Hamish gestures at the fellow in his extra clothes.
"That's Ruedi. The girl is Laureen. She was caught in a cage by that Wulfric git."
Ruedi looks at Leofric with a strange look, almost predatory, and just as suddenly, it changes to a grinning face. "My name is Ruedi, and I have managed to escape a Nymph."
2 Likes
Laureen looks around, and when nobody seems to look at her, she sits down so close to the fire that you are almost afraid she might get burnt, shaking a little and stretching her hands over the fire.
1 Like
"Good for you!" replies Leofric to Ruedi. "I'm brother Leofric. Are you hungry?" He rummages through his supplies for some hard cheese and bread, and fills two wooden goblets with ale from a skin. He offers some to Ruedi, before he brings some to Laureen.
He sits near her, being careful not to touch her, and offers her the food and drink. "You may have to dip the bread in the ale, it is a bit hard."
1 Like
Nauvi prepares his bedroll. "I'm going to get some sleep, so I'm not completely wrecked when we travel in the morning. We'll probably have to hide Laureen in the cart, as her feet are too hurt to keep going much further and keeping her out of sight will avoid awkward questions."
Nauvi goes to bed.
Laureen keels over, falling asleep with her head on Leofric's shoulder.
Leofric and the grogs who stayed in camp have had some sleep, but the others are knackered. You can see the first hints of dawn, and know that it won't take more than two hours before you can see the sun.
Do you do anything before the sun shows?
While tired, Ruedi's nerves are still on edge, and he stays up all through the night, trying to listen to the animals, in case they warn of a hidden danger.
He will be even more tired and haggard the next day, but he'll be assured that he can get to safety before the Nymph, or Wulfric's men, catch him.
Gently, Leofric gathers the sleeping girl into his arms and move her to to his bedroll. He will then sit back near the fire for a while, to pray, then walks around the camp to watch out for any danger. He'll keep alternating the two until the sun starts to rise, then starts taking out some food for a quick breakfast (more bread, cheese and ale).
As is the practice of any competent warrior, Hamish gets sleep when he can, though he won't sacrifice the group's security for sleep unless he must. Leofric's willingness to stand watch is much appreciated by the giant of man and earns a nod of gratitude in the morning as breakfast is consumed.
"Can we fit Ruedi in the cart too? He's gonna need rest."
"If they don't mind getting close," replies Leofric. "We still have most of our supplies back there. We could spread some of those in everyone's pack to make some space. Roxie shouldn't mind the weight -- it's not any worse than my smithing gear -- so long as they don't move too much. That might unbalance the cart or startle her."
1 Like
Ruedi is very tired, but still he protests that he can't sleep until they're back to a safe place "I'm gonna be fine... It's just.. "And he lets out a big yawn "A bit of tiredness... I can make it...". But seconds after they put him on the cart, he's fast asleep, and even hitting rocks on the road doesn't cause even a stir from him.
2 Likes
Hamish walk along beside the cart, alert for anyone coming along.
"Well Father Leofric, what do you make of the 'strays' we're gathering on this little journey so far? I was thinkin' we were only out to gather up Nauvi's retainers, but here are..."
Day is just breaking when you hear the hounds howling again. They cannot be far from the village, but on the other side of it, assuming you ended up camping on the Eastern side of it.
If nobody can make Awareness+Perception 9+ (6+ for Leofric who was awake), the hounds are already in the village.
Nauvi was keen to sleep, so I do not assume that he wakes up until now.
As he is busy taking out some food for the others, Leofric hears the wolves again in the morning, probalby even getting a fair idea of the location. (Per+Awarenes roll of 11)
Ruedi's sleep is troubled by the howls of wolves in the distance and while he's too tired to wake up, he tosses and turns, and he speaks in his sleep "No... No! The dogs!... They're chasing us!"
The hounds are clearly approaching, but Leofric does not have to wake anybody up if he does not want to.
Leofric checks the sky, seeing that the sun is about to rise, and decide they might as well get on the road. He wakes everyone up, but not with any sense of urgency.
Hamish encourages the group to get a move on given the baying of the hounds.
"Those dogs mean trouble. Nauvi, you got any more tricks to throw 'em off the scent?"
Nauvi sighs as he finishes preparing his Parma Magica. "I made him smell like a rose bush until dawn. I can change his scent again. What shall I try for this time?"
After he hears a suggestion, he will cast it.
[OOC: 13 on a MuIm casting roll, so he can spont another level 5 to cover Ruedi for sun duration again.]
Laureen suddenly jumps up, shaking like a leaf. «I-ih-is Þ-th-tha-at theuh w-wo-wolf hounds,» she whimpers.