Water Day, Disorder Week, Sea Season, 1616

[BackworldTraveller]

Jargian moves into the valley, the taller shrubs quickly envelop him and reduce the visibility - at the bottom is a small rivulet trickling between rocks. There is a smell of woodsmoke but no sign of the fire - and definite signs of death - a cloven hoof ripped free at the knee, the remains of poor quality clothing and what looks like a spear haft - snapped in twain.

You recall that as the Toad hopped off it favoured its foreleg a little - perhaps it was injured by whoever once wielded the spear? Whoever it was may have done you an unwitting favour: Filled the Toad's belly and taught it that spears are to be avoided.

[kwll]

Jargian checks if anything can be salvaged from the remaining items of the camp, and looks around to try to determine where the people to whom they belonged were coming from. He also checks on the sable.

[BackworldTraveller]

Jargian checks if anything can be salvaged from the remaining items of the camp, and looks around to try to determine where the people to whom they belonged were coming from. He also checks on the sable.

The "Camp" consists of a dead rabbit, a pit filled with black water with sticks next to it and a foul blanket tucked into a gap under a fallen tree branch. (It must be a recent fall as it would have been broken up for firewood if it had been about for long). There is a length of metal wire, coiled, with a loop at one end and attached to a wooden stake about 30cm long - a valuable rabbit snare (1BP if sold) - near the pit.

Other than the one chewed leg (being looked at and prodded by Dorale's with his long spear), there is no sign of anything or anyone near the path either.

A deep croak sounds from downstream.

The Sable is standing by a bush, just below the gulley edge, chewing the leaf buds carefully.

Arniz sniffs about, and then dashes in, grabs the rabbit and makes off with it to the top of the gulley where he starts to play with it - mock-killing it several times.

Androrkar and Eda are watching the path to the crossing We should probably cross while that hopping house is avoiding you Androkar suggests. Do you think it will be partial to Lunars?

Jargian can only pick up his shield, look at the way the bite has fractured the wicker and the metal rim and decide that it was better the shield than him!

[kwll]

Jargian lets Eda take the rabbit snare. He looks at Androkar, then the path. "You are right, let's move on. The lunars will have to use lances or pikes as well to avoid the frog. I'm sure they have some." Then he prepares to cross the stream.

[BackworldTraveller]

The stream has clear, cool, refreshing water splashing over rocks.

The path leads to a place where the water spreads across a flat rock before tumbling down further.

Jargian leads the way across and up to the rim of the gully on the other side.

Eda and Arniz follow behind Jargian

The two Llama People follow Jargian's lead and herd the Sable across the ford. It is strangely compliant.

Here the Sable bounds away from the group as if glad that the crossing has been made - and now the group are no longer providing that nice comfortable "Herd" feeling.

Jargian is faced with three options -

• continue south eastwards, along the wash towards villages sympathetic to the River but under the Lunar Government;
• South parallel to the Zola Fel but inland on the plains looking for/avoiding occasional herders and hunters;
• South West out into the heartlands of the Nomads who are unsympathetic to the River but more anti-Lunar.

[kwll]

Jargian ponders his choices for a while. Looking at his companions, he decides to go into the heartlands. His rational is that he is accompanied by nomads already, and it will certainly make things difficult for his opponents. Plus he has always been curious to meet them.

"Let's move!" he says to everyone, including the sable.

[BackworldTraveller]

The move into the heartlands is accompanied by the sun vanishing behind low cloud - and then to cheer you along, it starts to drizzle.

What could be spectacular scenery is reduced to a circle of grey. Arniz starts to look miserable. The Sable looks damp. Jargian feels cold. Eda has huddled under her blanket and the two Llama Riders have brought out rain cloaks.

As you move along, there is little sign of wildlife and no sign of the herds that the Nomads follow. Neither of the Llama People seems particularly concerned. After several hours, Jargian is feeling slightly lost. He's beyond the limits of his normal hunting range.

Oddly, a partly crumbled dry-stone wall looms out of the mist - perhaps 100 yards ahead and apparently blocking your advance...

(Perception type rolls?)

[kwll]

Jargian attempts to understand what lies ahead of the party...

[BackworldTraveller]

Jargian has heard of these walls. It's a trap of sorts. Walls converge on a narrow opening and the tribesmen drive herds through those - at which choke point they are slowed by numbers and easily slain. The trap is easily circumvented - you just need to climb/jump the wall.

Not that they are in use all the time. They are only really used as part of a hunt.

Successful spot trap roll to note for experience later

There is nothing to see, but you can hear what sounds like someone throwing big rocks.

And a successful Listen Roll

[kwll]

"It seems to be a trap. Spread around and jump above the wall!" warns Jargian, while preparing to do the same.

[BackworldTraveller]

The group approach the wall...out of the mist, a cry is heard and the sound of rocks stacking ceases...

...The Llamas easily step over the obstacle, while Jargian and Arniz scramble over what is basically a cleverly stacked pile of loose rocks.

On the far side, Eda reports that There were three antelope riders over there - but they are off as fast as their rides can manage. Err...Where's the sable?

A quick look over the wall and you see the sable grazing quietly.

Shall we go and look what they were doing?

[kwll]

"Why not?" answer Jargian, curious.

[BackworldTraveller]

"Why not?" answers Jargian, curious.

Moving cautiously along the wall, there is a short section that is partly down. There are some stones laid for the outer-skin, but the inner rubble is all in piles along with the rest of the larger stones. There is a fire-pit, full of muddy water, and a dead rabbit, partly cooked on a skewer kicked into the dirt and stamped on. A scattered set of sticks shows their spare fuel hasn't been taken away with them.

Didn't want to see who were were then! murmurs Androkar, looking disappointed.

Checking around, there doesn't appear to be any particular anything, and the Sable is taking advantage of the lack of attention to wander in the wrong direction towards a lush(ish) area of tough but green vegetation.

And then, the rain stops.

[kwll]

"Alright, there is nothing to see here. Let's be on our way!" commands Jargian, turning his attention towards the sable again.

[BackworldTraveller]

The day progresses as a warm and fine Sea Season day. The temperature becomes quite pleasant and the Sable ambles through the scrub nibbling at the bushes as it goes. There is some small game that skitters from your path, and a great Eagle is seen, glistening in the sunlight as it soars along the ridge-line.

By late afternoon, you have moved almost 15km from your "Toad" incident when you note three small people, armed with bows and short spears and mounted on small Impalas, waiting on a ridge about 200m ahead.

[kwll]

Jargian slows down and takes counsel from his companions. "Do you know these people by any chance?" he asks the Llama riders. "Is there any way to avoid them if they prove to be hostile?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Androrkar blythely answers. They are basically cowards, these Antelope riders - though their bows are deadly...If there are three we can see, they will have others we can't. Attack and they'll flee, or we'll be suddenly outnumbered...Unless they just want us to think that.

Eda chimes in They don't look like the same three as were at the wall.

Dorale looks about. They offer to talk. If they wanted us dead, they'd have shot their arrows from Cover.

The Antelope Riders have chosen their position well. To approach will mean riding up-hill - and to avoid will mean heading back the way you came or riding along a narrow valley under bowfire.

[kwll]

Jargian shrugs. "We don't have much choice, then. And time is of the essence." He moves slowly forward, his hand lifted in a sign of peace.

[BackworldTraveller]

It is true then says the leader.

The High Llama Tribe are being guided by a child.

Jargian's two companions bristle at this.

[kwll]

"If you are referring to me, I am not the guide of the Llama tribe. They are only helping me in my current endeavor." answers Jargian, while pointing at the Llama warriors. "We could use some more help. Are you willing to join forces? Or do you prefer that the Red Moon wins control of the river?" he adds, looking at his interlocutor in the eyes and attempting to know if he is a friend or foe.