Appropriately limbered up, Oloven tacks up Daisy and hops into the saddle, calling "Ready when you are, fellas!"

He takes a good sniff of the air, getting a sense of what kind of day it'll be out in the forest. 

Survival: 12

((Well, they can't all be winners.))

Sigi rises and completes his morning traveling rituals: prayers; gathering up his bedroll and checking the location and condition of his belongings; checking on his horse and cart; then stepping off the path to find a bit of natural roughage for breakfast.  He prays to the Earthmother to guide him to some berries or perhaps a wild appletree.  Survival:  17  + Guidance:  1

If he finds a bounty, he will gather enough to share with his traveling companions.  

Upon his return he will mount Barley and signal that he is likewise ready to resume their travels.

Tor will be the last to climb up into the saddle, deliberately waiting until the others are present and correct. 

He looks down the path, towards the horizon, and tries to imagine into existence a clear, boring road all the way to Leilon. With escort jobs, if it got exciting you were doing it wrong. 

Survival: 13

Those who got over 15 recognize that the day promises rain in a few hours.

"Gentlemen, I think it is going to be a BEAUTIFUL day! I can hardly wait to get started!" 

Oloven takes a quick lap around the field with Daisy to get her warmed up for the long ride. When he gets back, he asks "We ready? Where's Ace? Time's a wasting!" 

A chill breeze from the west. A hint of dark clouds to the south and west. Hmm. Rain lowered the odds of being ambushed, bandits being vain and lazy creatures whose desire to stay dry usually outweighed their love of money and causing distress. On the other hand, it would make the ground muddy and might slow the journey considerably.

"He's in the trees doing his morning whatevers." Being the last one still on the ground, Tor realises it will be easiest for him to go get the wayward merchant. "I'll fetch him. I want to put a good few miles down before the rain starts."

He enters into the treeline in roughly the same spot as Ace. "Greywind! It's time to go! Chop chop!"

Edit: Got my east and west confused... Wrote this at half 4 AM.

Tor, as you walk into the trees, you hear some grunting. When you find Ace, you see him practicing his fighting skills on a tree, with his bare hands. He looks to be crying, and seems to be beating himself (emotionally more than physically) over whatever is the cause for his distress.

"Nice moves." Tor makes no comment about the crying, or the emotional turmoil Ace seems to be in.

"But trees aren't known for fighting back. Next time we stop we'll do a little sparring. But right now we have to go."

Ace instinctively, looks up, than immediately turns away to wipe away his tears. "I know, just hardening my hands is all, nothing else." He takes a few deep breathes, and then turns back to Tor, saying "Ready to go then."

Nature: 15

Tor looks at Ace's blotchy face, and stares for just a little longer than is comfortable. 

"Good." 

He gestures with open palm for Ace to head back to camp and the horses, and will wait to follow him.

As Ace walks over to his horse, he regains his cocky posture. When he gets to Victor, he saddles on so fast, most are unable to process the motion.

Insight: 20

Brother Sigi had been busy with his prayers last night and missed a lot of the commotion and hullabaloo, but he was able to piece it together based on the words and body language of the parties involved and the continuing awkwardness this morning.  He makes a mental note to have a heart to heart with some of his traveling companions later, but sees rain in the forecast and feels it is best to get some miles behind them before storms slow their travel... or bring it to a halt entirely.

Brother Sigi can see the swelling on Ace's face, indicating tears. You are also able to tell that he is a master cavalier due to his horse mount.

The further away from Neverwinter, and the regular patrols of the Neverwinter Guard, the more less safe the roads become (I'll be rolling random encounter rolls now).

A few miles into the journey and the weather turns to rain. It's cold enough to be unpleasant, but not cold enough to be a danger. It becomes a sort of constant drizzle, the kind of rain that finds its way into any possible crack or seam in clothing to get to the skin. Anyone with sense would be inside, enjoying a cup of hot tea or mulled cider. 

Please roll perception checks for the first halfday of travel.

Perception: 16

Perception:  20

Tor pulls up the hood on his cloak to keep the worst of the rain off his face, but otherwise seems to show no discomfort in the wet.

Perception 8

Oloven wraps his blanket around himself, then spends the morning's ride in much the same way he had the day before, undaunted by the weather. The only notable change in Oloven's behavior is the fact that he's elected to whistle instead of use his flute, to protect the wood from the moisture. Meanwhile, he continues to stay vigilant at the head of the pack. 

Perception: 22

Though it is hard to see in the rain with the overcast sky, Oloven and Sigi can see a pillar of smoke a few hundred yards in the distance along the road.

Siegfried pulls up on the reins and brings Barley and the cart to a halt.  "Hold, comrades.  Something large is burning up ahead.  There may be travelers in need of aid... or it could be a trap."

He dismounts and prepares himself to proceed on foot while he waits to see how the others plan to react.