Mounted or not, Riglo does not really care. It would cut the travel time greatly if we are mounted. Please make a decision as a group soon. The day is fleeing.
I appreciate the Goodberries as tasty treats to aid training, I certainly appreciate the counsel regarding wild animals, and I appreciate apprising the owl and hawks (ETA: and wolf) that the young polecat is not “food”. However, I’d like to train him the non-magical*, old-fashioned ranger way - rather than have the very young polecat get used to communicating with humans through magical means, I want us both to understand each other through our normal modes of communication. I do appreciate the offer.
*Brin will not be learning any magic spells, though rangers of a certain level are allowed to learn them. It’s a character choice I discussed with What Exit? during creation.
Elfstan listens intently and seems to pick things up.
“I might not be able to make myself invisible like the stories tell about Old Bilbo, but I can be rather hard to see and while I’m no ranger, I can move quietly. I just hope we have enough to eat so my belly isn’t rumbling!”
Regarding mounts or on foot, “I like the feel of the earth under my feet, but this land feels tainted still. You won’t hear me complain about riding. I just hope this flying creature of Riglo’s doesn’t look at a Hobbit like a hawk looks at a rabbit. I’m a lot easier to see on a horse or pony.”
I just sent out an Email of the first post of the new thread. I don’t want to actually post it until we have the decision made on if the group is mounted or not and the marching order is set and watches established.
Also any last minute prep stuff will go better in the current adventure thread that is winding down.
My preference is to go on foot, and I will be happy to take the rear guard and any watch that is assinged to me.
I think foot is best as well. (Having just spent several days riding hard in a saddle)
Walking that kind of distance should be not be too much of a hardship. I think I will stay with the middle of the group unless you would like me to flank as well.
Mounted or afoot, or a mix? What says our gallant Elf-captain, Gil-Gandel?
Sorry for the delay - have been unable to get to the computer much today. I’ll update within the next twelve hours and we can get moving.
No worries.
Ghân comments that in an emergency (e.g. Brin is incapacitated), it’s probably useful if the polecat knows he can communicate with Ghân.
Ghan is proposing to load:
1st
Detect Magic
Entangle
Faerie Fire
Locate Animals
Speak to Animals
Predict Weather*
Purify Water
2nd
Barkskin
Cure Light Wounds
Goodberry
Heat Metal
Slow Poison
3rd
Summon Insects
Neutralise Poison
Call Lightning* (Tree)
Each morning, Ghân will cast Predict Weather and then load either Call Lightning (Storm forecast)or Tree (calm weather)
If Rigolo thinks it’s more useful, Ghân is happy to exchange Slow Poison for Create Water.
Miron smiles a bit at the hobbit’s comment, assuring Elfstan “We’ll be sure to shoot anything that assaults us before it can come close enough to get to you or to our provisions.”
He finally straightens up, dusting the dirt and grass off of his hands as he wonders to the group “Where would you like me? I am used to acting as rearguard, but if we have keen eyes in front and back, it may be safer for me to conceal myself and follow the party on one side.”
GM, if we’re going on foot I’d like to transfer the hooded lantern, 1 torch, a flask of lamp oil, his pitons, and his sacks from the draft horse to Miron’s backpack.
Miron seems eager to pitch in, this being his first mission with the new group, and he wastes no time in adding “I’m not sure if we will have time for this, but I brought the rudiments for an old ranger’s trick: I have a length of rope and a number of small bells, and it might be a good idea to run the rope around our camp in a sort of tripwire, tying bells on at regular intervals in order to alert who may be on watch to danger.”
“As we have two Elves and an unusually vigilant cat in our party, Miron, that is probably unnecessary,” Thoroncir says, “but who knows? Such a precaution may indeed prove useful. Thank you for the suggestion; perhaps we should try it.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Miron muses, his expression softening a bit as he considers “Paranoia has its place, but I guess efficiency and practicality are much more important than I had considered.”
Here are the marching order and watchbill, people:
We will be going on foot. Riglo will lead the way – we will give him a hundred yards start. I shall flank on the right, Brin on the left, Miron to the rear, all of us a hundred yards from the centre of the group. Anything that slips past any of us will expose its rear to a skilled archer, assuming it can get past us in the first place.
At party centre, Ghân leads accompanied by Gwaelur (and Fang); Thoroncir escorts Renee; Deor is guarded by both Elfstan and Mulligan. Folca and Swift Wing shall take turns overflying us – I suggest their handlers recall them every half an hour or so; you know better than I your birds’ endurance.
By night we have the following:
Sunset to an hour before midnight:
Gwaelur in armour, Deor and Renee
An hour before midnight until two hours after:
Elfstan, Mulligan and Brin
Two hours after midnight until dawn:
Thoroncir in armour, Ghân and Riglo
In addition, Miron and I will take a short break around sunset, then as soon as it is fully dark Miron will join the watchkeepers until midway through the second watch, when I will relieve him until sunrise. Brownie will engage in normal owlish behaviour through the night, periodically moving from place to place as though on the hunt and covering the ground within a quarter of a mile of us. Our other animal friends will doubtless wake at any hint of trouble. 
I assume Elfstan and Mulligan will be delighted to prepare both supper and breakfast, but once again, we must use caution in the matter of making fire – a small smokeless one while it is still light. Elfstan will know a family story about the perils of smoky fires in hostile country.
Our day’s march will end two hours before sunset, and we will begin two hours after sunrise. The nights are short, and we need not drive ourselves for fifteen hours a day; besides, our spellcasters are likely to need the extra time to recuperate. If the day is warm, we shall seek shade and water between one and two hours after noon. It is likely that our foes will be well out of sight at such an hour in any case.
In camp I see no reason not to use Miron’s suggestion. It will take little time for him to set up and cannot hurt.
Alright, in that case Miron also takes the bells and hemp rope from his horse and adds it to his traveling pack.
In addition to his nightwatch duties, I’d like to add that while resting before sunset, and in the morning before we set out, Miron would like to scavenge around the camp for any valuable or useful herb that he could use.
During a break in the preparations to depart, Miron approaches Deor to ask “I’ve heard that Folca is often made invisible during scouting missions. Is this your doing, sir wizard? If so, I wonder whether the same might be done for my Swift Wing… I’m loathe to put him at risk if we face an airborne foe, after all.”
Quick clarification: does Miron possess any silver arrowheads? I’m not sure how many were ultimately able to be made…
Ghân is pleased with the marching order / watches and will make sure Brownie and Fang know their duties.
Setup looks good to me.
Elfstan and I should be able to sort out meals if the situation allows it. I think I will have a quick go through Ghan’s garden to pick up some supplies for the journey
The next adventure thread which will close out this one is: [Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, Third Adventure, Ered Lithui Mystery Creature](http:// boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9893437#post9893437)
Glee could you please report your spells to that thread.
As to the silver arrows:
A dozen Elven to Gil-Gandel and Miron
A dozen Long/Strong Bow to Brin & Thoroncir
Riglo was already okay on arrows and is not a good bowyer, specializing heavily in sword.
Gwaelur already has 4 silver bolts. I doubt he needs more and they are actually harder to make.
The Hobbits have plenty of Silver Sling Bullets