Union! Game Thread

Tarian maintained her control over each horse as Brandt fastened the straps back in place. Her handling showed obvious experience with horses, as the pair stayed completely calm while Brandt secured them to the wagon.

Every so often, Tarian glanced toward Arc or Thia or Corti. “My father used to say that being a good leader meant more than just giving orders.” Tarian gave the horse a pat on the neck as Brandt finished securing the final strap. “But there everyone went, doing what they’re told. Da never thought to finish teaching me what ‘good leadership’ was before—” Tarian lost herself in a series of brief memories: seeing her father lay unmoving, his right arm twisted, her mother shielding him; helping her mother amputate his arm above his shattered elbow; retrieving her father from another night of excessive drinking. “—Well, before he wasn’t a good leader anymore. I never knew that just issuing orders would be so… tiring.”

Their job complete, Tarian stretched. “How about you, Mister Brandt? You ever have a leadership position in your Company days? What makes a good leader to you?”

"Nope. Command is for other people. My job was just to fire a gun and make sure I'm hitting the right people. Which, while not as easy as it initially sounds, is still leagues easier than leading. Because any leader, even a good one, is going to have to make the tough choices at some point or another."

Thia will listen intently to the men chatting away before her. Realizing they were providing good snippits of information as they directed her, she'd jot the notes down as they spoke. The scholar will look up from her notes, "Well thank you, that was a wealth of information." She'd smile. "And you said Mulch could tell me more than what you've been able to share? Where can I find him?"

"Sorry if tha' wasn't clear, dear, I'm Mulch, an' th' bigun thar's Olaf" The smiling duergar explained. "But if ya want ta knoe sum more 'bout the mountains an' tha rocks, jus' ax. But if ye want ta knoe more 'bout them forests an' the Silver road, I ain't yer man. Meself, Ive always been more at 'ome amongst tha rocks. Call it typical, but tha's tha dwarfen blood fer ya! Hrm- hra- ha."

"Oh!" Thia's cheeks would flush red from the misunderstanding, "I interpreted Mulch as your father. My apologies." She'd chuckle along with her embarrassment, bowing her head in an apology to the dwarf. "Mulch," She'd smile to the dwarf, then to Olaf, "And Olaf. Thank you for this information. I definitely know who to ask about the mountains and rocks should myself or my other colleagues require more information on them." The scholar would jot down the last of her notes, making sure she noted the two men by name so she wouldn't forget if she ever needed to come see them again. Feeling as though her preliminary surveys are complete, she'd give Corti a smile and a nod before continuing back over to Tarian and the others.

Corti follows the conversation, taking mental notes as it progresses. She returns Thia's friendly nod, gives Mulch and Olaf a small wave, and then rejoins the others with Thia.

Once everyone has returned, Njalgas helps them to find their seats, before heading off, further along the Silver road. After a while, he leans over to Tarian: "Where should we make camp for the night? We still got about three, three and a half hours of sunlight, but I'd like to set up our camp and the telelith while we still have some daylight left."

Tough choices, hm? I suppose I can understand wanting to unload that responsibility onto someone else. If someone else makes the tough choices, then that person is responsible if things go poorly. Tarian watched the rolling landscape. But ‘that person’ is me right now.

Njalgas interrupted Tarian’s musings, and forced her to deal with the current situation. Right. We’ll need time to make camp while it’s light, make a meal, and all that. I know how long it takes me to do all that on my own, but I’m not used to making camp with others. Will it take longer? Shorter? Well, best to look for a good place as soon as possible. I don’t know when the next will appear.

Tarian nodded. “We’ll keep an eye out for a good spot as we go. First spot we see that’s got everything we’re looking for, that’s where we’ll make camp. I know a bit of what to look for, but let me know if you see anything that looks right too, alright, Mister Njalgas?”

Tarian turned to the rest of the group in the back of the wagon. “We’re going to start looking for a spot to make camp for the night. If anyone has any particular needs or concerns, speak up.”

Corti speaks up from the back of the wagon where she had been testing a few new chord progressions. "All good here, Tarian! I can help you look, if you'd like."

It doesn't take you all too long to find a sheltered nook surrounded by rock near a small creek. With hands swift from practice, Njalgas hitches the animals to a nearby tree and starts to set up the telelith. Within half an hour, the tents are up and a small cooking fire is burning. Njalgas approaches: "What should I report back?"

Arc would call out, "If you want to be official about, simply iterate that, 'On the first day, set up and analysis proceeded smoothly. Further development will require addition set up and more time so future reports will be mundane unless of unforeseen event or accident.' If you want to be fancier about it or more detail, I'd add the note about those zealots we passed by before." Arc sighs as he wraps up a page of notes and massages his eyes. he'd spent most of his time calculating and designing different track designs and potential foundations. building a rail at the bottom of a valley would lead to future problems, but he supposed they were more eager to see it complete....so while it didn't sit right with him, he drew up a complete design for what would maximize durability while being completed as quickly as possible.

Once settled into camp, unsurprisingly Thia wouldn’t be shy to sprawl out with her notes and sketches. She’d pull out the specimens she picked earlier to sketch and document in detail. Leaving the bright blue flower for last, the artificer would take extra care while reviewing it. She’d lift it up, “Would any of you be familiar with this flower?” Her eyes would fall on Tarian before wondering over to look to Corti.

(would any of us?)(will roll nature just in case XP though in Arc's case, he'd likely only know about it from a book or from his studies)

Nature: 15

Njalgas sends Arc's message, and after five minutes, starts to write on a small piece of paper, before then packing up the telelith and starting to gather around the camp. He's not knowledgeable when it comes to plants, as he explains to Thia. You all share a meal, and unless anyone wants to do something, you post your guards and start sleeping.

Tarian struggled a moment, her face soured as she scoured her mess kit with a bit of water and an old rag. Her thoughts jumped back and forth between Njalgas and Thia: Should I check the flower or find out what went on with the telelith? With her kit clean—or as clean as Tarian could make it—and reassembled, Tarian had run out of delaying tactics for her internal debate. She tossed the tin back in her bag and her bag back into her tent.

Ultimately it comes down to a matter of trust: do I trust Sparks? Njalgas? Thia? If Sparks or Njalgas are up to something, either Njalgas knows nothing or he’ll take more convincing than I could do in polite company. Building trust with the rest of the group is probably more important, I think.

Tarian walked back from her tent toward Thia and Arc, both inspecting the flower. She crouched down. “You find this nearby?” Tarian asked as she studied the flower.

Arc, you've never seen this flower, but dimly recall reading something about it in a herbalism book. Tarian, though you know you've seen this flower, you can't by the life of you remember it's name. It's right at the tip of your tongue, but you just can't recall… Worse, you know that it's potent, but don't remember if it is poisonous or if it has healing properties.

Honestly surprised to be approached by Arc, she was appreciative for his interest in assisting her almost right away. "Thank you..." She'd mutter while he'd take a look.

When Tarian would finally come over to look, Thia would flip open to some sketches and surveys she took earlier. She'd point out on the map where she found a patch of them growing. "In this section over here. It's the only one I'm unable to identify currently."

Thia will pull out the botany texts she still had from the library: Desticia Symphorian- A Guide to Brelish Herbs and their Healing Properties. Herbalism and Athar Manesh- Humours, Herbalism, and Healing. Herbalism. "I have these that I've been hoping would be of some help."

Brookle? No. Fairy’s Ear? No. Deathbell? I don’t think so. Tarian frowned, shook her head, and shrugged. “There’s the difference between formal and informal training. I know I’ve seen this before—in one of my mother’s books, I’d reckon—but I don’t think I’ve used this one before. It’s probably useful for something, though. If I’ve seen it in a book, it’s probably because it’s used in making… something. I just can’t for the life of me remember what.”

When Thia pulled the textbook from her bag, Tarian winced a bit. I always hated studying the texts. I’d rather just do what the texts said. Maybe this is fate’s punishment for failing to study. Tarian tried to smile, but the slow turn of her lips and with her brows still creased from flinching at the mere sight of a textbook it made the smile awkward. “Truth be told, Miss Thia, most of my learning was the hands-on sort, out in the field. Literally, usually. You’re going to have to wake me if I fall asleep in one of these things.” Tarian briefly read the titles of the books, then offered her open hand, ready to receive one.

Books on herbalism and healing, is it? If we can’t find her flower in these books, that might mean something, too. Maybe it’s not healing that this flower is useful for.

Brandt moves over to look at the flower, not really expecting to get any results.

Nature: 9

Brandt, you unfortunately don't recall the flower either, but if you all want to you can try to read through the books or try to find out what the plant does by other means.