"Wait what? The hell you think your... and there the bugger goes..." Ori stands there in disbelief as Sir Almeric runs off... on his own... to deliver a message. "I wonder if he was a messenger in his crusading days, running off on his bloody own like he's not the primary target of the group if someone came for us. It's not like he's the sneakest one in the bunch. Oh well we can complain later. Our goal is to find the go and return the girl here safely. Famh has the description and where the girl was heading. We will make our way to the spot and break to teams to search more ground but will be in sight of one another. Almeric's fear of Beorn being behind this is unlikely but not out of the question so eyes and ears up aye. We are looking for the girl, not trying to suprise her, so unless we sense foul play we prioritize speed over stealth. Any questions?"
Realizing the man and his family coukd probably hear his orders, Ori tried to sound confident in his orders, and stopped questioning Almeric where they coukd hear. I'm sure the man felt great seeing the leader of the company that he just asked help from starts running a different direction. Well Ori knew how to play to people's senses as he was being watched. Presentation is half the battle. "Oi then, Thatch lead the way, Famh and Vardi next, Cain to cover the rear, Aye?"
Famh's hand almost flies to her mouth in her first startlement. When she made her suggestion , she certainly hadn't imagined the retinue's leader himself being the messenger! After a moment, though, she recognizes how sensible this seemingly impulsive action is. The seasoned Capellar has dealt with other knights more often than any of the rest have had any occasion to, and will know instinctively the best way to approach this Sir Robert. And Ori is far more competent than he allows himself to believe, and the knight might be trying to give him space to discover that by leaving him in charge.
As Sir Almeric takes his leave of the retinue, Famh responds, "Ye are an excellent commander, Sir, and you leave us in the hands of an excellent sergeant while ye are away. I trust we'll be able to find this man's daughter and have a good report for you when we meet again. Because I'm certain with such excellence on both sides it's 'Au Revoir' and not 'Adieu'." As she speaks, she tries to project an air of confidence to allay any concerns the distraught father might feel at this step.
=========
(idk if this can coast on the soothing effect she's had before or if you'll want another Persuasion roll -- 12 for that if so)
(didn't mean to hit post just then .. here's the rest)
=========
She listens quietly to Ori 's briefing and falls into the position he indicated without question. Only when the retinue is out of the father's earshot does she say softly to him, "Actually, I think we'll have to balance speed with thoroughness in our prorities. We have to find the girl promptly, but at the same time ... there's a good bit of empty moorland around these highland town of Thuland once you get up on the ridgeline and out past the outskirts." With that, she settles into a quiet, watchful pace as she walks along beside Vardi, looking carefully around her as the retinue takes to the hill path to begin the search.
=========
Famh's Perception, first leg of the march 9
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Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
Antar al'Barmeqi - goblin warlock (The Genie: Marid) 1, THE MOON OF THORNS
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 - Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Theris Dionte, shadar-kai rogue 1, Born of Stormmount
(not being ungrateful, she also notes carefully where the stand of sweet cicely was and makes a mental note to share some with the generous folk of Hightoun when the retinue comes back this way on the return journey to Sewark Keep)
=========
(OOC: Interesting plant, sweet cicely. A website exploring the shamanic uses of herbs in the "northern tradition"
Shamanic Magical Use:This is the herb of Alfheim, used to honor the alfar and the fey. It is a pair with Fennel - "felamihtigu twa", the mighty two, and they are most often used in conjunction. Tea of Sweet Cicely and Fennel protects against elf-shot; tea to drink or salve rubbed on the afflicted area treats cases of it. Sweet Cicely also aids in the Gift of Sight, in this case the ability to see beauty beneath ugliness, power beneath simplicity, and possibility beneath limitation. It is a useful plant when faced with clients who are living in a swamp of negativity, and you have to find them some hope. Drink in tea or smoke it or eat the seeds (preferably six of them).
And regarding the fennel they recommend pairing with it:
Shamanic Magical Use:This is the herb of Svartalfheim and Nidavellir. Together with Sweet Cicely, it is used to protect against elf-shot, and to treat cases of that remedy. Also like Sweet Cicely, Fennel aids in the Gift of Sight, but it gives the ability to see the darknesses in life - the hidden anger and pain, the inner rot, the creeping deaths. This makes it useful in shamanic client-work when one must discern hard truths, or find hidden disease or poisoning. Drink in tea or smoke it or eat the seeds (preferably seven of them).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cainneach couldn't quite make out most of Almeric's words to Famh and Ori, but he certainly wasn't one to flee from duty, so Cainneach reasoned that the Capellar must have some plan in mind. He lowered, but didn't put away his bow, leaving an arrow nocked as he approached the others.
Upon hearing a fuller description of the situation from Ori, Cainneach agreed that it seemed unlikely that the group they had followed could be Beorn's men this deep into Thuland. Then again, the possibility of Clan Harbinger's presence around Beltayn had been raised, so anything could be possible. Cainneach and Salt fell into the pattern requested by Ori, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings and his companions while also trying to look for any useful tracks or signs of the girl.
Perception18 (looking for any signs of trouble) Survival25 (looking for any signs of the girl or other tracks heading her way)
Perception21 (Salt sniffing for the girl and listening for signs of trouble)
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Somewhat reassured the man lead the group along the Lords Road to his home; a small cottage made of wood and daub. Two young children of indeterminate gender sat on the step dressed in linen shifts.
He pointed at a trail which led past the home and up the hill before ushering the children inside. Neither Famh nor Cainneach have much luck in their initial assessment of the trail...a light rain began to fall.
Salt almost immediately catches a scent of some kind, and both Vardi and Thatch note hoofprints in the soft mud of the trail.....shoed horses, not cows.
Cresting the hilltop the trail dips down into a wooded valley, low scrubby oak and pine mingle, the rain is beginning to wash away the tracks in places.
The wood is carpeted with fallen leaves and needles and thick growths of bracken, as they begin to descend Ori picks up a small piece of metal from the ground and holds it in his palm....a boot nail...
Beyond the wood there are several ravens or rooks croaking atop a crumbled stone ruined broch on the opposite ridgeline...
Almeric: "I'm sorry we couldn't chat more about Plate Harnesses, maybe later?"
Vardi, who has been disentangling herself from a basket lid shortly before, says "Would be my pleasure Ser." with a smile and puts a massive hand on the knight's shoulder, gentle as a feather landing as she adds in a whisper "Take care out there, Ser Almeric, and good luck to ye wi' the big man."
Ori: "Any questions?"
The big lass, still trying to get her bearings in this flurry of activity, asks "Just one. Where do ye want us, Sarge?"
Ori: "Oi then, Thatch lead the way, Famh and Vardi next, Cain to cover the rear, Aye?"
"Aye, Ser."Vardi replies as she makes her curiously ornate salute, then proceeds to Famh's right side to take up her usual guard position, finding an odd comfort in a duty familiar to her. She is careful to not disturb any tracks with her own big bootprints, and keeps back to allow Cainneach and Salt to do their work in peace.
The warrior woman hangs her helm off her pack by a most cunning iron clip of Morag's design, quick to open and close, but strong enough to hold the weight of a metal helm when not needed, but keeps her polished shield at the ready. Skoggi, having ascertained that something is going on, keeps by her feet, staying close by, but not so close as to trip her up, and looks about, curious as to what the object of this particular hunt is...
Famh: "Actually, I think we'll have to balance speed with thoroughness in our prorities. We have to find the girl promptly, but at the same time ... there's a good bit of empty moorland around these highland town of Thuland once you get up on the ridgeline and out past the outskirts."
Vardi nods in agreement, and offers equally quietly "Better view up there on tha ridge of tha landscape, might help us narrow tha search down a bit, aye?"
(OOC: Looking out for trouble with Perception Total of 14 and Looking for the lass with Survival Total of 5.)
"If I may?" she asks in a whisper of Ori, and carefully examines the bootnail.
(OOC: Would Vardi know one local smith's work in small nails from another? If so, what's the roll for that?)
Ori leans back in to Vardi and whispers "The best front we can show the family is we are in haste to fond the kid, we can consider how on the ridge." Leaning up straight, "Oi mates, we's burning daylight, let's get in gear and find the lass before the storm rolls in."
Holding the nail in hand Ori grips it tightly in a fist. "Well mates, what the chances that poor family affords a shoed horse to shepherd their flock with... I'm afraid this is going g to turn from a search to a rescue mission. Cain, Thatch, follow those tracks as best we can before we lose them. Open to all suggestions at this point. If we are chasing someone on horse back, we will be fighting an uphill battle for sure. I also don't want to give up hope that those on horseback were simply riding through and didn't bother the lass. There's still a chance she just want to ride out the rain aye?" Ori didn't really think there was much of a chance the riders simply passed by, but he felt the need to offer up the hope. "Perhaps we give up on the horse tracks and follow the heard tracks? If we f8nd them, she will be them or not and then we will know to pick up the horsemen tracks again. Or they took the girl and flock and then it will still be easier to pick up the hearts trail over a few horses."
Vardi regards the nail for a moment, she has seen its like before...rough work for tackety boots...brass forged tack....likely Beltayne work though its too small to carry a mark...for tromping out here she would have used a cone-head nail in steel but needs wants...
Ori: "The best front we can show the family is we are in haste to fond the kid, we can consider how on the ridge."
Vardi nods silently in agreement, and gets on with the work of searching with her eyes.
Later ...
"Rooks or ravens, by tha size of them. Chatting lively enough, could just be at tha sight of us, but they're nay quiet feeding nor loudly fighting over a grisly find. Nay for them ta feed on here then?" the big lass mutters pensively.
On matter of the nail, Vardi quietly offers "Beltayne work by tha look of it, but I could nay tell ye for sure whose exactly. Cheap, and of the quality ye'd expect for that. Could have come loose in walking, which is odd for folk on horseback, but could also be the result of a struggle of some sort knocking it loose. If it was tha lass who dropped it, now tha' I could nay tell ye for certain."
On the matter of the herd, the big lass simply nods and replies "The rain is nay our ally here. If these humble folk had more than four kine ta their names, then aye, will be easier ta track them than four horses, or so I would think." then looks to Cainneach and Thatch as those wiser than her in that matter, to test if her assumption is correct.
"Check tha remnants of tha' tumbled down broch first, ser? Nearest cover from tha' rain tha' is nay a tree here tha' I can see."
Sighting on the broch, Thatch led the way down into the woods as the fastest way there noting that the bracken was bent and broken from where several large beings had pushed their way through, though whether cows or horses was hard to tell as the broken heath and berry bushes did not take tracks well.
About one hundred feet in they came across a trampled area and Cainneach noted that one of the trees had wear marks in the bark where rope had been tied to it.
Venturing on a few more yards they came to another flattened area under some trees where there was the remains of a banked fire and Famh, with eager assistance from Salt, noted some ham rind kicked under a fallen branch.
Shankhil squints and notes that there are deeper bootprints in a patch of mud heading uphill away from the campsite.
There is suddenly a deep bellowing sound which rumbles down from the hilltops, most of the troupe immediately identified it as a bull.
Thatch starts to say something as Sir Almeric heads to meet with the local sheriff, then stops and shakes his head instead. He takes the lead as they push up the trail, stopping and bending down to examine a set of fresh prints. “Look here, this is a shoed horse, not livestock. I’d make it one of the four riders that were reported ahead of us this morning. We haven’t seen much sign of other horses.” He continues to follow the trail as best he can, but the weather and trail conditions are washing the track away. He nods at Vardi as she points out the broch “Yer right, the rain is not helping, the trail is hard to follow.”
He leads the group down toward the broch, pointing out the broken brush along the way “Look sharp, something big pushed down this way in a hurry, horse or livestock, I can’t right tell which.” As they come across the remains of the campsite, he helps the others search for sign of the girl and looks up at the sudden noise. “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?” Thatch slips up the hill silently, trying to get eyes on the creature. Perception: 13.
Hearing the bovine bellowing, Ori picks his head up looking in the direction of the hilltop, "Aye, Famh, what did you say the girl was herding out in these parts?" Thatch had it right, a bull, and it didn't sound like he's in a good mood. There was a fellow with a bull that traveled with his old show early in Ori's career. What was it he used to do with that bull to make him get mad and never get hurt? His cape or some cloth thing he had. What was it about the cloth that made it work its magic. Ori couldn't quite recall. He did however remember how things ended for that bull after coming up lame. "Well remember aim right between its eyes, preferably with something very blunt, if it gives us trouble. That is how I'm told the butchers do it. But unless that gorl is up there with him, the bull isn't our problem. I agree we should find whats bugging it as that give us a clue to where to go from here but Im too wet to be thinking about steaks for supper. Where is Tana when you need her, aye?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Aye, Ori,, but if she is wi' him, then following on the bellowing is a good way to find her. And we ought to try and go quietly. The bulls I've known didna tend to bellow because things were good." Famh walks over to the boot tracks Vardi saw; and then begins to quietly follow them uphill towards the sound, trying to keep pace with and parallel Thatch as she searches for any further signs.
Thatch starts to say something as Sir Almeric heads to meet with the local sheriff, then stops and shakes his head instead. He takes the lead as they push up the trail, stopping and bending down to examine a set of fresh prints. “Look here, this is a shoed horse, not livestock. I’d make it one of the four riders that were reported ahead of us this morning. We haven’t seen much sign of other horses.” He continues to follow the trail as best he can, but the weather and trail conditions are washing the track away. He nods at Vardi as she points out the broch “Yer right, the rain is not helping, the trail is hard to follow.”
He leads the group down toward the broch, pointing out the broken brush along the way “Look sharp, something big pushed down this way in a hurry, horse or livestock, I can’t right tell which.” As they come across the remains of the campsite, he helps the others search for sign of the girl and looks up at the sudden noise. “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?” Thatch slips up the hill silently, trying to get eyes on the creature. Perception: 13.
Thatch scrambled up the opposite slope trying to get eyes on the beast, and indeed he did as as soon as his head came over the top of the rise he met the gaze of a distressed looking hairy bull with a large gash across its face some 50' away.
Hearing the bovine bellowing, Ori picks his head up looking in the direction of the hilltop, "Aye, Famh, what did you say the girl was herding out in these parts?" Thatch had it right, a bull, and it didn't sound like he's in a good mood. There was a fellow with a bull that traveled with his old show early in Ori's career. What was it he used to do with that bull to make him get mad and never get hurt? His cape or some cloth thing he had. What was it about the cloth that made it work its magic. Ori couldn't quite recall. He did however remember how things ended for that bull after coming up lame. "Well remember aim right between its eyes, preferably with something very blunt, if it gives us trouble. That is how I'm told the butchers do it. But unless that gorl is up there with him, the bull isn't our problem. I agree we should find whats bugging it as that give us a clue to where to go from here but Im too wet to be thinking about steaks for supper. Where is Tana when you need her, aye?"
Ori split the difference heading upslope between the bull and the broch...
"Aye, Ori,, but if she is wi' him, then following on the bellowing is a good way to find her. And we ought to try and go quietly. The bulls I've known didna tend to bellow because things were good." Famh walks over to the boot tracks Vardi saw; and then begins to quietly follow them uphill towards the sound, trying to keep pace with and parallel Thatch as she searches for any further signs.
=========
Investigation 23.
As Famh looked for traces of boot tracks on the upward slope it was almost as if something in the land was aiding her, just when she thought they went straight up where Thatch was headed a tiny toad leapt drawing her eye to a clear print hidden next to a clump of heather, another she found when a single sunbeam glimmered through the rain to light a single long black hair caught on a bramble....as she caught her breath she could suddenly see there were four different sets of boots, though how exactly she knew she could not say...one of those heading up was much deeper.......she also found some few prints heading back downslope....
Cainneach recognizes the increased difficulty the falling rain would create in tracking their quarry, as what were now merely rivulets of fallen water would quickly build into something strong enough to wash away the hoof and boot prints they were currently relying on. It was obvious enough at this point they were following four mounted men, likely from Beltayn, and also likely the four that had passed through the small town ahead of them overnight. With the camp laid out as it was, they also were making no attempt to disguise their passage. The matter of the girl and the injured bull were still a mystery. Why would someone clobber a great beast like this one, but then leave it? And why would anyone make trouble for these people? They didn't seem to have anything of value.
After conversing with Famh and Thatch, Cainneach and Salt hunt about meticulously for any other clues that could offer insight into the next steps of the four horsemen or evidence of the girl's presence beyond the hair that Famh has seen.
Thatch: “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?”
Vardi, who has been increasingly concerned in expression since the troupe found the campsite says "I nay know much of bulls, but ta nay act like a hunting beast around one wi' a herd."
OOC: Vardi considers what she knows of cattle specifically for a Total of 9 for Animal Handling.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(From Ori's position, can he tell if the slash on the bulls face is fresh and still bleeding trying to decide if it just happens which started bothering bulls distress as we started hearing it. Perhaps it's a new that day wound but old enough the blood is starting to dry up where it's dripped. Ori is trying to decide how long ago he thinks it happened to know how far behind they are ofnthe ones who did it. Also is there blood on it's horns, indicating the bull possibility hurt his assailants too, or even the bull was the aggressor then and not just attacked whike passing by.)
Cainneach recognizes the increased difficulty the falling rain would create in tracking their quarry, as what were now merely rivulets of fallen water would quickly build into something strong enough to wash away the hoof and boot prints they were currently relying on. It was obvious enough at this point they were following four mounted men, likely from Beltayn, and also likely the four that had passed through the small town ahead of them overnight. With the camp laid out as it was, they also were making no attempt to disguise their passage. The matter of the girl and the injured bull were still a mystery. Why would someone clobber a great beast like this one, but then leave it? And why would anyone make trouble for these people? They didn't seem to have anything of value.
After conversing with Famh and Thatch, Cainneach and Salt hunt about meticulously for any other clues that could offer insight into the next steps of the four horsemen or evidence of the girl's presence beyond the hair that Famh has seen.
Salt is distracted by the smell of cows, horses and possibly other pieces of ham rind that were dropped along the way, Cainneach does find a single light boot print in a patch of mud a little smaller than those Famh is pointing out headed toward the broch....
Thatch: “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?”
Vardi, who has been increasingly concerned in expression since the troupe found the campsite says "I nay know much of bulls, but ta nay act like a hunting beast around one wi' a herd."
OOC: Vardi considers what she knows of cattle specifically for a Total of 9 for Animal Handling.
Vardi knows enough to know an injured animal can be unpredictable...
(From Ori's position, can he tell if the slash on the bulls face is fresh and still bleeding trying to decide if it just happens which started bothering bulls distress as we started hearing it. Perhaps it's a new that day wound but old enough the blood is starting to dry up where it's dripped. Ori is trying to decide how long ago he thinks it happened to know how far behind they are ofnthe ones who did it. Also is there blood on it's horns, indicating the bull possibility hurt his assailants too, or even the bull was the aggressor then and not just attacked whike passing by.)
Perception: 13
The wound looks recent but the blood is dry...though running again now in the rain, there is no blood to be seen on the beasts horns....if he had to guess, based on his past experience, the animal looks more confused than aggressive.
The forester ignores the bull for now, as it looked like Ori and Vardi had that situation well in hand. Cainneach calls quietly to Famh and gestures for her to come over and review the boot print with him. "I think this could be the girl's, although I don't see much else around it. Does it match up with any others you might have seen?" He tries to indicate whatever details might help Famh track along with him. The forester is starting to get nervous about losing the trail, with the rain steadily falling. It was starting to run down into his eyes from his cloak, making it more difficult to see the tracks and, perhaps, any would be assailants. Cainneach points Salt to the track and asks the hound to sniff it, then try to pick up the trail.
Survival14 (both focused on picking the trail of the smaller boot print) Perception10 (Salt super-sniffing)
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"Wait what? The hell you think your... and there the bugger goes..." Ori stands there in disbelief as Sir Almeric runs off... on his own... to deliver a message. "I wonder if he was a messenger in his crusading days, running off on his bloody own like he's not the primary target of the group if someone came for us. It's not like he's the sneakest one in the bunch. Oh well we can complain later. Our goal is to find the go and return the girl here safely. Famh has the description and where the girl was heading. We will make our way to the spot and break to teams to search more ground but will be in sight of one another. Almeric's fear of Beorn being behind this is unlikely but not out of the question so eyes and ears up aye. We are looking for the girl, not trying to suprise her, so unless we sense foul play we prioritize speed over stealth. Any questions?"
Realizing the man and his family coukd probably hear his orders, Ori tried to sound confident in his orders, and stopped questioning Almeric where they coukd hear. I'm sure the man felt great seeing the leader of the company that he just asked help from starts running a different direction. Well Ori knew how to play to people's senses as he was being watched. Presentation is half the battle. "Oi then, Thatch lead the way, Famh and Vardi next, Cain to cover the rear, Aye?"
(didn't mean to hit post just then .. here's the rest)
=========
She listens quietly to Ori 's briefing and falls into the position he indicated without question. Only when the retinue is out of the father's earshot does she say softly to him, "Actually, I think we'll have to balance speed with thoroughness in our prorities. We have to find the girl promptly, but at the same time ... there's a good bit of empty moorland around these highland town of Thuland once you get up on the ridgeline and out past the outskirts." With that, she settles into a quiet, watchful pace as she walks along beside Vardi, looking carefully around her as the retinue takes to the hill path to begin the search.
=========
Famh's Perception, first leg of the march 9
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
Antar al'Barmeqi - goblin warlock (The Genie: Marid) 1, THE MOON OF THORNS
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 - Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Theris Dionte, shadar-kai rogue 1, Born of Stormmount
(not being ungrateful, she also notes carefully where the stand of sweet cicely was and makes a mental note to share some with the generous folk of Hightoun when the retinue comes back this way on the return journey to Sewark Keep)
=========
(OOC: Interesting plant, sweet cicely. A website exploring the shamanic uses of herbs in the "northern tradition"
And regarding the fennel they recommend pairing with it:
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
Antar al'Barmeqi - goblin warlock (The Genie: Marid) 1, THE MOON OF THORNS
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 - Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Theris Dionte, shadar-kai rogue 1, Born of Stormmount
Cainneach couldn't quite make out most of Almeric's words to Famh and Ori, but he certainly wasn't one to flee from duty, so Cainneach reasoned that the Capellar must have some plan in mind. He lowered, but didn't put away his bow, leaving an arrow nocked as he approached the others.
Upon hearing a fuller description of the situation from Ori, Cainneach agreed that it seemed unlikely that the group they had followed could be Beorn's men this deep into Thuland. Then again, the possibility of Clan Harbinger's presence around Beltayn had been raised, so anything could be possible. Cainneach and Salt fell into the pattern requested by Ori, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings and his companions while also trying to look for any useful tracks or signs of the girl.
Perception 18 (looking for any signs of trouble)
Survival 25 (looking for any signs of the girl or other tracks heading her way)
Perception 21 (Salt sniffing for the girl and listening for signs of trouble)
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Somewhat reassured the man lead the group along the Lords Road to his home; a small cottage made of wood and daub. Two young children of indeterminate gender sat on the step dressed in linen shifts.
He pointed at a trail which led past the home and up the hill before ushering the children inside. Neither Famh nor Cainneach have much luck in their initial assessment of the trail...a light rain began to fall.
Salt almost immediately catches a scent of some kind, and both Vardi and Thatch note hoofprints in the soft mud of the trail.....shoed horses, not cows.
Cresting the hilltop the trail dips down into a wooded valley, low scrubby oak and pine mingle, the rain is beginning to wash away the tracks in places.
The wood is carpeted with fallen leaves and needles and thick growths of bracken, as they begin to descend Ori picks up a small piece of metal from the ground and holds it in his palm....a boot nail...
Beyond the wood there are several ravens or rooks croaking atop a crumbled stone ruined broch on the opposite ridgeline...
Almeric: "I'm sorry we couldn't chat more about Plate Harnesses, maybe later?"
Vardi, who has been disentangling herself from a basket lid shortly before, says "Would be my pleasure Ser." with a smile and puts a massive hand on the knight's shoulder, gentle as a feather landing as she adds in a whisper "Take care out there, Ser Almeric, and good luck to ye wi' the big man."
Ori: "Any questions?"
The big lass, still trying to get her bearings in this flurry of activity, asks "Just one. Where do ye want us, Sarge?"
Ori: "Oi then, Thatch lead the way, Famh and Vardi next, Cain to cover the rear, Aye?"
"Aye, Ser." Vardi replies as she makes her curiously ornate salute, then proceeds to Famh's right side to take up her usual guard position, finding an odd comfort in a duty familiar to her. She is careful to not disturb any tracks with her own big bootprints, and keeps back to allow Cainneach and Salt to do their work in peace.
The warrior woman hangs her helm off her pack by a most cunning iron clip of Morag's design, quick to open and close, but strong enough to hold the weight of a metal helm when not needed, but keeps her polished shield at the ready. Skoggi, having ascertained that something is going on, keeps by her feet, staying close by, but not so close as to trip her up, and looks about, curious as to what the object of this particular hunt is...
Famh: "Actually, I think we'll have to balance speed with thoroughness in our prorities. We have to find the girl promptly, but at the same time ... there's a good bit of empty moorland around these highland town of Thuland once you get up on the ridgeline and out past the outskirts."
Vardi nods in agreement, and offers equally quietly "Better view up there on tha ridge of tha landscape, might help us narrow tha search down a bit, aye?"
(OOC: Looking out for trouble with Perception Total of 14 and Looking for the lass with Survival Total of 5.)
"If I may?" she asks in a whisper of Ori, and carefully examines the bootnail.
(OOC: Would Vardi know one local smith's work in small nails from another? If so, what's the roll for that?)
17
Ori leans back in to Vardi and whispers "The best front we can show the family is we are in haste to fond the kid, we can consider how on the ridge." Leaning up straight, "Oi mates, we's burning daylight, let's get in gear and find the lass before the storm rolls in."
Holding the nail in hand Ori grips it tightly in a fist. "Well mates, what the chances that poor family affords a shoed horse to shepherd their flock with... I'm afraid this is going g to turn from a search to a rescue mission. Cain, Thatch, follow those tracks as best we can before we lose them. Open to all suggestions at this point. If we are chasing someone on horse back, we will be fighting an uphill battle for sure. I also don't want to give up hope that those on horseback were simply riding through and didn't bother the lass. There's still a chance she just want to ride out the rain aye?" Ori didn't really think there was much of a chance the riders simply passed by, but he felt the need to offer up the hope. "Perhaps we give up on the horse tracks and follow the heard tracks? If we f8nd them, she will be them or not and then we will know to pick up the horsemen tracks again. Or they took the girl and flock and then it will still be easier to pick up the hearts trail over a few horses."
Vardi regards the nail for a moment, she has seen its like before...rough work for tackety boots...brass forged tack....likely Beltayne work though its too small to carry a mark...for tromping out here she would have used a cone-head nail in steel but needs wants...
Ori: "The best front we can show the family is we are in haste to fond the kid, we can consider how on the ridge."
Vardi nods silently in agreement, and gets on with the work of searching with her eyes.
Later ...
"Rooks or ravens, by tha size of them. Chatting lively enough, could just be at tha sight of us, but they're nay quiet feeding nor loudly fighting over a grisly find. Nay for them ta feed on here then?" the big lass mutters pensively.
On matter of the nail, Vardi quietly offers "Beltayne work by tha look of it, but I could nay tell ye for sure whose exactly. Cheap, and of the quality ye'd expect for that. Could have come loose in walking, which is odd for folk on horseback, but could also be the result of a struggle of some sort knocking it loose. If it was tha lass who dropped it, now tha' I could nay tell ye for certain."
On the matter of the herd, the big lass simply nods and replies "The rain is nay our ally here. If these humble folk had more than four kine ta their names, then aye, will be easier ta track them than four horses, or so I would think." then looks to Cainneach and Thatch as those wiser than her in that matter, to test if her assumption is correct.
"Check tha remnants of tha' tumbled down broch first, ser? Nearest cover from tha' rain tha' is nay a tree here tha' I can see."
Sighting on the broch, Thatch led the way down into the woods as the fastest way there noting that the bracken was bent and broken from where several large beings had pushed their way through, though whether cows or horses was hard to tell as the broken heath and berry bushes did not take tracks well.
About one hundred feet in they came across a trampled area and Cainneach noted that one of the trees had wear marks in the bark where rope had been tied to it.
Venturing on a few more yards they came to another flattened area under some trees where there was the remains of a banked fire and Famh, with eager assistance from Salt, noted some ham rind kicked under a fallen branch.
Shankhil squints and notes that there are deeper bootprints in a patch of mud heading uphill away from the campsite.
There is suddenly a deep bellowing sound which rumbles down from the hilltops, most of the troupe immediately identified it as a bull.
Thatch starts to say something as Sir Almeric heads to meet with the local sheriff, then stops and shakes his head instead. He takes the lead as they push up the trail, stopping and bending down to examine a set of fresh prints. “Look here, this is a shoed horse, not livestock. I’d make it one of the four riders that were reported ahead of us this morning. We haven’t seen much sign of other horses.” He continues to follow the trail as best he can, but the weather and trail conditions are washing the track away. He nods at Vardi as she points out the broch “Yer right, the rain is not helping, the trail is hard to follow.”
He leads the group down toward the broch, pointing out the broken brush along the way “Look sharp, something big pushed down this way in a hurry, horse or livestock, I can’t right tell which.” As they come across the remains of the campsite, he helps the others search for sign of the girl and looks up at the sudden noise. “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?” Thatch slips up the hill silently, trying to get eyes on the creature. Perception: 13.
.
Hearing the bovine bellowing, Ori picks his head up looking in the direction of the hilltop, "Aye, Famh, what did you say the girl was herding out in these parts?" Thatch had it right, a bull, and it didn't sound like he's in a good mood. There was a fellow with a bull that traveled with his old show early in Ori's career. What was it he used to do with that bull to make him get mad and never get hurt? His cape or some cloth thing he had. What was it about the cloth that made it work its magic. Ori couldn't quite recall. He did however remember how things ended for that bull after coming up lame. "Well remember aim right between its eyes, preferably with something very blunt, if it gives us trouble. That is how I'm told the butchers do it. But unless that gorl is up there with him, the bull isn't our problem. I agree we should find whats bugging it as that give us a clue to where to go from here but Im too wet to be thinking about steaks for supper. Where is Tana when you need her, aye?"
"Aye, Ori,, but if she is wi' him, then following on the bellowing is a good way to find her. And we ought to try and go quietly. The bulls I've known didna tend to bellow because things were good." Famh walks over to the boot tracks Vardi saw; and then begins to quietly follow them uphill towards the sound, trying to keep pace with and parallel Thatch as she searches for any further signs.
=========
Investigation 8.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
Antar al'Barmeqi - goblin warlock (The Genie: Marid) 1, THE MOON OF THORNS
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 - Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Theris Dionte, shadar-kai rogue 1, Born of Stormmount
Thatch scrambled up the opposite slope trying to get eyes on the beast, and indeed he did as as soon as his head came over the top of the rise he met the gaze of a distressed looking hairy bull with a large gash across its face some 50' away.
Ori split the difference heading upslope between the bull and the broch...
As Famh looked for traces of boot tracks on the upward slope it was almost as if something in the land was aiding her, just when she thought they went straight up where Thatch was headed a tiny toad leapt drawing her eye to a clear print hidden next to a clump of heather, another she found when a single sunbeam glimmered through the rain to light a single long black hair caught on a bramble....as she caught her breath she could suddenly see there were four different sets of boots, though how exactly she knew she could not say...one of those heading up was much deeper.......she also found some few prints heading back downslope....
Cainneach recognizes the increased difficulty the falling rain would create in tracking their quarry, as what were now merely rivulets of fallen water would quickly build into something strong enough to wash away the hoof and boot prints they were currently relying on. It was obvious enough at this point they were following four mounted men, likely from Beltayn, and also likely the four that had passed through the small town ahead of them overnight. With the camp laid out as it was, they also were making no attempt to disguise their passage. The matter of the girl and the injured bull were still a mystery. Why would someone clobber a great beast like this one, but then leave it? And why would anyone make trouble for these people? They didn't seem to have anything of value.
After conversing with Famh and Thatch, Cainneach and Salt hunt about meticulously for any other clues that could offer insight into the next steps of the four horsemen or evidence of the girl's presence beyond the hair that Famh has seen.
Survival 13 (Cainneach)
Perception 7 (Salt)
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Thatch: “A bull, and a big one it sounds like, but what’s got him riled up?”
Vardi, who has been increasingly concerned in expression since the troupe found the campsite says "I nay know much of bulls, but ta nay act like a hunting beast around one wi' a herd."
OOC: Vardi considers what she knows of cattle specifically for a Total of 9 for Animal Handling.
(From Ori's position, can he tell if the slash on the bulls face is fresh and still bleeding trying to decide if it just happens which started bothering bulls distress as we started hearing it. Perhaps it's a new that day wound but old enough the blood is starting to dry up where it's dripped. Ori is trying to decide how long ago he thinks it happened to know how far behind they are ofnthe ones who did it. Also is there blood on it's horns, indicating the bull possibility hurt his assailants too, or even the bull was the aggressor then and not just attacked whike passing by.)
Perception: 8
Salt is distracted by the smell of cows, horses and possibly other pieces of ham rind that were dropped along the way, Cainneach does find a single light boot print in a patch of mud a little smaller than those Famh is pointing out headed toward the broch....
Vardi knows enough to know an injured animal can be unpredictable...
The wound looks recent but the blood is dry...though running again now in the rain, there is no blood to be seen on the beasts horns....if he had to guess, based on his past experience, the animal looks more confused than aggressive.
The forester ignores the bull for now, as it looked like Ori and Vardi had that situation well in hand. Cainneach calls quietly to Famh and gestures for her to come over and review the boot print with him. "I think this could be the girl's, although I don't see much else around it. Does it match up with any others you might have seen?" He tries to indicate whatever details might help Famh track along with him. The forester is starting to get nervous about losing the trail, with the rain steadily falling. It was starting to run down into his eyes from his cloak, making it more difficult to see the tracks and, perhaps, any would be assailants. Cainneach points Salt to the track and asks the hound to sniff it, then try to pick up the trail.
Survival 14 (both focused on picking the trail of the smaller boot print)
Perception 10 (Salt super-sniffing)
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