Deor approaches with Ghan, Folca perched on his fist. He’ll greet Gorbo cheerfully and pat the dogs with his free hand if they seem in the mood to be friendly to people.
One dog cautiously sniffs Deor’s hand and seem to decide he is fine. The dog is happy enough for the attention and excepts the petting. He seems to be especially fond of scritches behind the ears.
Elfstan gives Gwaelur a confused look. He’s never met a Hobbit that didn’t know about pipe weed.
“I think there will be time to introduce Gorbo to pipe weed and smoking if he agrees to guide us.”
Thoroncir will bow, introduce himself, smile and say nothing else for the moment. He is interested to see how Gilraen introduces herself, and how she reacts to Gorbo.
Miron is still moderately wary of the dogs, but willing enough to introduce himself. “I’m Miron,” he offers, pausing a moment as he tries to think of more details, eventually finishing with a lame “I’m an elf.”
Ghân will politely repeat to Gorbo Elfstan’s explanation about guiding.
He will follow Gorbo’s lead in the conversation, but will cover both these topics:
- if Gorbo wants to talk dog stuff, Ghân will happily do so
- if Gorbo wants to know about the job, Ghân will explain (but bringing in Gil-Gandel as the party’s Captain as soon as possible)
So the party members drinks and eat a bit. Gilraen says very little but presents the bread flour to him. Gorbo happily talks about dogs to mainly Ghân.
When the talk turns to the business of leading horses and ponies to the Last Bridge Gorbo responds, “I know some paths that even that Ranger Lord don’t. Tell you what; I think at pony speed I can get you there in 12 days. We’ll have about 282 miles to travel, a few of the paths are a little out of the way, but the long cuts will save time over the short cuts. I’ll need 25 gold for my trouble and I only stand the watches I feel like standing. Some nights I won’t stand watch at all. This all assumes we won’t be foraging, if we’re foraging it will take longer. Do you have the supplies to go for 12-14 more days? There is actually a small fortified inn at the bridge, you can prob’ly restock somewhat there.”
Ghân mentions Goodberries and offers some to Gorbo.
He asks if these would avoid foraging?
Good question. Do we?
The goodberries have been keeping us in good shape, food wise, up until now. Would we need other items that we would be foraging for?
All in all I think 25 gold and not making Gorbo stand watches is a fairly good deal if he is as good as he says he is.
I am certainly quite happy with that, and will enjoy the company of this unusual character. Swamp-lore is not my usual field but I am always willing to broaden my horizons.
Suits me, too. Lord Ianthir’s recommendation of him carries a lot of weight. If the party’s provisions run short, they could always do some hunting along the way.
Foraging should be taken care of by rations, quickly found stuff, GoodBerries and nightly plant growths.
Ghân has been responsible for the rapid travel of the party.
Suits me. Shall we leave tomorrow morning?
Elfstan goes along with hiring Gorbo on his terms.
July 28[sup]th[/sup] the party heads out after helping Gorbo a bit with locking down his home and area. He leaves seven of the dogs behind as a pack and brings only Fenrig the second largest dog and Gorbo says he is 6 years old and the best runner and sniffer. Gorbo is riding is pony Beastwhen he rides.
Gorbo Fenrig Miron exchange positions as needed.
Gwaelur
Gwaelur’s pony
Deor
Thoroncir
Miron’s pack horse
Gilraen
Scout
Ghan’s dogs
Ghan
Elfstan
Curunauth
Lorliana
Lorliana’s spare horse
Mulligan
Gil-Gandel
The party sticks to obscure trails many impossible to see until the party enters them. Gorbo really knows the lands and stops several times to whistle or snort or chortle or click or some other odd noise and most of the time he stops and talks briefly to various mammals. He speaks to foxes, squirrels, skunks and even deer. The party makes good time and the horses are doing fine. About a third of the march is down on foot leading the equines and all are muddy before the day is over.
He relates several tales of various marsh creatures. His favorite is the stories of the otter family he has befriended. They are larger than him and numerous. “They are very smart and clever. They have elaborate holes that make mine look like a hovel*. They are great fishers and great pranksters. Like me they are no friends to the muskrats and occasional goblin that wanders through. There was one time when I found mother otter in a goblin trap. She was calling for help and I gave three short whistles to let her know not to fear. I scurried off as fast as these ole legs would take me and rounded up the entire otter clan and my pups and Beast’s Pop. I came riding up the head of the oddest army you could imagine. We had the squirrels swiftly go in and scout ahead of us and then we charged in and subdued all the goblins ‘fore they knew what hit them. Down went the big one swarmed by angry papa otter and five younger ones. I made short work of a stray goblin scout with my arrows and the dogs dragged down 2 more. The amazing things is when one goblin almost got old granny otter who was just watching and 7 squirrels attacked the goblin and bought time for 3 otters and my pups to get there. … Yap good times.”
July 29[sup]th[/sup] the weather is oppressing warm and humid. Some tempers get a little thin and the biting insects come out in larger numbers. It is so humid it feels as if it should be raining. Miron, Ghân, Gilraen and Gorbo find various plants to help during the day and Gilraen actually spends a good 30 minutes on one of the rides singing her song of Estë. At other times Gil-Gandel soothes frayed nerves with various songs on harp and flute. That night at 9pm with Miron, Gilraen, Elfstan and Mulligan on watch and Brownie in a tree the sound of something very large is heard charging in. The Dogs all begin barking loudly and the horse neigh in fear. Gorbo yells out “Werewolf coming. Light fires and use magic if you got it. Awake all awake, see to the horses.” Anca lets out a challenging growl that scares the nearby Hobbits in its intensity. Time is short, what do you do, sleepers are waking, most being only recently asleep. Armor would not be on in this case I am afraid the conditions are not suitable for anything but elven chain for sleeping. There is no hope of getting it on in time.
- technically the Hobbits and Dwarf thought Morbo’s hole did look like a hovel.
Grumble, I hate fighting without armour.
I have a handfull of silver bolts. (I think 5, am I right about that What Exit?, I don’t have my notes here.)
I want to make sure I grab my shield and get to a vantage point where I can do the most damage with my bolts. Let me get as much of my armor on as I can once I get to that vantage point. I will continue to armour myself between vollys until I am out of bolts and then I will head in with my axe regardless of my state of armorment.
Gwaelur has 4 silver bolts, 10 +2 Bolts & 4 Mithril steel bolts that should never break. (each is +4 to hit/+8 damage) There will be no time to do more than load the Crossbow and gather up shield and weapons.
Damn, well is there a large rock or something for me to take cover behind at least?
If not, I will grab my sheild fire the silver bolts (with my +2) xbow, as close to the buggers heart as I can manage, and then flank while I reload, Fire again and then try to dance away to allow others to hit him with projectiles. THEN I will go in with my axe.
Question: IIRC When I bought them you told me the silver bolts would do a good deal of damage on werewolves. Do they not do more than the +2 bolts or the Mithril?
Here’s hoping I hit.