The Guardians of Asgaard!!!

[Gamblerjoe]

Ford

Ford moves throught the gate, and sits down briefly in the field. he ties strips of cloth around his deepest wounds, and dons his new breastplate. then he slings his falchion and scabbard over his shoulder and moves out.

He begins his long trek. he doesnt know how to get anywhere from here, and sign posts arent going to help with that. His plan is to just move away from this place.

[drakir_nosslin]

Fengr

The totemist takes a deep breath as the last enemy falls to the ground, wincing at the pain from his broken ribs and the cut in his shoulder. Then he follows Gunnar outside and starts equipping himself from what has been left behind on the dead bodies. He soon finds a chain shirt that's still intact, its wearer having died from what looks like a sword blow to the head. The bloody armor fits him reasonably well, and the familiar weight on his shoulders feels comforting. Fengr also manages to scavenge a backpack, some rope and a old bedroll. As he finishes packing his equipment he turns towards Gunnar.
"I agree. There is not much we can do right now. Most of us are wounded and we can't take another fight like the last one. We can do more for the other prisoners if we come back when we've prepared for it."
He looks out over the field, away from their prison and sighs.
"It's going to be quite a journey to get back home. Why don't we stick together until we've reached someplace safe?"

[Simba]

Valgard

Valgard picks upa breastplate and starts putting it on. If a shield is available he will take one, too. Once he is ready he will look at the others to see what has been decided in the meantime.

[Ipphli]

Gunnar calls out to Kjersti, "Kjersti, wait!" He runs over towards her, but is careful not to grab her; there was no telling what she might do. "We don't even know where our comrades are, if they even live. We are wounded, lost, far from home. If you go into the city you will die without saving anyone. And you'll get me killed, because I won't let you go in there alone.

I swear to you, we will return at the head of an army, to free our comrades and bring the wrath of the gods down on these Rus. But right now we must get home, tell our brethren where the others are, give them all the intelligence we can."

[Cleavon]

Kjersti & Gunnar

The barbarian guard that Kjersti found was wounded, and had been attempting to get to a safe place to attempt to tend to his wounds. Unfortunately for him Kjersti's pouncing charge destroys him where he stands, leaving her to look between Gunnar, and the raging battle before her...though her rage will certainly run out before she can enter more combat

Valguard

Valguard easily finds a worthy shield and notices Ford getting up and making his way away from the place, the wind cold and biting, but no snow having fallen yet this season

Fengr

Just as you mention sticking together, you notice the possibly not all together there Half-Orc sort of..wandering off in slightly the wrong direction.

Ford

The land looks bleak, and there is a road North, though it winds off to the east and is not exactly the way back to Nelgaard, though you'll need someone to tell you such

[Tichrondrius]

Kjersti Grimsdottir

What can almost be described as a howl erupted from Kjersti's lungs as she pulled up her axes out of the recently killed Barbarian. She started to take a step over him to find more battle, but stopped as she heard Gunnar call to her. "See how easily they fall?" She said back to him, shaking off her axe to make the blood splatter onto the body below her.

Suddenly, her face grew pale and she looked almost sick. She managed to compose herself as she cleaned off her weapon quickly and put them away, but stumbled over away from her newest body to throw up.

"..You're right, lets go." She said after a moment, looking around for the nearest escape.

[Ipphli]

Gunnar nods before turning and heading back out the gates. After taking a moment to get his bearings, he groans and looks down at himself. His adrenaline and rage had finally given way to the pain of his wounds. Finding a (mostly) clean shirt, he rips it into strips and uses it to bind his wounds. Feeling slightly better, he heads off, hoping to be long gone before dark.

[Gamblerjoe]

Ford

Ford shambles back into the city, and back toward the holding cells, mumbling under his breath. "There must be some damn food on one of these animals." He begins searching the pockets and sacks of the fallen guards. After giving up (or succeeding) he spots a 10' ladder. After dragging his fatigued bones all the way back to the holding area, Ford wasnt about to leave empty handed.

On his way back out, Ford sees his fellow former prisoners converging around the tallest, blondest one. Given his experience with strangers in the past, Ford never considered asking anyone for help or frienship before. His instinct is to walk past them, through the gate, and then in a random direction. Even Ford knows that a few days of traveling through wolf territory in the cold requires spectacular luck just to live long enough to starve to death.

"You folks sticking together then? Two heads are better... uhh... safety in... err... i have a ladder!"

[tonberryking]

"We should take to the woods," Aldi announces, having thrown on some hide armor and boots she pulled off a man who was relatively the same frame size as hers, though the armor still is a bit tight. Regardless, she's found a scimitar to fit her hand and a pick of her bow, but what's pretty astounding is the massive bushel of arrows she has, all a mix and match of many feathered shafts and arrowheads crammed between two quivers mounted on her back like a shell.

"By dawn, my magic and ally gaining powers should be returned to me. If we head home through the closest forest area and double around if necessary, then Odin willing it'll be as if we vanished and we can return without a pack of these scourges on our heels."

[Ipphli]

Gunnar nods to Aldi. "Very well. If you can erase our trail, so much the better. Let's get going before the fighting returns this way."

[Simba]

Valgard

Valgard joins the others, noding when taking to the woods is suggested. "A sound plan. Let's get going before someone takes an interest in us!"

[Cleavon]

Scene Advancement

Once everything is in order, you are all able to make your way into the forest. The forest land is rough, but you stay within earshot of the road. Nothing passes up or down it, and the thick trees are able to shield your progress until it begins to become dark.

After a few more hours marching you are able to find several tight clusters of fur trees, giving plenty of shelter from the wind and nice pine straw to rest on. There isn't much else, though a fire could easily be made and there are enough rocks to form a pit if the want for heat is there.

At this point the party has traveled as far as possible during the day, and the wounds of battle make camping the only option for the next eight hours.

*Edit* The attack at Ruthorn happened near Mid day, and you were able to get in a half days trek before succumbing to weariness and making camp

Healing
Anyone with Heal can make heal checks to expedite healing as they wish. A successful DC 15 heal check will allow for 2 HP per level to be healed over the nights eight hour rest period.

Also, Aldi may have healing to provide to the party as she decides upon.

[drakir_nosslin]

Fengr

The battle outside their cell and the hasty retreat through the forest has left the Totemist tired and he is more than happy to rest when the group finds a good place to set up camp. He rolls out the old bedroll he found and sits down slowly, ribs and shoulder hurting. After having rested for a couple of minutes Fengr yawns and starts looking around for a suitable place to make a fire.
"I guess that we'll survive the night here, though a fire might help. Wounded as we are we shouldn't sleep cold, it'll just take longer for the body to heal properly."
He looks at the others and smiles.
"At least we're out and on our way home. Tomorrow, I'll start foraging as we go, I think that we won't need to go hungry either."
With that said, he starts to build a simple pit to light fire in, deep enough that the light won't be easily visible from a distance.

[Gamblerjoe]

Ford

The trip is tiresome, but force marching with wounds is familiar territory for everyone in the group. Ford gives everyone one apple, and enjoys one himself. At the campsite, he drops the sack of food near the pit, and goes to gather fire wood.

[Simba]

Valgard

"Well, we made it and I am glad to be in your company. Let me help you, Ford."

Valgard joins Ford in gathering firewood.

[Ipphli]

Gunnar grunts in thanks as he bites into the apple. He sits down hard, obviously feeling the full effects of his many wounds now. He glances at the others gathering firewood and pulls out the flint and steel in readiness for when they get back.

[Tichrondrius]

Kjersti Grimsdottir

The barbarian woman kept holding her stomach and was still pretty sick from coming down off her adrenaline rush and brutality of combat. At the campsite she just sat there for a little bit before walking off to join Valgard and Ford.

"I guess we'll have a lot of firewood." She said mirthlessly, hoisting up her axe.

[Cleavon]

Scene Advancement

The border of the kingdom of Nelgaard is easy to see on the horizon, and when your weary eyes find it it hardens your resolve to cross over into more friendly territories before making camp for the night.

It has been two days since the battle in Ruthorn, and through rest and the druids spells all wounds have been healed. The terrain changes into a more open scrub land, the trees of the Ru kingdom falling away into patches of alders and open scrub land.

Once across into the easier terrain another happy sign is found. Smoke on the horizon, but only a thin wisp. It is finally seen to come from a medium sized farm, several tilled fields and a handful of cattle in a large pen near the main building.

A pair of men tend to one field, roughly three hundred feet away with a single Ox and a plow. Only a half mile from the border of the Kingdom of the Ru's, this farm is known to be run by Hjald Lieffson.

OOC

Spoiler

Show

Advancing the scene to prevent the game from stalling for too long, I figure that getting it steam rolling along to the main points will be ll for the better.

The raiding party from Brumunddal stopped at this farm for provisions and rest before entering the Ru kingdom those nine months ago, so the owner is known.

[drakir_nosslin]

Fengr

"Finally a peaceful land in sight! When we get back to Brumunddal I'm going to sleep for two days straight."
The totemist is in a much better mood now than during their first night after having escaped. His wounds healed and with Neelgard in sight Fengr feels like he's starting to be in control of his life once more.
"Well, why waste more time here? In less than an hour we could be home again!" He says, eager to cross the border.

[Gamblerjoe]

Ford

"Then let's press on, and maybe 'ole Hjald will be willing to help out some of his people again."

[Ipphli]

Gunnar nods in agreement with the others. "Aye, friendly faces at last. We're practically home. Come, lets go see if Hjald can spare some food and information, and hopefully a warm place to sleep." He confidently strolls up to the farm, calling out to the farm hands as he approaches.

[Simba]

Valgard

"Nice to be in friendly territory once again. Let's go and rest some, then we should decide what to do next."

[Tichrondrius]

Kjersti Grimsdottir

Kjersti rolls her neck while massaging her shoulder with her right hand. Her body wasn't yet adjusted to the life of a Barbarian. That long battle right out of the cage and now this journey.. it had really taken it's toll. And she hadn't been sleeping well either. Not that the floor of a jail or a Master's Harem Room were much different than the hard ground- indeed, the ground was better than those by far since she could look up at the stars. No, it had been the memories. Kjersti wasn't a weak person by far but her free spirit had been particularly darkened by her time there and that was hard to get past. It was hard to just.. go back to normal after this. She wanted to run back there and burn that entire place to the ground. Her rage boiled just beneath the surface but she keep it in check.

She probably would have if Gunnar hadn't talked her down. Kjersti looked over at him and brushed some wild hair out of her face. She had been rather muted these past two days and hadn't talked much except to complete tasks, so she hadn't properly thanked him for not letting her get herself killed. Kjersti tried to move as subtly as she could up next to him while they walked so she could talk to him. "Hey, Gunnar, I-"

It seemed she traveled too subtly. Most of the ones in front that were focused forward had seen the farm before she had, but she recognized the geography of where they were already so it was no surprise to her that they were near to her homelands. It did seem extremely surreal so she hadn't had much of a reaction yet.. she hoped this was temporary. She wanted to be her usual exuberant self again.

Hjald Lieffson. That's the guy that ran this farm. She tried to picture him in her head and found she couldn't quite recall. Kjersti just hoped he was still friendly after all this time.

She was going home.

A wide smile broke her lips as she rushed forward after Gunnar. "Hey, you guys!"

[tonberryking]

Aldi stays silent; the farmlands hold little promise or hope for a druid. However, the heavy padding of the black bear's paws --she's given him the name of Hoga-- come as an assurance. Aldi spent most of the trip back in silent communion with nature or making sure her new companion knew how to behave when she wasn't healing the party. She tried to strike up conversations, but had little to offer beyond things she wasn't sure the others would appreciate. The coming of dawn, the winds under the boughs...

"We should seek council with my elder druids; they'll be able to help us more than any of our friends and family." she offers, though inwardly she wonders about the hovel she made for herself on the other side of their home. The one where she had kept company with stray cats...who have amassed large numbers in all likelyhood by now. She hoped it wasn't overrun.

[Cleavon]

As the Party approaches and the farm hands hear Gunnars call to them they look up from their work, and begin calling out behind them. Soon a tree of a man appears, a large axe on his shoulder, though not one made for battle, he appears to have been chopping wood. He sets the axe down and hollers up towards the group

"Come down travelers, though slow If you don't mind."

Hjald and the two farmhands leave the Ox for the moment and walk cautiously towards the party until they are within easy sight distance, and Hjald grinned wide, tossing his arms out wide.

"By Odens beard! Its been near on a year since you lot passed by this way. I never forget a face, and these were ones I thought I might not see again! I had figured your expedition had met their fate on the battle field against the Rus, or you had come back to Brumunddal by some other way."

He shook his head and motioned for them to follow.

"Come, the stew is on and it grows later in the evening. Eat something and tell me of your journeys and conquests and at dawn we'll take a wagon to the city."

With that he lead the party into the farm house, and the two farm hands went back to tending the field, Hjalds thick hipped wife chopping meat and adding searing it in the fire before tossing it into the stew, Hjald ushering the party to sit in the large open front room and make themselves comfortable

[Ipphli]

Gunnar looks at Kjersti curiously as the farmer approached. Hearing the man's words, he grinned and moved to walk next to him. "Aye, I never thought we'd see home again either. We were prisoners. We'd still be prisoners, except someone attacked the Rus. Were beating them pretty good too last we saw. You'd do well to keep an eye out; they could be heading for here next."

His stomach rumbles at the sight of the stew, and the barbarian laughs good-naturedly at himself. "But enough of such talk for now. I believe you offered food; Thor himself couldn't outeat me tonight!"

[Gamblerjoe]

Ford

"Would ya believe it Hjald... after our trek into the Ru kingdom, those motherless dogs didnt send me to Valhalla, they put me back in chains! Big ones too! They had this ole' ox haulin' carts around for months." Ford cant keep himself away from the stew for another second. "But thank Strudder, we got away and found you my friend." He proceeds to compliment the stew through a series of slurping noises and belches.

[Cleavon]

Hjald seems thoughtful as he works a hand through his beard. He grasped a horn from the kitchen, a great large one from some b east and filled it with rough mead, raising it up to the travelers and giving a toast to their successful return to their homelands before slugging it down, mead dripping down from the corners of his mouth.

Hjald's stout wife was sure to serve everyone as they wished to be, and after everyone had their stew she offered Aldi some of the tougher meat for her bear, should it be hungry.

Hjald sat then in the common room with the party and held his refilled horn of mead in both hands, garnering the attention of everyone so that he could tell them of things that had transpired while they were captured.

"While ye were gone, Nelgaard was quite normal, at first. Only troubles we had were off to the south east border, where the Fire Giants raid through Ru land and sometimes cross our borders. Some months ago though, they say a Horde marched from the heart of Elsimar.

The tribes of nomads living in northern Fangoren brought word to Relthorn and Grenfel that ta great number of warriors was on the move, and word just recently reached Us here. The druid council in Brummundal must know more, and I am sure that if what we've heard is true they would be greatly happy to have some of their lost warriors returned to them!"

[Ipphli]

Gunnar nods, a frown on his face. "Possibly the same group that attacked the Rus and enabled us to escape. We'll leave in the morning, return straight to Brummundal. Of course we'll offer our services to the Council."

[drakir_nosslin]

Fengr

"And if it was the same group they do have some decent warriors with them. It is no easy feat to take a Rus town by force."
The totemist adds, standing with his arms crossed and leaning towards a wall. Having had his fill of the stew and finally on familiar ground, Fengr is starting to feel normal again, but this new threat is disturbing news, especially for one who had hoped to relax for a time before setting out on the warpath again.
"The council will have my help, should they want it. I do not wish to see Brummundal burn if there's anything I can do to stop it."