Barna flushes when Hyre takes her by the hand and leads her.
"Oh my... so forceful..." she says, sounding suddenly a lot girlier than she meant to.
When they come back to the table, Barna just sits with Hyre, still blushing brightly. She casts a sidelong glance at him, just sneaking a peek at him acting collected and controlled and feeling her heart race.

Geoffrey looks over the kids and rubs his chin.
"While I'm not wilderness expert like Artimus, I believe that the lighter we travel, the LESS armed we are, the greater our chances. We will not be looking for a fight out there. Stealth and swiftness will be our greatest defense. When I was a caravan escort, I heard the drivers say that to avoid trouble, they either had to travel faster than they could be tracked, totally avoid notice, or make so much noise that it would sound like a super predator to any beasts that might be listening." he says.
"We don't have the means to travel quick enough to evade the beasts of the wild out there... well, Kallista does, but the rest of us don't have wings, and unfortunately there aren't any kite flyers who owe me a favor. Commissioning a kite is well out of our means." he says. "That leaves keeping low and avoiding any trouble that might come our way entirely, and if it DOES find us, leave the fighting to me." he states, firmly.
"Kallista will be our eyes, warning us of any trouble. Very few beasts are capable of flight, and the ones that are largely feed on kite flocks, they wouldn't be interested in a tiny snack like her... err... no offense."
"Ultimately however, if Artimus can be convinced to help, our chances of making it there and back unharmed improve significantly. He may be interested solely because it will mean a dragon owes him a favor."

((in response to Aelar and prior to Sir Geoffrey's dialogue))

"I think whatever she replies- we should act accordingly. If one of you were trapped- lonely and abandoned I wouldn't think twice about it. I guess Raia is now part of our family- for good or for ill."  Lazlo takes out his fiddle and tunes it, polishing the worn wood...studying the grain.  He recognized that like this fiddle, they all were instruments for something greater than themselves. 

"I think perhaps, Sir- if you and Kallista both ask- he might be persuaded.." Lazlo says to Sir Geoffrey. 

When Hyre hears Barna he turns no less red than the beet he tried to cut that morning. He doesn't stop and doesn't let go of her though. It's her fault, after all. All because of her.

As Hyre enters the saloon, the first thing he does is approach Aelar. He also releases Barna's hand when they reach there. "I'm sorry Aelar. I still believe in all that I said, but I shouldn't have snapped the way I did. You know I'm not good at keeping my emotions in check." He's a bit awkward about it. It's not the first time something like this has happened but he never really knows how to apologize. Was it enough, was it not? Should he repent in some way? Should he hug Aelar? Should he shake his hand? Should he just pretend nothing happened? Always difficult.
"Anyway, now that I'm thinking straight, let's make a plan. A good one, not one that involves the death of any of us. Not even in potential." He's speaking to everyone but looking at Aelar in particularly all the time. "Our goal is to get food and water to Raia. That is all, am I correct? How far is she? If you had a map, could you draw where she is right now? If not, could she tell you that? How much time can she last? How much time can you wait? I need this information so I can think everything through. Please, give me time to come up with a plan. I'm not letting everyone march into their graves."
Hyre finally sits down next to Barna, waiting for Aelar's answers. He's impatient but not angry. He has to come up with a plan before Aelar and the others leave. He glances over to her., studying her expression for a moment and then looks back at Aelar, listening to his response. He'll also need a plan B. He cannot stop everyone from going if they insist, but maybe he can stop one. If it comes to it, he has to make sure that at least she doesn't leave the walls.

Aelar shakes his head in bemusement.  So many assumptions had been made, like he wasn't going to make a plan.  He considered correcting them but saw no value.  "Hyre, I've known you too long to need an apology, but thanks. Let's get to it.  We were just making a plan and I'd be happy if you'd help.  No, I can't make a map.  However, with with the information Raia gave me, and with why Sir Geoffrey and Kallista say about Grimbuld, I think he can probably pinpoint her general location pretty good.  Once we get close, I know I can find her.  After all, I can tell you right show she's in that direction."  He raises a hand and points.

"She's about a day away, I believe and she can hold out for two more days before she will need to seek water but can wait longer for food now that she's in human form.  As for her location," again he checks for listeners and, assuming he sees none, continues,  "She's hiding in a cave-like structure that smells of rotting wood, possibly the roots of some old, dead trees. The ground is cold and dry, so she's out of the sunlight. She's got plenty of room now but if she were in her regular form, she'd just barely fit."  He pauses then, but can't really bring himself to hold anything back.  Totally not fair.  "Aside from the food and water, she and I may engage in a ritual important to us, BUT only if she's strong enough and only if it doesn't increase our risk."

He looks at Barna.  "I'm pretty sure you're going to want to come, and I'd welcome all the help.  But I think it might be best if you stayed." He smiles and holds up a hand as she starts to object.  "I'm thinking of Sister Daar.  Would it be a good idea to take both of her helpers away for two or three days?  I have to go, obviously, but you could stay and help her.  Just think on it."  There...if she listened, a big if, it might alleviate one of Hyre's concerns.

((Also, seeing the introduction for a possible new player, can I ask if any of you have changed your minds about having a 6th player at all?))

(I guess it depends on who the player is. If they are crazy enough to read through all the posts and still join, I guess they are up to the task.) 

ooc: my objection was how could they join.  You've solved that so...

((I'm fine with it))

((If you think that's a good idea - sure.))

As Aelar tries to persuade Barna not to join them, Hyre sneaks a grateful expression that, hopefully, Barna wouldn't notice. Something else that Aelar said, however, catches his attention. "What do you mean 'Human form'? She can turn into a Human? Doesn't it make everything much simpler? Instead of bringing food and water to Raia, we can bring Raia to the food, water and safety. If she looks like a Human she can just stay in Guiston until she's fully recovered, and you can have your ah... ritual here. Bringing food and water to a dragon is much harder than bringing a human in." He lowers his voice a bit, aware of the sensitivity of what he's saying. "Look at us, for example. Kina was able to smuggle all six of us in. Just one should be a piece of cake. Not only this is the safest way, but it's also the cheapest and fastest. As long as we can get her past the guards at the gates. It also won't require any of us to go. We'll only need to ask Kina - once she's back - to do it for us. We could pay her as if it's a job too. After all, we caused her to lose her previous job when she left her herd." He looks around the table expectantly, hoping everyone will agree it's a better plan. A dragon being able to change form into a human solved all their problems. He was sure the idea is logical. Unless... unless he's missing something. He waits to see what the others think about the plan.

Aelar nods.  Hyre's plan was not too far from what he was thinking, except for the whole hide in Guiston and let someone else take the risks part.  He understood the impulse, though it was still a little irritating.  Still, it was Hyre's way to be cautious and he respected that.

"Not a bad idea, Hyre, and along the lines of what I was thinking, especially as she just told me she intends to return with us.  However, we can't wait for Kina to come back.  A few days to Hon, a few days there, and a few days back.  She won't be back here for another three or four days at least and that's too late.  Raia will be forced from her shelter in two days to get water and that'll make her vulnerable.  However, her being in human form makes the job much easier.  She tells me in this form her needs for...sustenance...are just like that of a human so we should have no trouble bringing enough extra food and water for her.  Once she has some strength back, she'll be able to use her magic on the return journey, which should make the return much safer for us.  Doing the ritual here may or may not be wise...who knows what kind of light show it will make...though it's a good idea if possible."

He pauses then, looks around the table, and then settles on Hyre.  "Even if we could wait for Kina, and I was hoping we could, I, at least would still be going with her.  First, how would anyone else find her?  Second, I'm not sure I can get you to understand but this is something I have to do.  I just do.  But I'm so grateful for all the help and your concern."  He spoke firmly, trying to convey his conviction, but also gently for he knew how upset his friend was.

(( I'm all for six pc's- seems like we may need the numbers soon))

"Since we can't wait for Kina- it would be smart to follow Sir Gregory's advice. Is it too late in the evening for us to call on Grimbuld? Or should we wait until morning? We have a lot to think about and plan.."

((Twice I've accidentally closed the tab while writing this and this isn't even that long... I hate writing through the phone. Take 3 let's go.))

Hyre sinks back in his seat. It's not only that there was no convincing Aelar, he was also right. If he can't mark where Raia is on a map, no one else can find her; Aelar must go and he knew the others, as well as himself, will join. He knows he won't be able to stop himself from going if all the others do, how can he ask that of Barna? "Fine," he sighs, "you beat me. I'm out of ideas. Other than trying to tie all of you to your chairs," he says with an expression that makes it clear he's seriously considering the option, "I have no way of preventing this. I hope I really am being circumspectious for no reason about this." He looks defeated at Barna. In the end, he couldn't change anything.

"Cheer up, Hyre! What's the worst that can happen?" Lazlo chuckles weakly, then cuts Hyre off "Don't answer that!"

Geoffrey rubs his scruffy beard.
"Kallista should be the one to ask him, I think. From what I've heard, he trusts her, or at least respects her. He'd be more open to hearing a request that comes from her. If he isn't willing to help, we'll have to come up with another strategy. I am in agreement with the more cautious of us here; we can't just go dallying into the wilds underprepared. It won't be impossible for us to make the journey without him while also mitigating our risk, but we will need some practice moving as a group without drawing attention and relying upon Kallista to give us ample warning of approaching threats." he says.

It's then that Hana returns to the table to clear it of empty plates.
"And when you lot are done talking, I need to take THIS one aside and trim that ugly beard and scraggy hair. It's unbecoming of a knight." she teases him. "Your days as a lonely, unkempt hermit  are over."

((Also, can you guys DM me a quick description of your characters again? I can't find the posts if and when you did it previously. I'll be sketching your characters up for both portraits and positional diagrams for the campaign so you can be a bit more strategic with your combat.))

Lazlo looks around at the table, hesitant about speaking for everyone "I think we're done? The only question is if we should wait until tomoorow to ask Mr. Grimbud- or meet with him tonight? I know he was injured so I'm mindful of him needing rest... and Hana the beard is dashing, even noble on Sir Knight-  it just needs to grow in a bit?" Lazlo strokes his own newly arrived chin hairs. "Take a lesson from Sir Geoffrey, chin!" he says to himself. Lazlo plucks at his fiddle with his fingers, making silly sounds.

*"My beard grows down to my toes,
I never wears no clothes,
I wraps my hair
Around my bare,
And down the road I goes"

* credit for beard poem: Shel Silverstein. Well... I'm not really a bard! I just play one on D&D.

"Well, first, you might-" Hyre stops as Lazlo cuts him off. 'Oh. It was one of those questions.'

--

"Yes, I think we're done here. I think we should visit Mr Grimbuld tomorrow. I was planning to do it anyway and Kallista needs to be there in the morning too. Besides, it's not like we're leaving tonight, thankfully."
With all this talk about beards, Hyre looks at his own chin. The scarce amount of small hairs was barely visible, considering he did a pretty fine job shaving not long before that night they were stolen from Hon. Small hairs have begun to grow again but they weren't that quick so it was barely visible. It never really bothered him whether or not he is shaven, featuring a neat looking beard or just an uncared-for mane. The only reason he shaved that evening was that his mother threatened she would do it herself if he doesn't, and she was more likely to cut half his chin off. He wonders if Barna prefers guys with or without beards.

Geoffrey nods to the group around the table.
"I think that's it for tonight, then. I really don't think it would be wise to try and convince Artimus at this time of night. Perhaps at the end of the day, if Kallista can put him in what would be for HIM a 'good mood', it would give this plan the best chance of success. We'll rest up, and in the morning, we'll train together and practice moving in formation in addition to the regular curriculum." he says, patting the table.
"Get some rest now. You'll need it for tomorrow's training." he says.

Hana approaches the table when Geoffrey gets up, and then plunks him right back down before she puts a bib around his neck and brings out a pair of scissors. She looks over to Leon.
"Don't you move either, I'll straighten you out too." she says, smirking as Geoffrey grumbles while Hana tidies up his beard.

It's about that time when the satyrs show up to the saloon for their evening set, and Carmine comes gleefully hopping over to Lazlo and lands in his lap, pouring affection onto him. She then notices that everyone is there, and looks confused.
"Something going on?" she asks. "Everyone looks so serious."

 ((Rolling for tomorrow's weather))
29

Aelar nods in agreement with the knight.  "We will need packs, water, and provisions, Sir Geoffrey.  Do you know where we can get those things tomorrow, the best place, that won't cost too much?"

He laughs good naturedly when Hana centaur-handles the knight back into his chair.