This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Smiling Jack firsts sprints to the old lady to "free" her of her bonds.
Knot untying etc. sleight of hand 19 or a dagger to slice the bounding material. whichever is more gentle for the old lady. OOC - any chance Jack also knows of her?
Assuming others come over as well, Jack leaves the lady in the hand of the others.
Jack collects arrows as he walks towards Oengus, making the appropriate hand signs for the dead (e.g. sign of a cross).
Jack holds Oengus, closing his eyes and weeping as the groupie he his; mumbling blessings/prayers his minimal religious education has taught him to do.
Ardwynn lets out a long held breath while surverying 'the battlefield'. "Hey, anyone have a blade they can use to chop off some heads? I did not bring oil or I would try burning these stinky things as they lay since I heard tell how removing heads is a very permanent solution for many dark creatures."
Barn is still standing forlornly over Oengus' body when Smiling Jack frees the old woman. The big man turns to address her, voice heavy.
"I-I know I've s-seen you b-before." His stutter is back full force. "At the h-harvest fair m-maybe? I am Barn and these are Ardwynn, Jack and the other Jack from town, and Caelan and Reg who are helping us." The big man glances back at the trapper to see if the paralysis has worn off.
"And th-this was Oengus. I w-will miss his s-songs. He saved my l-life. Wh-what WERE these abominations? And h-how did you k-keep them away? W-with your m-mumbling and all? And how d-did you get here to start w-with? We are out h-here chasing Old Ned who kidnapped Clotha."
If Ardwynn asks Barn to start chopping off ghoul heads with his halberd he will reluctantly oblige, trying not to gag on the smell.
"I d-don't have oil. But I think b-burning would be better. Wh-what about Oengus? Will he t-turn into one of these th-things if we d-don't burn him too?"
"Behead or burn... I guess the stink would just be worse if they were burning. Barn if you would do the deed... it would put my mind at rest.... that these things will not rise back up."
Ardwynn shrugs.
"First time I have ever run into such things. I have no idea how to fix things for Oengus... or what the after effects might be from exposure to their bite or scratches.
This is when I wish I knew a healer. They tend to know this stuff. And whether or not a healing potion might help... not that I have (or can afford) healing potions."
Smiling Jack firsts sprints to the old lady to "free" her of her bonds.
Knot untying etc. sleight of hand 12 or a dagger to slice the bounding material. whichever is more gentle for the old lady. OOC - any chance Jack also knows of her?
Assuming others come over as well, Jack leaves the lady in the hand of the others.
Jack collects arrows as he walks towards Oengus, making the appropriate hand signs for the dead (e.g. sign of a cross).
Jack holds Oengus, closing his eyes and weeping as the groupie he his; mumbling blessings/prayers his minimal religious education has taught him to do.
Jack- cut through the woman's bonds and Barn lowered her gently to the ground, now that she was nearer most of the others realized that they had seen her before, either at market or gathering herbs and fungi at the edge of the woods.
Ardwynn lets out a long held breath while surverying 'the battlefield'. "Hey, anyone have a blade they can use to chop off some heads? I did not bring oil or I would try burning these stinky things as they lay since I heard tell how removing heads is a very permanent solution for many dark creatures."
Barn is still standing forlornly over Oengus' body when Smiling Jack frees the old woman. The big man turns to address her, voice heavy.
"I-I know I've s-seen you b-before." His stutter is back full force. "At the h-harvest fair m-maybe? I am Barn and these are Ardwynn, Jack and the other Jack from town, and Caelan and Reg who are helping us." The big man glances back at the trapper to see if the paralysis has worn off.
"And th-this was Oengus. I w-will miss his s-songs. He saved my l-life. Wh-what WERE these abominations? And h-how did you k-keep them away? W-with your m-mumbling and all? And how d-did you get here to start w-with? We are out h-here chasing Old Ned who kidnapped Clotha."
If Ardwynn asks Barn to start chopping off ghoul heads with his halberd he will reluctantly oblige, trying not to gag on the smell.
"I d-don't have oil. But I think b-burning would be better. Wh-what about Oengus? Will he t-turn into one of these th-things if we d-don't burn him too?"
" Thank you, all.", said the old woman weakly. " I am known as Elen, sometimes Elen the Kind."
" I am sorry for the loss of your bard, songs are hard to come by in a land as put upon as Ereworn."
Off Barns queries she coughed and said, " I'm one of those sometimes called Cunning Folk. We do our best to keep back evil influences with little acts of the craft. "
" As for who they were......others hung from the gibbets.....dying wracked with hunger and thrown into the woods once passed..."
" I was travelling to the ruins of a monastery said to be situated on an island in the middle of the river just a mile roughly to the south-west. Its said the monastery was once a sanctuary for all that was good in the world, remaining so even when the Great Wards fell, but was finally corrupted. All the monks were then supposedly turned from the path of good and began to lead evil lives. Now only the shattered ruins of the monastery are left standing. Every night in the great chapel the ghosts of these evil monks assemble, moaning and howling around the last vestige of goodness in the monastery—a holy chalice which is said to have the potential for great healing. I had hoped to retrieve this and use it to heal the suffering in my village."
" But that does not look likely now..."
" Your young hag has the right of it....you'll need to tend similarly to your fallen friend....."
" I don't think I'm long for this world....if your bard had any knowledge in need of preserving that falls to you now."
" Old Ned? The Hob? And he stole Clotha? Ah, I think I glimpsed them a little earlier, there is a trail besides that old oak further down.....I think they passed that way.."
"Behead or burn... I guess the stink would just be worse if they were burning. Barn if you would do the deed... it would put my mind at rest.... that these things will not rise back up."
Ardwynn shrugs.
"First time I have ever run into such things. I have no idea how to fix things for Oengus... or what the after effects might be from exposure to their bite or scratches.
This is when I wish I knew a healer. They tend to know this stuff. And whether or not a healing potion might help... not that I have (or can afford) healing potions."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Smiling Jack hearing the words of Elen, with a determinist concentration, goes to look for the signs of Ned, after a step or two, he turns back to Elen, "Thank you" Find the area she had mentioned, Jack proceeds to look for signs of Ned.
Halberd held in both hands, Barn dutifully beheads the ghoul "corpses" and kicks the heads away as he thinks Wynn is suggesting. He pushes the headless abominations into a pile for a potential pyre (and retrieves the heads to toss in as well), almost gagging and retching from the smell.
He looks to Smiling Jack. "I have a tinderbox and torch to start up a bonfire if you can douse them in oil."
The big man then kneels hesitantly and reverently beside Oengus' body. Gently he goes through Oengus' belongings, not trying to pry, but gathering any effects (such as musical instruments) he thinks a loved one might cherish if Barn could pass them on. As well as any obviously useful items, given the urgency of the situation that the rest of the party finds themselves in. He feels (and looks) sick with the sense that he is desecrating his friend's corpse.
"I c-can throw Oengus' body onto the p-pyre too. I d-dunno. Should I? S-someone else make the d-decision."
"L-like the Jacks are saying, we need to g-go after Ned and Clotha f-first. But if there's some... s-some holy chalice that c-can heal people. W-we should go after that later t-too." The big man looks rueful. "W-with that and the thing with the m-murderous guy and h-his wife, we s-sure have a lot to do!"
Though Barn speaks as if he is ready to set off immediately, in truth he is bleeding profusely (4/13 hp) and looks as if he needs at least a short rest.
Smiling Jack hearing the words of Elen, with a determinist concentration, goes to look for the signs of Ned, after a step or two, he turns back to Elen, "Thank you" Find the area she had mentioned, Jack proceeds to look for signs of Ned.
Perception 20
Survival 24
Heading a short way west Smiling Jack finds clear boot prints and two smaller drag marks heading past the tree on a clear but overgrown path south....
Smiling Jack comes back and naively states, "I found the tracks for Ned, looks like he still has Clotha, and they are about an hour or two in front of us."
Reg slowly recovered from his petrification experience, moving slowly at first. He takes into view all that the scene holds. The bard slain, the old woman being comforted as best as can be before passing the veil. He wonders if his limited experience can assist or ease the woman’s suffering. Perhaps some herb in the area to alleviate her pain, and his own. (Herbalist kit) To the others, “The bard’s armor does him no good any longer. I am sorry for his passing. But if we want the best chance now to save the girl, we should scavenge as much as we can. I could use better protection and until I can find it, with all of your permissions, I’d like to use his.”
Barn hesitates, his own blood still pooling at his feet from the gashes inflicted on him by the abominations, all three directed at him somehow having gotten past his chain mail. His relief as he sees the similarly injured Reg is countered by his helpless sorrow for Oengus and now Elen.
"If... If Ned is already an hour ahead of us or m-more, we c-could rest. M-maybe sitting for an hour might l-let Reg and me p-patch ourselves up a little? B-Besides, w-with Oegnus already d-dead, it doesn't feel right to j-just let Elen die here alone... unless you w-want to be alone?"
The big man looks uncertainly at the old woman. "Ah... also I was w-wondering ma'am, who is one of the C-Cunning Folk already with us... Reg? Wynn?"
( Have moved all of Oengus possessions to Party Equipment.)
As Reg came forward with his herbalists knowledge Elen smiled at him, pointed a little finger his way and winked at Barn.
" If you have some foxglove and hemlock I'll take those. "
" What was already in my lungs wasn't helped at all by the rain, and cold and not sleeping over the last few days.....so there's not a lot I can do for myself.....but cuts and bruises? I think I have enough left in these old bones to help at least a couple of you...."
Barn inclines his head in thanks to Elen, gesturing for her to fully heal Reg and use the remainder of her restorative power on his own wounds (11/13 hp). He gazes at her sadly, vaguely recalling that hemlock is a poison and finally putting together in his head what Elen intends to use it for.
Of Oengus' belongings, the big man takes the bard's flute in case any loved one would want the keepsake, and two of his five rations.
"Caelan, or Reg, there is a h-hunting trap here which maybe you c-could use? And some t-tools for... I dunno... p-picking stuff apart?" (Barn points to Oengus'Thieves' Tools). "S-someone should take those at least, in c-case we need extras." (Barn might vaguely recall that Smiling Jack already has a similar-looking set of Thieves' Tools, but he figures it doesn't hurt for someone else to have a set as well, or for Smiling Jack to have two.)
When done, Barn, his wounds mostly but not entirely healed, is ready to press on after Ned and Clotha, bowing awkwardly in solemn farewell to Elen.
Caelan moved only after the others had spoken, slow, deliberate, the way a man does when every step must mean something. He knelt beside Oengus first. Not to search him. Not to move him. Just to rest a hand on the bard’s shoulder, eyes closed. His lips moved in a quiet prayer, not loud enough to draw comfort from it, only enough to give the man dignity. “May the road you walked in song carry you safely home,” he murmured. Then he rose. “Barn,” Caelan said gently,“not yet.” His hand settled briefly on the big man’s arm before the halberd could lift toward Oengus’s body.“We burn the dead who fell to darkness. Not our friends.” His voice was firm but kind. “We wrap him. We carry what we must. We remember where he lies if we cannot take him with us. That is honor.” He turned to Ardwynn. “Use the oil on the ghouls. Barn, do what you must after. Quick and clean. No more than needed.”Then to Jack, who had come back with news of the trail. Caelan listened carefully, eyes sharpening. “Good work,” he said quietly. “Clear prints. Drag marks. South. That’s our path.”
He looked to Barn and Reg, noting the blood, the shaking hands, the wear in their stances. “We rest, but only long enough to bind wounds and gather strength. One hour. No fires bigger than needed. No wandering. We move the moment the hour is done. If it's not needed then we press on.” His gaze shifted to Elen, softening. “You have done enough, Elen the Kind. More than most would dare.”He bowed his head slightly to her. “Your name will be remembered.” Then, finally, Caelan straightened and looked to the trees where Jack had found the trail. “Clotha is still ahead of us,” he said.“Alive until proven otherwise. Every moment matters, but so does reaching her able to fight.” He tightened his grip on his bow. “One hour…if needed. If not we can press on.” he repeated. “Then we hunt Old Ned. I won’t be taking anything from our departed friend.”
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Smiling Jack firsts sprints to the old lady to "free" her of her bonds.
Knot untying etc. sleight of hand 19 or a dagger to slice the bounding material. whichever is more gentle for the old lady. OOC - any chance Jack also knows of her?
Assuming others come over as well, Jack leaves the lady in the hand of the others.
Jack collects arrows as he walks towards Oengus, making the appropriate hand signs for the dead (e.g. sign of a cross).
Jack holds Oengus, closing his eyes and weeping as the groupie he his; mumbling blessings/prayers his minimal religious education has taught him to do.
Ardwynn lets out a long held breath while surverying 'the battlefield'. "Hey, anyone have a blade they can use to chop off some heads? I did not bring oil or I would try burning these stinky things as they lay since I heard tell how removing heads is a very permanent solution for many dark creatures."
Smiling Jack opens a pouch and brings a single oil flask to Ardwynn, "All I have just the one flask."
Barn is still standing forlornly over Oengus' body when Smiling Jack frees the old woman. The big man turns to address her, voice heavy.
"I-I know I've s-seen you b-before." His stutter is back full force. "At the h-harvest fair m-maybe? I am Barn and these are Ardwynn, Jack and the other Jack from town, and Caelan and Reg who are helping us." The big man glances back at the trapper to see if the paralysis has worn off.
"And th-this was Oengus. I w-will miss his s-songs. He saved my l-life. Wh-what WERE these abominations? And h-how did you k-keep them away? W-with your m-mumbling and all? And how d-did you get here to start w-with? We are out h-here chasing Old Ned who kidnapped Clotha."
If Ardwynn asks Barn to start chopping off ghoul heads with his halberd he will reluctantly oblige, trying not to gag on the smell.
"I d-don't have oil. But I think b-burning would be better. Wh-what about Oengus? Will he t-turn into one of these th-things if we d-don't burn him too?"
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
"Behead or burn... I guess the stink would just be worse if they were burning. Barn if you would do the deed... it would put my mind at rest.... that these things will not rise back up."
Ardwynn shrugs.
"First time I have ever run into such things. I have no idea how to fix things for Oengus... or what the after effects might be from exposure to their bite or scratches.
This is when I wish I knew a healer. They tend to know this stuff. And whether or not a healing potion might help... not that I have (or can afford) healing potions."
Jack- cut through the woman's bonds and Barn lowered her gently to the ground, now that she was nearer most of the others realized that they had seen her before, either at market or gathering herbs and fungi at the edge of the woods.
" Thank you, all.", said the old woman weakly. " I am known as Elen, sometimes Elen the Kind."
" I am sorry for the loss of your bard, songs are hard to come by in a land as put upon as Ereworn."
Off Barns queries she coughed and said, " I'm one of those sometimes called Cunning Folk. We do our best to keep back evil influences with little acts of the craft. "
" As for who they were......others hung from the gibbets.....dying wracked with hunger and thrown into the woods once passed..."
" I was travelling to the ruins of a monastery said to be situated on an island in the middle of the river just a mile roughly to the south-west. Its said the monastery was once a sanctuary for all that was good in the world, remaining so even when the Great Wards fell, but was finally corrupted. All the monks were then supposedly turned from the path of good and began to lead evil lives. Now only the shattered ruins of the monastery are left standing. Every night in the great chapel the ghosts of these evil monks assemble, moaning and howling around the last vestige of goodness in the monastery—a holy chalice which is said to have the potential for great healing. I had hoped to retrieve this and use it to heal the suffering in my village."
" But that does not look likely now..."
" Your young hag has the right of it....you'll need to tend similarly to your fallen friend....."
" I don't think I'm long for this world....if your bard had any knowledge in need of preserving that falls to you now."
" Old Ned? The Hob? And he stole Clotha? Ah, I think I glimpsed them a little earlier, there is a trail besides that old oak further down.....I think they passed that way.."
Smiling Jack hearing the words of Elen, with a determinist concentration, goes to look for the signs of Ned, after a step or two, he turns back to Elen, "Thank you" Find the area she had mentioned, Jack proceeds to look for signs of Ned.
Perception 16
Survival 10
OOC - Copied because the check is not working and to comment-
Perception 20
Survival 24 This is a Crit roll.
Smiling Jack Reports the findings and directions (and time since?) to the group.
Jack feels badly about the woman not being able to complete her quest. They are already on a mission to save a girl from something evil...
*snap*
"Hey lady, you want to come with us?" After we save Clotha, we can go to your ruins place.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Halberd held in both hands, Barn dutifully beheads the ghoul "corpses" and kicks the heads away as he thinks Wynn is suggesting. He pushes the headless abominations into a pile for a potential pyre (and retrieves the heads to toss in as well), almost gagging and retching from the smell.
He looks to Smiling Jack. "I have a tinderbox and torch to start up a bonfire if you can douse them in oil."
The big man then kneels hesitantly and reverently beside Oengus' body. Gently he goes through Oengus' belongings, not trying to pry, but gathering any effects (such as musical instruments) he thinks a loved one might cherish if Barn could pass them on. As well as any obviously useful items, given the urgency of the situation that the rest of the party finds themselves in. He feels (and looks) sick with the sense that he is desecrating his friend's corpse.
"I c-can throw Oengus' body onto the p-pyre too. I d-dunno. Should I? S-someone else make the d-decision."
"L-like the Jacks are saying, we need to g-go after Ned and Clotha f-first. But if there's some... s-some holy chalice that c-can heal people. W-we should go after that later t-too." The big man looks rueful. "W-with that and the thing with the m-murderous guy and h-his wife, we s-sure have a lot to do!"
Though Barn speaks as if he is ready to set off immediately, in truth he is bleeding profusely (4/13 hp) and looks as if he needs at least a short rest.
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
Heading a short way west Smiling Jack finds clear boot prints and two smaller drag marks heading past the tree on a clear but overgrown path south....
" Can't.....too busy dying. Besides you've already got one of the Cunning Folk with you.....or maybe he's not quite there yet?", Elen mused.
Jacks eyes get wet as he realizes there is nothing he can do. Even if her knew healing techniques, he could do nothing - his very touch is poisonous.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Smiling Jack comes back and naively states, "I found the tracks for Ned, looks like he still has Clotha, and they are about an hour or two in front of us."
"So do we get going?? Or...or...rest?"
Reg slowly recovered from his petrification experience, moving slowly at first. He takes into view all that the scene holds. The bard slain, the old woman being comforted as best as can be before passing the veil. He wonders if his limited experience can assist or ease the woman’s suffering. Perhaps some herb in the area to alleviate her pain, and his own. (Herbalist kit)
To the others, “The bard’s armor does him no good any longer. I am sorry for his passing. But if we want the best chance now to save the girl, we should scavenge as much as we can. I could use better protection and until I can find it, with all of your permissions, I’d like to use his.”
Barn hesitates, his own blood still pooling at his feet from the gashes inflicted on him by the abominations, all three directed at him somehow having gotten past his chain mail. His relief as he sees the similarly injured Reg is countered by his helpless sorrow for Oengus and now Elen.
"If... If Ned is already an hour ahead of us or m-more, we c-could rest. M-maybe sitting for an hour might l-let Reg and me p-patch ourselves up a little? B-Besides, w-with Oegnus already d-dead, it doesn't feel right to j-just let Elen die here alone... unless you w-want to be alone?"
The big man looks uncertainly at the old woman. "Ah... also I was w-wondering ma'am, who is one of the C-Cunning Folk already with us... Reg? Wynn?"
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
( Have moved all of Oengus possessions to Party Equipment.)
As Reg came forward with his herbalists knowledge Elen smiled at him, pointed a little finger his way and winked at Barn.
" If you have some foxglove and hemlock I'll take those. "
" What was already in my lungs wasn't helped at all by the rain, and cold and not sleeping over the last few days.....so there's not a lot I can do for myself.....but cuts and bruises? I think I have enough left in these old bones to help at least a couple of you...."
( Elen has enough energies left in her body to give 2 PCs 13 HP. )
Barn inclines his head in thanks to Elen, gesturing for her to fully heal Reg and use the remainder of her restorative power on his own wounds (11/13 hp). He gazes at her sadly, vaguely recalling that hemlock is a poison and finally putting together in his head what Elen intends to use it for.
Of Oengus' belongings, the big man takes the bard's flute in case any loved one would want the keepsake, and two of his five rations.
"Caelan, or Reg, there is a h-hunting trap here which maybe you c-could use? And some t-tools for... I dunno... p-picking stuff apart?" (Barn points to Oengus' Thieves' Tools). "S-someone should take those at least, in c-case we need extras." (Barn might vaguely recall that Smiling Jack already has a similar-looking set of Thieves' Tools, but he figures it doesn't hurt for someone else to have a set as well, or for Smiling Jack to have two.)
When done, Barn, his wounds mostly but not entirely healed, is ready to press on after Ned and Clotha, bowing awkwardly in solemn farewell to Elen.
Barn(Paladin1):Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4):VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5):Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic system):ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1):Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian (Fighter3):Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia (Sorcerer2):BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1):Culuril's Strixhaven
Caelan moved only after the others had spoken, slow, deliberate, the way a man does when every step must mean something. He knelt beside Oengus first. Not to search him. Not to move him. Just to rest a hand on the bard’s shoulder, eyes closed. His lips moved in a quiet prayer, not loud enough to draw comfort from it, only enough to give the man dignity. “May the road you walked in song carry you safely home,” he murmured. Then he rose. “Barn,” Caelan said gently, “not yet.” His hand settled briefly on the big man’s arm before the halberd could lift toward Oengus’s body. “We burn the dead who fell to darkness. Not our friends.” His voice was firm but kind. “We wrap him. We carry what we must. We remember where he lies if we cannot take him with us. That is honor.” He turned to Ardwynn. “Use the oil on the ghouls. Barn, do what you must after. Quick and clean. No more than needed.” Then to Jack, who had come back with news of the trail. Caelan listened carefully, eyes sharpening. “Good work,” he said quietly. “Clear prints. Drag marks. South. That’s our path.”
He looked to Barn and Reg, noting the blood, the shaking hands, the wear in their stances. “We rest, but only long enough to bind wounds and gather strength. One hour. No fires bigger than needed. No wandering. We move the moment the hour is done. If it's not needed then we press on.” His gaze shifted to Elen, softening. “You have done enough, Elen the Kind. More than most would dare.” He bowed his head slightly to her. “Your name will be remembered.” Then, finally, Caelan straightened and looked to the trees where Jack had found the trail. “Clotha is still ahead of us,” he said. “Alive until proven otherwise. Every moment matters, but so does reaching her able to fight.” He tightened his grip on his bow. “One hour…if needed. If not we can press on.” he repeated. “Then we hunt Old Ned. I won’t be taking anything from our departed friend.”