To Tsurlagol II
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 1:16 pm
Fourth to Sixth Day of Travel
One night's rest at the village by the roadside did Malvina good, or at least it did not worsen her state. Indeed, the next, fourth day the orphan girl gets up and ready to leave on her own accord, although exhaustion and weakness have not left her completely.
The Ranger leads them forward, and he is more than capable to discern the tracks of those ahead and after them on the road; if there are any hostile creatures skirting their path he will be able to note it and steer them clear of it. So far, fortunately, the only tracks he can discern are those of the Warswords that travelled between the villages on their patrol.
Beautiful and sad is the landscape around them; rolling hills to both sides, some adorned with bald populus trees and birches. The occasional vertical line of smoke suggests a hamlet nearby, or at least a collection of farms.
The fifth day of their travel heralds a slight deterioration in Malvina's condition. The village rest from the day before had helped her some, but it could only last for so long. Her eyes are sunken in, her frail form shivers more no matter the clothes she is offered with; but throughout this, she still manages to follow Aryen, or hold onto him tightly if he opts to carry her.
On their right side, the Grey Forest looms in its hilly, misty expanse. From where Aryen and Malvina see it, the forest seems to go on endlessly east and west, and behind it the Earthfast Mountains lazily look down, barely visible in their whiteness against a white-grey sky and white-black woodland. Still, the road bears no ill surprises for them, nor is their evening stop disturbed. Aryen Caladras finds for them shelter, food, and a good vantage point: in this he is experienced and has an excellent sense.
Tsurlagol is supposedly three more days travel away; it should have only been two at most on a clear day. But snows and fell winds from Auril have caused a road blockage and traffic has slowed down to a near-standstill. Perhaps this is the one small comfort that comes with travel on foot rather than by wagon: Aryen and Malvina can skirt around the affected area. There will be a delay, but not multiple days as it would be with a caravan.
Except that on the sixth morning, Malvina does not wake up.
She lies in her sleep sack, bundled in hare's furs and blankets, warmed by the wolf Fenrir around her - and looking as pale grey as snow mixed with mud. The wild animal wakes and growls low, sniffing at the child's face, before turning his muzzle towards Aryen.
The Dalelander would have a chance to rise and check her.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 18: Heal roll: 3 + 12 = 15
He cannot immediately tell if she is dead - but he moves quickly to assist. Too quickly: even with his resourcefulness and exceptional sight for all things malleable and usable to the task, he cannot gauge what medicine or treatment Malvina's lifeless little form needs. He is able to tear all the warm furs and blankets off the girl to dry her skin off, and to change her clothes to something dry and warm as well; herbs cooked on the fire and supplied to her to fend off the fever; a check on her mangled hand if it is bleeding again and refreshing the bandages.
But he has to get her out of the wilderness, and quickly.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 25: Survival roll: 6 + 22 = 28
While he is not able to instantly pinpoint what is wrong with Malvina, he knows one thing very well even under such duress - the way through, and out, of the wild. He has to estimate if Tsurlagol could be reached by crossing the outskirts of the Grey Forest, rather than slavishly following the road, and has to make a guess in which direction a bird would need to fly from here to get to the city.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 25: Knowledge: Geography roll: 7 + 13 = 20
It is hard to guess. But he has to make that guess and go with it - he has to get Malvina to a settlement. Somewhere with more people, more medicine, more options than one man's talents; even if that one's skills are outstanding.
He has to leave and leave now.
And hope to arrive in Tsurlagol with a girl still alive... rather than another body to bury this winter.
OOC: The DM rolled Fortitude checks for Malvina's condition (DC 15 to get better, DC 12 to stay in the same conditions) the first three days: the results of which are 13 + 11 + 2.
One night's rest at the village by the roadside did Malvina good, or at least it did not worsen her state. Indeed, the next, fourth day the orphan girl gets up and ready to leave on her own accord, although exhaustion and weakness have not left her completely.
The Ranger leads them forward, and he is more than capable to discern the tracks of those ahead and after them on the road; if there are any hostile creatures skirting their path he will be able to note it and steer them clear of it. So far, fortunately, the only tracks he can discern are those of the Warswords that travelled between the villages on their patrol.
Beautiful and sad is the landscape around them; rolling hills to both sides, some adorned with bald populus trees and birches. The occasional vertical line of smoke suggests a hamlet nearby, or at least a collection of farms.
The fifth day of their travel heralds a slight deterioration in Malvina's condition. The village rest from the day before had helped her some, but it could only last for so long. Her eyes are sunken in, her frail form shivers more no matter the clothes she is offered with; but throughout this, she still manages to follow Aryen, or hold onto him tightly if he opts to carry her.
On their right side, the Grey Forest looms in its hilly, misty expanse. From where Aryen and Malvina see it, the forest seems to go on endlessly east and west, and behind it the Earthfast Mountains lazily look down, barely visible in their whiteness against a white-grey sky and white-black woodland. Still, the road bears no ill surprises for them, nor is their evening stop disturbed. Aryen Caladras finds for them shelter, food, and a good vantage point: in this he is experienced and has an excellent sense.
Tsurlagol is supposedly three more days travel away; it should have only been two at most on a clear day. But snows and fell winds from Auril have caused a road blockage and traffic has slowed down to a near-standstill. Perhaps this is the one small comfort that comes with travel on foot rather than by wagon: Aryen and Malvina can skirt around the affected area. There will be a delay, but not multiple days as it would be with a caravan.
Except that on the sixth morning, Malvina does not wake up.
She lies in her sleep sack, bundled in hare's furs and blankets, warmed by the wolf Fenrir around her - and looking as pale grey as snow mixed with mud. The wild animal wakes and growls low, sniffing at the child's face, before turning his muzzle towards Aryen.
The Dalelander would have a chance to rise and check her.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 18: Heal roll: 3 + 12 = 15
He cannot immediately tell if she is dead - but he moves quickly to assist. Too quickly: even with his resourcefulness and exceptional sight for all things malleable and usable to the task, he cannot gauge what medicine or treatment Malvina's lifeless little form needs. He is able to tear all the warm furs and blankets off the girl to dry her skin off, and to change her clothes to something dry and warm as well; herbs cooked on the fire and supplied to her to fend off the fever; a check on her mangled hand if it is bleeding again and refreshing the bandages.
But he has to get her out of the wilderness, and quickly.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 25: Survival roll: 6 + 22 = 28
While he is not able to instantly pinpoint what is wrong with Malvina, he knows one thing very well even under such duress - the way through, and out, of the wild. He has to estimate if Tsurlagol could be reached by crossing the outskirts of the Grey Forest, rather than slavishly following the road, and has to make a guess in which direction a bird would need to fly from here to get to the city.
OOC: Skill roll provided in game: Aryen Caladras: DC 25: Knowledge: Geography roll: 7 + 13 = 20
It is hard to guess. But he has to make that guess and go with it - he has to get Malvina to a settlement. Somewhere with more people, more medicine, more options than one man's talents; even if that one's skills are outstanding.
He has to leave and leave now.
And hope to arrive in Tsurlagol with a girl still alive... rather than another body to bury this winter.
OOC: The DM rolled Fortitude checks for Malvina's condition (DC 15 to get better, DC 12 to stay in the same conditions) the first three days: the results of which are 13 + 11 + 2.