I'm not sure if we can get the animals across safely. We'd need someone to stand watch on both banks of the Roars." Seeing that Rogier is about to cross, he adds, "Be careful! I thought I heard something in the water, maybe just a fish, maybe not." Oirhandir readies his bow and nocks an arrow, just in case.