"Shall we plan to set off tomorrow, for this island?  It does seem to be the best lead, at present," Eonis says.  

"I though it was decided, that we move at dawn, no?" Ola was studying the map. "How are we going to get to the island? I plan to hire a man who would look after the horses, while we are there, but the question remains."

DM, I guess Sylyra should have asked, but perhaps he could extrapolate from the map how long it will take to get to where Delacrae suggested there should be a ferry?

OOC: Delacrae wasn't certain of where a ferry would be, just somewhere along the coast near the island. Based on the location of the island, it would be somewhere around a day's travel from Phlan.

If there is no further information to be shared regarding the investigation, Eonis passes the time that evening playing one more game of Dragon Chess with either a party member or a random patron of the tavern, then goes about her late-evening routine of martial drills and exercises, including sprints while wearing armor, and a series of weapons forms with  her quarterstaff, warhammer, and the newly acquired silver hand axe, becoming used to the heft and swing of the latter.  After doing so, and working herself to exhaustion, Eonis retires for the evening.  

With the map ready, destination all but set, horses readied, packs packed, Uragum would count himself prepared.  If asked by Eonis, Uragum wkuld gladly take part in a game a Dragon Chess.  Whether if he seems to be winning he will lower his skill to be near matched to Eonis and if he is losing he is losing.  Either way before the match is concluded Uragum jumps up, hollers loudly and carefuly flicks Eonis's king or equivalent piece over with his massive finger.

Calmly sitting back down he says, "Take that as a lesson.  Sometimes, no matter how carefully of plans we make, whatever precautions made, outside factors disrupt it all."

Eonis initially bolts from her seat, knocking over her chair, at Uragum’s unexpected movement, knocking over the piece with his hand, as she was absorbed in the structure of the game. After looking to him with her one good eye wide for a moment, she calms herself, speaking in a slight staccato. “I see... I think. An object lesson? The best laid plans can all be rendered meaningless... by a single entropic factor? A bit of random chance? It’s true that weather or disease can destroy a well planned military campaign more surely than any enemy gambit. But, for us, the lesson to take away is... what, exactly? That none of our training or preparation or dedication ultimately matters, because there might be that random factor? The lightning bolt from the sky, the roaming dragon, the unexpected cave in where rocks fall on the party? Is there no point, then, to planning and tactics and intention, if the whims of chance ultimately rule our fates?”

Eonis places a hand on her eyepatch, then clutches her holy symbol of Tyr. “Tyr is a god of goodness and order. To give up hope and consider chaos the stronger force is anathema to our faith. Similarly with the Red Knight, a deity of strategy and tactics. Being prepared for the unexpected is tactically valuable, but one can never be truly prepared for the truly unexpected. It’s entirely possible you’re right. Maybe we cannot truly control our destinies, no matter how much planning and training we undergo.  But, my faith doesn’t allow me to embrace that idea. I can’t accept that. If nothing matters, then our efforts to protect Phlan are equally meaningless. We could save the people now from this threat and the city could be swallowed by a sinkhole or some extraplanar menace tomorrow. We have to believe our actions have meaning, and if we do, we have to believe the way we go about them has meaning, as well.”

Eonis takes a deep breath, realizing she was becoming a bit manic, effectively talking herself through a panic attack. “Unless you knocked the piece over by accident, in which case disregard all of that. My mind is in no shape for structure and strategy it seems. Some physical training will likely benefit me more right now. Excuse me.”

With that she steps out to undergo her athletics drills and weapons forms, working herself until she is too tired and exhausted to worry about any philosophical concerns, or even practical matters beyond getting a good nights sleep. 

Before she leaves Uragum counters, "The lesson is not that nothing is important or that you shouldn't plan.  The lesson is, expect the unexpected and be flexible.  Circumstances change and so to must out plan...  To be rigid, is to be predictable and the last thing you want is to be predicted."

"As we do not know for sure where a ferry might be," Sylyra says to the group, "I suggest we leave now. We can camp along the way. A day's journey could be extended depending upon weather and other possible trouble on the road. With another attack imminent, I would hate to arrive even an hour too late."

"I am with you on the urgency," did not exactly argued Ola, "but it is almost dark, we will spend more time searching for the campsite, setting it up and will get less rest as a result of watch shifts. Not to mention camp would have to be taken down at the morning - meaning, more waste time. If we start early tomorrow, we shall make up for it with the speed. Not to mention, I still think we need an outside help to take care of the horses - would hate it to get stranded far from the city and with a necessity to come back urgently. However, for some reason, hirelings will be available only at the morning".

OOC: Eonis completes here exercise and drills and then sleeps, planning to leave in the morning, unless the others decide to leave at night and notify her of such. 

OOC: Once we have more of a consensus on whether to leave by night or in the morning, I will advance.

If asked, Eonis would recommend leaving in the morning based on Ola’s observation regarding the availability of hirelings, but she is not adamant about it and if the majority wish to leave tonight she would prepare her things. 

Uragum would suggest sleeping now and leaving early in the morning riding straight through we can.  There would be no set up/tear down of the camp, no rotation of guards or the such.  

Arnald agrees with Ola, Eonis, and Uragum. Best to leave at first light.

Sylyra would vote to leave after Eonis goes to bed ... but relents and agrees they can all leave together in the morning.

He would check one last time in the morning whether Olisara Lightsong has happened to return.

Morning brings humidity along with the previous day's warmth, and a light fog rolls through Phlan at the early hour that you awaken, prepared for a day of travel. The smell of The Laughing Goblin's famous cabbage stew wafts into your rooms and follows you out to the stables.

For Sylyra:

OOC: Let's establish a marching order for travel - who will be in the front rank, middle rank, and back rank? Are there any travel activities that any of the characters will be doing?

Also, is Ola hiring some help before the party departs Phlan?

When discussing marching order, a tactical discussion topic Eonis feels much more in her element in, she offers the suggestion, as if it were a “given,” of, “I presume Sylyra is typically upfront in any given marching order, yes? Or possibly Arnald?”

Sylyra looks taken aback for only a millisecond before smugly replying, "Of course I am. I'm the one with the map, aren't I?"

Once in the stable, Sylyra speaks with all the horses and chooses the one who feels the most comfortable toward him. (Hopefully it's not the one Ola already chose.) Once his horse has been chosen, he mounts and prepares to set off.

As lead, Sylyra will be keeping a look out for the right path and also any trouble up ahead.

“Actually it had more to do with your evident honed senses. You and Arnald seemed to react first any time I entered a room and seek the first to respond to any faint sounds or slight movements around you,” Eonis says. “But, also, as you say, you have the map.” She offers a slight shrug along with this.

”I can take up a position in the middle, or rear guard, either would suit me fine, I think.”