by Matt » Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:36 am
The morning of Halane 20th dawned bright and clear and cold. Ulauf looks to the sky, sniffs at the wind, and says that he thinks the rain has passed for a while. The warband then finishes the task of butchering and roasting Dragoran's unfortunate mule beneath the majestic Jahls. This chore consumes most of the morning, and those not helping butcher or roast, repack and rearrange the remaining supplies. It's clear the one mule has more fodder than he needs, so much of that is left behind, and each man must now take on an additional 15 lbs. of weight - although this will be eaten within a few days. Still, it's clear that the warband will be too heavily laden to fight effectively, and so much of the extra weight is put into sacks that can be quickly dropped.
It is in this state that the warband finally sets out again around midday, Vagnar and Dragoran taking turns leading the last mule. He seems to be aware of the other two mules are gone, and clearly doesn't want to end up like them. The group makes slow progress through the lightly forested terrain.
That evening a suitable spot is found to camp, and each man eats his fill. A song or two is attempted, but everyone is fatigued from carrying the burden, and in the end, sleep comes easily.
On the morning of the 21st, the warband breaks its fast under a clear sky, and though it is cold, everyone is grateful that the rain seems good and gone. Someone lamely gests "it'll be back, just wait a minute," but for today that doesn't seem likely. Once again, and still over-burdened, the warband moves down the Fur Road.
Soon the terrain turns hilly, and this slows progress a bit more. The mule is not so bad today, apparently as refreshed by the weather as everyone else. But in mid-afternoon, the mule suddenly balks, braying. At first, it seems it's just the mule deciding to be stubborn, but then group smells something in the air - the smell of death and decaying flesh.
Last edited by
Matt on Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.