How long of a journey is this, by the map?

At his commanders instruction he leaves the refugees, hoping that he has helped in some way. He takes his place within the formation, glancing back occasionally to see that those he helped are doing fine.

"We've a few, but not from giants... they don't tend to leave wounded behind. Scrapes and bumps during the evacuation mostly, but anyone who isn't fit to ride is in that cart there. Any help you can give is welcome."

He points at a cart with assorted folk who sustained injuries, most of them on the older side, but one small boy with a smashed nose and an impressive black eye. They are grateful for the healing you quickly provide ("Gee thanks mister! I brokeded my nose, but you fixed!").

You continue on, occasionally passing other groups traveling south together, by and large seeming like good folk who are trying to avoid bad things happening. You make camp for the night, a group coming close and setting up their camp nearby. If you make it clear you don't want company, they'll stay put, but if you engage them in conversation, they'll attempt to merge their camp with yours for the added protection.

((Can I get a pair of Perception checks from two of you while on watch?))

During his watch, Verne is careful to keep a keen eye, not wanting to disappoint his leader.

Perception 21

Storm glances to his squad leaders. "I'd like to have someone see what they can learn from the group camping close." He informs them. "Pick someone to go and gather what information they can." He then moves around, speaking to his troops and making sure everyone has a bit of his time, prior to taking a seat by their camp fire.

Keller nods at one of the shapeshifters or someone who has a familiar, and quietly asks them to go listen to the group for a bit as an insect, lizard, or small rodent. He’s skeptical that the group is anything of note but being careful wasn’t a terrible habit, not with all this wild magic about.

Ayen nods. He points at Verne and whispers: "Stables, get closer and listen to what they say - just in case there's anything of worry to us. I'll watch after you." Then, Ayen watches the group from a distance, aided by the properties of his shield. He also tries to learn from the group's body lanhuage and expression what their emotional state is, more or less.

Perception: 17

Insight, can I? 16

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

 

((Can I get a pair of Perception checks from two of you while on watch?))

Red and black are always on the look out near the edge of camp as well, both on a different side.

Perception Red: 24

Perception Black: 22

(Does the group look like more refugees from where we are? if so grandpa says

"Oh lighten up, they are clearly refugees just like the others we passed"

before he walks up to them and start some small talk about how they are, where they are coming from and what happened to them; if it can not be seen from where we are making camp he will stay put until Stables returns with some information)

BB doesn't volunteer to do any watches but is getting excited about fighting giants and asks for descriptions from the refugees.

They are more fearful than the first group you encountered, wary of your presence, but despite your... unusual... appearance, The Forge has a professional air about them, and they are draw to your aura of protection. 

A few of you overhear muttered worries, giants at the forefront, but there are murmurings of bandits and highwaymen. You gather that they haven't been accosted by such, but are traveling in large groups to provide some amount of deterrent. 

Keller passes along the reports to Storm. "We can keep a watchful eye, though I don't think we need have particular fear with this lot. I've got more of my mind on what we'll find when we get to the coordinates our 'favorite uncle' sent, and how much of him we'll find there. Those Duke's soldiers were moving quickly, and will get there before we do. I'm hoping we're not too late. When we get closer, we'll want to send the swifter and quieter of us ahead to get a lay of the land." 

(How much longer will it take to get to our destination?)

He checks in with the rest of his squad, telling a few gallows humor jokes that they're tired enough of to actually find funny again, and ensure they're keeping their equipment in good condition. "We won't have much time when we get there. Look sharp, and take care of any preparation you can now."

He spends the rest of his free time checking over the new crossbow bolts he scavenged from the previous fight, re-fletching any that need it, sharpening the tips of any that seem dull or worn, and scavenging the useful bits of any that seem too warped to be used reliably.

((The location you're anticipating meeting up with the rest of the company at is a few weeks travel away, the city the knights were on their way to defend is on the way, another day or so distant.))

Is there any roads that lead around the city, so we would not have to travel through the city the knights went to? Storm wants to stay to the roads if possible, but he doesn't want to risk giants, nor having someone try to enlist them to fight for the city, when they need to get to the rest of the company.

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

Your manners earn you a scowl, the spokesman for the knights looking between you and the column that is now past your position. He sighs.

"If you're headed north, you best know the Askfott have moved down on some of the homesteads and villages. We'll be driving them back to their hills, but there's like to be refugees heading for Hareford. Food and lodging will be in short supply in the area, if you don't have provisions. If want to avoid all that, best be heading south. Good day.", he says with a nod.

"Passive" History or a check above 12:

You're pretty sure the Askfott are giants.

 "Passive" History or a check above 15:

The Askfott 'clan' are hill giants that normally stay to the foothills, but occasionally due to overcrowding, scarcity of game in the hills, or under the sway of a particularly ambitious leader, they have descended on 'civilized' lands. The Foundry actually took contract to drive them back, maybe thirty years or so ago, long before most of your time, but it's a campaign that some of the lifers would occasionally reference.

 ((Above 20 may get something further.))

Was going by this to assume we were headed for the same place, since we are also headed north, but then went back and checked this post, which says we're not likely intended to face the Duke, which would suggest it's not the same place.

And now this most recent post about our destination being weeks beyond the giant-Duke fight...I'm guessing I've just bungled some reading comprehension here! If the Company is not directing us to the same destination, well, then, sheepishly I say you can ignore what Patter's been pushing, to try to get ahead of the Duke's men. I'd been operating under the assumption we were headed for a similar area. Nevermind!

((To clarify, you are headed beyond where this current issue with the giants has cropped up, but it is on your way. Certainly possible to skirt around the trouble area entirely, but sticking to the roadway is going to be the fastest, most direct route to the rest of the Foundry. If you want to avoid any giant entanglements entirely, could head cross country to the east, but it will add multiple days to your journey, perhaps as much as an additional week or more. Direct route is faster, but you're traveling through an area impacted by the giant incursion.))

(OOC: DM, I hope you don't mind me doing this. If it's a problem, just tell everyone to ignore it...)

"Alright squad, gather up!" Ayen calls to his squad. "I really hope you're not slacking while I'm scouting in the front. To make sure you're not just daydreaming all the time, we're going to practice your skills while on the go!" He takes a seed out of his component pouch and blows on it, whispering "grow" to it, and the seed grows. Within a few moments, the seed becomes a flower - not particularly beautiful, but not a common one you can find everywhere. "You can do whatever you want, short of actually hurting each other, to take this flower away. Once we reach our final destination, I'll check who holds the flower. The winner is the one who has it then, and they get to give a minor punishment to the rest. This flower will stay in a fine condition for almost a week when undisturbed. If it is crushed inside one of your bags, burnt during a fight over it or otherwise harmed by the time we reach our destination, all of you receive a major punishment. All clear?" Ayen stands between them all and closes his eyes. "And the one who starts with the flower is..." he turns in place, stopping in front of 4*, giving them the flower. "There you go, let the game begin!" He then chuckles as he walks away from the squad.

*Roll results: 
1: "Grandpa" Salkur.
2: "Stables" Verne.
3: "Scallywag" Bryn. 
4: "BB" Blake. 

((As long as your 'players' are onboard, I have no problems with it!))

The halfling jumps at the chance to impress his boss. Without hesitation he shifts into a lizard and scurries off to listen to the group of refugees hoping they don't take interest in a small lizard with a blue tail. Given He is not captured he returns to the group after some time, reverts back to his normal form and reports to Ayen.

Verne smiles at this new "game". Ayen was always coming up with games to keep the squad entertained. He had no idea that it was actually a training exercise. His bright outlook on life never gave him cause to think of these things as bad or punishment, only as a great way to pass the time. While he had never won, he enjoyed the experience and was always looking to impress his squad leader.

He walks up to Grandpa. "I could look after the flower for you. You know I love nature. I can even speak to it to make sure it's ok!" The last bit was a bending of the truth, but he thought he'd give it a go anyway.

Grandpa laughs as he gets the flower "Yeah right, sure" and than he gives the flower to red who flies high so no one can reach him.

Grandpa will definitely be pushing to go via the giant route "Storm, we need to help those people"

BB listens patiently to the flower assignment but finds the whole thing outside his area of expertise and is more than willing to let the others deal with it.

BB adds to Grandpa's comment,

"Storm, we need to kill those giants!"