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| Dufthund |
* - Dufthund is Danish for scenthound (according to Google); in our world the breed is American Foxhound
It was a beautiful morning holding promises of the summer just arriving and it was pleasant for all to ride in the early sun.
Set a Course: +Supply; 3 +5 vs 10 & 2 => weak hit => 2 -1 suffer moves, -1 momentum now +7, -1 supply now 4
That was until the lead wagon broke a wheel. It would not take long to fix, but the patrol couldn't wait for them - they had a schedule to keep. Once the wheel had been fixed, the two wagons continued, reaching Halfway by mid-afternoon.
Reach a Milestone: troublesome vow "I will escort the stonemasons to Halfway-House and ensure their safety", progress now 3/10
They were soon unpacked and as there was still daylight left, Herta and the apprentices began their work measuring out the foundations of the new wall that they would have to construct. Detailing one of the Wardens as sentry and to keep an eye on the masons, Brunvoldt, the other Warden and the servants began a detailed inventory of the supplies that were there and restocked their own as they did so.
Resupply: +Wits; 4 +3 vs 6 & 5 => strong hit => +2 supply now 5 (max)
As soon as night began to fall, Herta and her apprentices came inside and the gates were closed against the dark. As they ate their evening meal, Herta was pleased to announce that if things progressed tomorrow as well as they had today, they would finish their work by tomorrow's evening, so they could return to Templemount the following morning, a day earlier than planned.
A quiet night passed with Brunvoldt sharing the watches with the Wardens. As he walked the walls, he enjoyed the quiet solitude, finding it refreshing and quite meditative to be so alone and at peace.
Firebrand: gather fire +Spirit; 3 +5 vs. 9 & 6 => weak hit => +2 fire now 5
The next day passed just as quietly. The masons continued their work while Brunvoldt and the Wardens shared the watches over them and the servants finished the inventory of Halfway. At that evening's meal Herta confirmed her prediction - their work was finished and leaving in the morning would be possible.
They packed everything that evening in preparation to leave the following morning and retired to their beds.
Ask the Oracle: Does the Warden on duty detect the infiltrators in time to warn the occupants? She's competent so Likely: <= 75 yes, roll 69
Brunvoldt was woken in the middle of the night by the Warden, Chandra. "Sentinel," she said, "Adalbjorg has seen movement in the treeline, we thought it best to wake you."
Gathering himself, Brunvoldt replied, "You were right. Wake the servants and send them to me, then go to Adalbjorg and stand with him until I arrive."
Chandra left and Brunvoldt began to don his armor. When the servants arrived they helped and sped the process considerably. Once finished, he told the servants to wake the masons and then all of them were to go to the supply room and bar themseleves in. The supply room had been designed to double as a refuge so they would be safe there. Brunvoldt went to the wall to join the Wardens.
Brunvoldt ascended the stairs that led to the walltop and saw the Wardens crouching behind the crenellations and peering out over the wall.
"What do you see?" queried Brunvoldt in a low voice.
"Varou sir," replied Adalbjorg. "Only a couple, I think. They seem to be just watching us - I can't tell whether or not they're going to move against us."
"What do you think we should do?" Brunvoldt asked. Both Wardens looked at him with puzzled expressions - they had assumed Brunvoldt would tell them. Brunvoldt explained, "Look, you've been trained to defend places like this. I've been trained to fight certainly, but not in what's best in this situation, so I'll defer to your competence. Suggestions then?"
The Wardens looked at each other, then Chandra spoke up, "Well sir, we could dissuade them by visibly walking the wall, but then we might have to face them on the road tomorrow and we don't know how many they are." She paused and then as Brunvoldt said nothing, she continued, "Or we could lure them in where we have doorways to control how many we face at a time."
It was obvious that neither of the Wardens would say more. There were, apparently, limits to what they felt they could tell an 'officer' to do.
"Very well," Brunvoldt decided, "We'll try and lure them in - as you say, it would be better for us to fight them where we have some measure of control." He led the Wardens down from the wall to the entrance of the Halfway-House itself. Once there, they bolted one of the pair of doors closed leaving the other slightly ajar. Then he sent both Wardens to gear for war - they were only in patrolling equipment at present. After they were fully geared, Adalbjorg would confirm that all other access points were fully secured, while Chandra told the others what was happening and what was planned. Meanwhile, Brunvoldt would guard the open door.
All these preparations add up to Brunvoldt getting to
Reach a Milestone: troublesome vow "I will escort the stonemasons to Halfway-House and ensure their safety", progress now 6/10
Ask the Oracle: Do the Varou fall for it? They're eager for the meat, so Likely: <= 75 yes, roll 28
Ask the Oracle: Is there a Hand (4 as Varou have only 3 fingers with their thumb) of Varou? Likely: <= 75 yes, roll 46
Adalbjorg returned and confirmed that the other door was barred (with the bar wedged) and that all the windows were shuttered. Shortly after Chandra returned with the masons and servants in tow.
"They want to help," she said simply.
Herta stepped forward, "We will not hide in a hole waiting to die when we can help," she said forcefully.
"Good for you," replied Brunvoldt. "Bring furniture for a barricade. The Varou will no doubt throw the door wide, and that barricade will funnel them if they get through the door." He turned to Chandra and Adalbjorg.
"I will stand by the door. When the Varou open it, I'll step into the doorway and hold them. You back me up and if you can, stab past me with your spears. Beware the light of my torch though. It has been blessed by Holy Vanth and may flare brightly - at times as bright as the sun." The Wardens looked doubtfully at the piece of wood in Brunvoldt's left hand, but - wisely - did not say anything.
Brunvoldt looked at the torch too. It did look entirely underwhelming - perhaps he should have some decoration put on it? 'Not now,' he admonished himself and took up his place by the door.