[Taocow PBEM] Book 3 - Chapter XII - Journey to the Millennium Tree

[Aaron Clausen]

OOC: And on to a new chapter!

[GM]
As the party collects themselves and prepares for their journey, the
transport Sir Prrcyvel promised arrives. Clearly, the knight has
little intention of giving them New Camelot's best equipment. The
vehicle looks like a heavily armored school bus, with room for thirty
men and equipment. There are is a rail gun turret as well as window
shields with firing slits which can be pulled up to keep the interior
secure in case there is a firefight. It has four sets of large armored
tires. It looks formidable, but slow. Still, it looks able to carry
the small army which is apparently Oz's military unit.

Jacek insists on riding in whichever vehicle the girl is in. He
clearly has little trust in her seemingly grievous condition, or in
his traveling companions. He keeps as much of an eye on Ted as he does
the girl.

It is already late afternoon by the time supplies (generously supplied
by Sir Prrcyvel) are loaded on the transport. The vehicle has an
e-clip charger onboard, but there are also a large crate filled with
spare short and long e-clips. There are enough rations to keep
everyone in food for four or five days without rationing, though Sir
Prrcyvel thinks, if there is no trouble, they should reach the
Millennium tree by tomorrow.

Finally the company is underway; the large transport and the two ATVs.
It is then that the "Hood", the leader of the people of the village,
is brought on a stretcher. One arm has been torn away and it's clear
the man is in grievous condition. He has been tended with skill, and
the woman with the short grey hair gives him a blood transfusion
before he is loaded on to the transport.

Sir Prrcyvel bids the company good luck, and then begins his ride back
to New Camelot, singing a bawdy song in a surprisingly robust voice.

The going at first as slow as the vehicles wend their way down this
high hill on a narrow road that could be better described as a hunting
track. The sun is beginning to set as the company finally is at the
bottom of the hill and moving on to the main north-south road from New
Camelot to its northern borders (and beyond).

It is about seven o'clock in the evening, and the company has covered
about thirty miles, when one of Oz's men suggests that they set up
camp for the night. He seems concerned that the further north they go,
the more risk of contact with the Splugorth, and he'd prefer his men
to be fully rested for such an encounter.

The area they are going through is a land of rolling hills and fields,
with many streams. They are driving through the remnants of an old
pre-Rifts town, and generations of post-Apocalyptic residence have
torn most of the buildings down for materials, and for the most part
only old foundations are left. There are some very large ones, with
thick weathered concrete walls, large enough for a large encampment.
There are already some refugees already camping there, with several
fires lit and the delicious smell of cooking wafting towards the
company as they approach.

It's then that the company notices the first flecks of snowing. Soon
snowflakes are dancing in a stiffening breeze.
[/GM]

OOC: Okay, so you all have a choice. You can keep pushing through the
night, and probably reach the tree in the early hours of the morning.
Or you can rest up and head out in the morning, reaching the tree by
midday tomorrow. That is, if this snow doesn't turn into a snow storm.

--
Aaron Clausen
mightymartianca at gmail.com