Ice and Honor - IC

[Trobby]

"Hold, Niklaus. We should make camp for the night." Gothard looks around for a moment for a nearby tree. "We should hang our bags in a branch, to dissuade nighttime scavengers, and make camp beneath low eaves to provide cover from the elements."

Of course ideally they would want to make something like a tent, but these are at least a start for suggestions.

[Benson]

Niklaus nodded at his companion, he did like the idea of hanging their bags of supplies.

"Alright, I'll go collect some firewood and we can have ourselves a nice warm fire, and cook up a steak to share tonight," He said giving his bag to Gothard to hang with his own.

He then went in search of dry wood and stones to make a fire pit, especially if they're going to have a fire going long into the night.

Spoiler

Show

Search: (1d20+5)[6]

[Trobby]

Gothard, meanwhile, set to making camp. He bent a tree branch low and tied it with a bit of rope, overlaying it with a few more to make a canopy to keep them dry, and laid out a circle of rocks for a fire pit, clearing out the snow and gathering up fallen twigs for the fire.

Spoiler

Show

Survival: (1d20+4)[13]

[Lycan 01]

Niklaus is able to find a few branches, but there are no visible stones. The snow in this area is too thick.

Gothard is able to bend a branch low and tie it down, and clear out a spot of snow nearby. The shelter he makes is not the best shelter ever, though its certainly not the worst. The branches he finds for the lean-to are mostly barren of leaves, so their insulating and protective qualities are... lacking.

[Benson]

Niklaus was a little upset he couldn't find some large stones to surround the fire, they would have to be careful about the fire, of course.

With the small bundle of sticks he managed to acquire, he returned to the campside.

[Trobby]

Gothard is somewhat disappointed at the lackluster campsite, but nevertheless settles for it. Hopefully it will not snow too heavily tonight.

"If only we had a basic tent...or a large fur to wrap over the branches..." He then sees Niklaus return with his supply of sticks.

"Well then, friend, let us build our fire and warm ourselves before we sleep. We shall need to be well-rested for the morrow."

[Benson]

"Alas, all we seem to have are our winter blankets," Niklaus said, though if either of them sacrificed their blanket for a makeshift roof covering, one of 'em would likely just freeze to death. Fire or not fire.

"Alright...whelp...I'll cook us dinner, we still got three slabs of meat left and our rations," He really did wish for some salt, he liked meat and all, but by Odin's beard, was it near tasteless, the fat only did so much.


Niklaus begins to make the fire, trying to make the best of the bundle he managed across.

Spoiler

Show

Make a fire- Survival Check: (1d20+9)[10]

[Lycan 01]

The flames flicker, barely catching some of the kindling. The fire is very slow to build, producing more smoke than heat.

[Benson]

Niklaus frowned, coughing a bit from in the smoke that swept up his nose. "Well...I'd say this is off to an unpleasant start. I need more wood, better wood."

[Trobby]

"Mmh...leave it to me." Gothard says, standing up from the sparse canopy. "Tend to the fire, and I will get you more firewood."

Gothard ventures out a ways from the camp, attempting to gather firewood while Niklaus works on their source of life-sustaining warmth.

Survival: (1d20+4)[8]

[Lycan 01]

Gothard finds a few sticks that aren't wet or icy. Enough to serve as basic kindling, but not enough to create a healthy roaring fire.

[Trobby]

"I haven't fared much better." Gothard says, bringing back his paltry collection of sticks.

[Benson]

"It would seem nature has it out for us in terms of staying warm," Niklaus wanly smiled. "But every bit helps."

[Trobby]

"You're a fair bit better at this than me." Gothard says, feeling like dead weight compared to how well Niklaus seems to be doing.

[Benson]

Niklaus wanly smiled as it dipped into a frown. "Don't be hard on yourself, you managed us a rip roaring fire earlier and managed to find some better quality wood than I." He recalled the few rather..wettish firewood he managed, hence all the smoke.

[Trobby]

"...shall I make one more try? Perhaps there is better wood a little bit further from camp." He suggests. Sensing the need to lighten the mood, he offers an (obviously rather awkward) smile.

[Benson]

"Sure, but please do be careful considering its getting closer to darkness," Niklaus said as he used the wood Gothard retrieved to keep the small fire going.

[Trobby]

"Hmm...actually, I just remembered something. Hold on for just a moment."

Gothard opens his backpack, and takes out the packed-in bark and wood pieces that he had gathered earlier in the day.

"I'd nearly forgotten about these. This should help us keep the fire going at least a bit longer."

[Benson]

"Oh, good hindsight there Gothard," Niklaus lightly chuckled, welcoming the additional bark and what not to the fire.

[Trobby]

"Just be glad I didn't use this sooner, or we wouldn't have it now." Gothard points out. "Tomorrow, we'd do well to gather extra wood for the night's fire, so we do not repeat this folly"

[Lycan 01]

The birch bark, being so thin and dry, easily alights. Within moments, the flames flicker and burst into life, sending a fresh plume of smoke into the air. It doesn't take long for the rest of the kindling to catch, and soon there's a roaring fire.

There's enough firewood to keep the fire going through much of the night, but unless more firewood is gathered, it will likely die down sometime after midnight if not extinguished before then.

Keeping the fire lit through the night has its own advantages and disadvantages...

[Benson]

"Hmmm, Gothard, do you think if I use the fat from the meat to get some flare ups going, it could keep the fire going for a bit?" He asked as he looked at the meat in one hand, and dagger knife in the other.

[Trobby]

"Possibly, but we'll need something more substantial to keep it burning. Do you intend for it to last through the night?"

[Benson]

"I would like to, but I don't see that happening," Niklaus said with a slight frown.

[Trobby]

"Right, we'll burn out what we've got now, and then settle into our bedrolls."

[Benson]

"I was going to eat first though, sun hasn't even set," He said as he finished cutting the steak in two. He stabbed one of the pieces of the pieces with his dagger and held it over the fire, being careful not to burn himself.



Cooking/Survival: (1d20+9)[14]

[Lycan 01]

The meat sizzles and steams, slowly cooking over the open flame. The knife stuck through it also begins to heat up, helping to cook the meat from the inside as well. Before long, Niklaus has managed to prepare a rather decent meal, which should keep both vikings satisfied for the night.

[Trobby]

Gothard nods to his friend, and thankfully takes a share of the meat, before slipping into his bedroll, and wrapping himself in a winter blanket.

[Benson]

Niklaus, somewhat satisfied with his meal, nommed away before getting tired himself. Eventually he would curl up on his bed roll, with his blanket and try to get some sleep, the fire threatening to die soon.

[Benson]

Listen: (1d20+4)[16]
Spot: (1d20+6)[25]