Cassandra reluctantly packs for a trip.  As best she can- shoes that are good for walking, a satchel with some books, the bag she took with her from Zerova’s traveling show.  She finds Dagnish, and stows her things in the back of the wagon.

Dagnish is preparing wagon, the same wagon and the same mules that brought Seti all the way down from Arras in the first place.

“Lucky animalth,” Dagnish says, “I never thought both would thurvive for the trip home.”

“This doesn’t bring me any good memories,” Cassandra says, looking over the wagon.

“It thould,” Dagnish says, “conthidering what thith wagon took you away from.”

“How long will it take us to get there?”  Cassandra asks.

“Itth not a thort trip back,” Dagnish says.  “And it dependth on how Theti chootheth to go.  We could go back through the heart of the landth held by the Hunth.  It ith thorter that way, but I don’t know if he wantth to preth their hothpitality tho far.  That might take three weekth.  Or we might go back through Tullum and Divodurum, where we jutht came from, and thpend a thorter time in Hun landth.  That ith the longer way, though.  Maybe another week or two of travel.”

"I submit to Bulwyf's wisdom as well, but I prefer to spend as little time as possible within the Hun territory. Where possible, if we can take a watercraft, that too might reduce the number of chances for unpleasant interaction."

This time, with a little more money and time set aside, the wagon is somewhat more comfortable, complete with plenty of food, water, blankets, and whatever minimal niceties available in Lingones. Seti brings whatever books he can findm purchase, or borrow, encouraging the group to learn as much as possible while on the trip - about history, politics, languages, law, nature, or whatever is available. He shows interest in the arcane, to the extent Cassandra is willing and able to discuss it. He makes a sincere effort to contribute, both as teacher and student, hoping that Bulwyf can share some of the secrets of the hunt.

Nonetheless, it is an arduous journey. Yet Seti seems excited to return home and makes an effort to be as pleasant as he countenance allows.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Sat 08 May 2010.

Cassandra says goodbye to Tavi, and briefly, to Gorjak who is often where Tavi is.


One of the advantages to the longer route is that Seti and Dagnish already know the route.  It is back to Divodurum, by way of Tullum.

Does Bulwyf scout ahead, or do they travel as a pack?

OOC: I'm good either way. Seti would follow Dagnish's recommendation, or Bulwyf's. I assume given that Bulwyf may be unfamiliar with this terrain and the Hun tactics, he may wish to stay close.

"For the record," Seti begins, attempting to clarify some ground rules for encounters. "It is important that if we encounter any Hun patrols that you stay calm and let me speak with them. If combat is avoidable, on any terms, we should pursue them. By nature, Orcs respect strength, and it will behoove us all to look strong, confident, and well-armed. However, once a challenge begins, it will be difficult to undo without bloodshed. Therefore, grant them what leeway you can. Most Orcs fear spirits and should be able to identify a priest of Pluto. They will not likely be familiar with illusionary magics like those that Cassandra wields. That could work to our advantage, if we are left with few other options."

He asks the young sorceroress, "Do you know how to bend the weave the cover our visage with another? It is my understanding that outright invisibility or facial distortion requires more power but that a visual static illusion is less taxing - one that we could hide under or behind: a rock, tree, or bush."

OOC Bulwyf will scout ahead minimally, it's in his nature and that's hard to fight, but Seti is right, he will stay fairly close at all times, within eyesight.

Bulwyf nods at Seti's instructions, agreeing completely. He does his best to make Cassandra comfortable and feel safe, he does feel bad to have uprooted her. He will also teach Seti as much as he is able to about the hunt.

They leave Lingones along a path familiar to Seti and Dagnish (and their mules).  The route is becoming more and more travelled, it seems- Titus went that way, so did Haakon, although it has yet to be followed by ordinary travelers like merchants.  It takes them along the Marne river just to the bridge, and then they cross the high ground between the Marne and Meuse watersheds.

“Theti ith right not to athk you to thcout too far ahead,” Dagnish says.  “If we get through it will be through rethpect for THeti’th offith, not fighting.  Thtill, my axth will not be far.”

“Seems like old times,” Cassandra says.  She doesn’t seem too happy about it.

The priest does what little he can to lighten the mood. Entertainment just isn't in his nature, and the only outlets he seems to have are myths or education, both of which surely tire after days of travel. All the effort raises the stakes of his mission - if it is unproductive, he will feel badly about it, but as he discussed with Vocaphil, sometimes risk is necessary.

Seti still wonders about the witch and presumes that she still has the ability to watch Cassandra, even from a greater distance.

Bulwyf doesn't mind the myths, he believes there is truth to every myth, maybe not in exact detail, but somewhere at the heart of the story is the truth. He nods at Dagnish's words as well, "Your ax, and my sword friend. Hopefully we won't have to draw them." Bulwyf will continue to do his best to keep Cassandra's spirits high, he begins to wonder if Zerova can focus on the negative emotions of her former charge, so he tries to keep Cassandra smiling.

The traffic on the road has apparently attracted opportunists.

As the wagon rolls through the Moselle valley with forest to either side, there is a sudden movement in the trees.

Aware that has he missed something, but a moment to late  to stop it, Bulwyf turns to see two furry, slinky things about as big as a man, but with the serpentine shape of a giant otter or weasel.  With gleaming teeth they hurl themselves towards the wagon, one landing on the back of a mule, savagely biting the poor creature.  The second pounces at Cassandra, but she scrambles out of the way.  They move so quickly they appear almost as blurs.

Cursing his lack of attention, Bulwyf leaps from his horse's back and is standing by Cassandra, nearly as fast as those creatures attacked, "Are you hurt?" he asks standing over her, sword out, looking, waiting for the time to strike, when an opportunity presents itself, Bulwyf will strike with all his fury, seeing Cassandra attacked when he promised her safety has angered him.

Seti turns around in surprise, on one hand irritated that the mule had been attacked but then thankful that it wasn't one of his companions, or himself. He lifts his staff and calls forth, "Advoco Leo!" Upon the ground to which the staff points, behind the creature that attacked Cassanda, a wispy smoke coalesces into corpulance. Within seconds, a brilliant lion is crouched ready to pounce on the ambushers.

"The lion will aid us," he announces, lest one of the warriors get confused.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Fri 14 May 2010.

In the style of Pluto, Seti gets a large black panther with pale and ghostly eyes instead (Pluto's got to keep up appearances!) but it acts very much as Seti anticipated, attacking one of the creatures-- it seems a fairly even match.

Fur flies.

Dagnish is defending his mules, and trying to keep the injured mule from going into a destructive panic at the same time.

Cassandra doesn't look like she's been clawed or bitten, but doesn't answer Bulwyf's question.  But she sees what's happening with the mules, and says "Don't let it get the mules, Bulwyf, we need them!"

Bulwyf nods and leaps into the fray with Dagnish, sword flashing as he slices at the creatures, he keeps an eye toward Cassandra as much as possible.

"Deprecato!" rings out errily over the battlefield, carrying with it a wave of emotion - of comfort and inspiration. Seti steps carefully, keeping his staff in between himself and their opponents, wary of being caught underneath one of the huge beasts. "Flee now or prepare to meet death untimely," he warns them, certain that they cannot understand his words but will understand the taste of Dangish's axe or Bulwyf's sword.

Cast: Prayer (+1 Luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Mon 17 May 2010.

Seti’s spell gives an edge to Dagnish, Bulwyf, and the summoned panther.

Bulwyf gets into a quick fight with a lean, furry guided missile, coming to the aid of Dagnish and a bitten and beleaguered mule.

He slashes at it, and the thing is lightening-quick, whirling around and biting at the new threat before Bulwyf knows what hit him.   It’s razor sharp teeth slice through armor, and give him some bloody lines on his arm.

But then, he gives it a solid smack, cutting it to the bone at the hip.  Wounded, the creature has no desire to fight, and hops away in pain.  Moments later its partner follows.

As it scurries away, you can see that it looks like a weasel- but a monstrously huge weasel.

Bulwyf keeps his arm tucked close to his body, "Dagnish, are you alright? The mule? Shall I follow... they look like weasels, giant weasels, but weasels all the same. Opportunistic creatures to be sure, they may be back, I doubt it though."

Dagnish is fine.  The giant weasel took off as soon as it was clear that this wasn’t going to be an easy meal.  It didn’t hit him at all.

“Animalth are thmart,” he says.  “No reathon to fight and loothe.  If they think they are not going to get an eathy win, they leave.  But you look hurt, Bulwyf.  Not bad, though, we thould clean it up thum.”

“I’ve seen a lot of animals,” Cassandra says, “and I’ve never seen one like that.”

“Where Orkth rule, unnatural thingth breed,” Dagnish says.  “I don’t think a giant weathel or two ith the thtrangetht thing around.”

He bandages his mule.

“It will thlow uth down, unleth there ith healing magic for the mule.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:49, Tue 18 May 2010.

"Of course," Seti replies in response to Dagnish's comments about slowing down. The mongrel knows the priest well enough to keep pace. Seti invokes his divine privilege to heal both the mule and Bulwyf. His casting ability is limited in combat - most useful towards the goal of keeping them moving to their next objective.

"I too doubt these beasts will pursue, at least no great distance. Let us keep our stride and put a few miles between us." he says, presuming Bulwyf's bravery will calm Cassandra. "We'll have to be more careful - wary of roadside bushes or other places of ambush." He wishes he could give more security, but he cannot; perhaps on the way back, they can find more escorts or a safer path.