Marav goes over to Cade and Scrappy. He kneels down and pets the dogs scratching their ears. He closes his eyes and then mutters something softly in druidic casting Speak with Animals, "Hello my friends." He speaks low and clearly to the dogs.

"We value your companionship, but I want  you to know about us and then let you decide if you want to join us or if you wish us to find someplace else for you." Marav sighs. "We are traveling right now and it is dangerous out here. Large men attack us and you might get hurt. We don't need you to fight for us, but I don't want you getting hurt without knowing how much we want to avoid you getting hurt. We have to do this though, many people and animals will die if we stop. Somehow we have gotten involved in something so much larger and more important than us that we have to do this. For the greater good."

Marav stands up and awaits the dogs response. He knows he gave them too many details, but the druidic magic will help them to understand and least the gist of it.

Marav's speech sounds incredibly like barks and growls to the rest of you.

For their part, Cade and Scrappy start jumping all over Marav when he bends down to talk to them. 

<Hello friend! Hello friend!> they bark back at Marav's greeting. <You're barking! That's exciting! Barking is my favorite!> says Cade.

Marav continues talking about danger, "large men," and getting hurt, and Scrappy interrupts: <Do you have food? I'm hungry!> says the mastiff. <Our other friend is nice! He gives us food! I like being with you guys!>

<RABBIT!!> cries Cade, and both dogs go immediately rigid as they look off to the right.

They stare at the grass, silent and motionless, for several seconds.

After a while the dogs seem to decide that there was no rabbit, after all. They resume their excited panting and barking.

<Don't worry, tall friend!> says Scrappy. <We will protect you from big men and rabbits!>

Marav grins, "Yeah they are in." He then gives them the meat off one of the hawks. Careful not to give them the bones, "Bird bones choke puppies."

"They said they are honored to fight beside such glorious individuals. Oh and rabbit." With that Marav smoothly spins draws his bow and fires at the rabbit the dogs indicated. //assuming I can see it//

Attack: 23 Damage: 7

You see no rabbit. Probably just the wind rustling the grass.

Angel is a little confused at first about what is happening. Then it clicks. Marav is a druid he must be talking to dogs. I want to talk to the dogs too. Angel thinks. In response to Marav's statement after talking to them, Angel responds in a quick worried voice

"Wait. You asked them to fight. No! They can't fight they'll get hurt. They should just stay in the wagon. I'll keep it safe while they're there."

Angel then seems to contemplate something for a minute before he confidently continues

"If they want to help they can lead us to where we need to go. Dogs have an excellent sense of smell. They can probably smell out the giants hiding spots as well as worn us ahead of time if any are nearby."  

"No rabbit... I think I will stick to hunting, the dogs are.... jumpy." He then turns to Boris.

"How are you doing Boris? Feeling ok?"

<Don't worry white friend!> Marav hears Cade whine and woof toward Angel. <You seem worried! You can throw a stick and I will get the stick if that will make you feel better!>

Quote from Hardcopi >>

"No rabbit... I think I will stick to hunting, the dogs are.... jumpy." He then turns to Boris.

"How are you doing Boris? Feeling ok?"

"Angel, they don't want to fight, but asking dogs such as these to not get involved is like asking you to kill puppies... ain't gonna happen. They like us and we won't put them into danger, but it might happen and I wanted them to be prepared. They also are good company on a watch." 

"Boris on the other hand would like a partner. Someone so he isn't so lonely." Marav scratches his chin, "I think we can arrange that. Backup is always nice."

Marav turns back to the dogs, "Oh guys I forgot, sometimes I turn into a giant wolf, still your friend, but if I do it means we are usually in danger, so be careful when I do, but we are still buddies."

<A wolf? Don't worry, tall friend, we'll protect you from that wolf.> Cade licks Marav's hand. The concept of Wildshape might be a bit beyond their powers of comprehension. 

Angel doesn’t like the idea of them fighting. But, he can at least understand that they want to help protect their friends. 

“Okay. But believe me I’ll do everything I can in order to protect them.”

Angel then bends down and begins feverishly petting and hugging the dogs.

As you continue to pass eastwards through the verdant Dessarin Valley, you see the river Surbrin off to the north coming to join the meandering Horn Stream you've been following for the last day on the road. At the confluence stands Yartar. You can make out its circular wall and tall buildings now, as the midday sun glistens off the waters near the city. You're only about an hour from the gates now, possibly a little less. 

// Let me know if there's anything specific you wanted to do, any spells you wanted to cast or prepare, etc, before hitting Yartar. //

Marav will make sure the dogs are well fed before we go into town, explaining to them that the harnesses he is fashioning out of rope is because people get scared of dogs before the spell wears off. "Also, either of you willing to let the little guy ride you? His tiny lil' legs get so tired."

//making sure the harnesses are of the quick release variety and mostly just for show.//

"Oh boy, food! That's my favorite!" Scrappy wags his tail as Marav talks about Rip. "Little friend wants to sit on top of us? Oh boy! That's my favorite!" 

"Hey Rip, you can ride one if you want. They seem to like it."

Quote from Hardcopi >>

//making sure the harnesses are of the quick release variety and mostly just for show.//

Quote from Hardcopi >>

"Hey Rip, you can ride one if you want. They seem to like it."

Sleight of Hand: 4