[Malber] [U] The Watering Hole

[Drevin]

Drevin scowled at the news that there wasn't a guaranteed reward. "Dangerous work for the hopes that we find enough on the rabble to compensate us. Do you know what kind of numbers we're looking at?"

[Riesig]

Riesig shrugged and played with a fireball as he listened to the newcomer, then smiled as he spoke. "Well, if you're scared, you don't have to join us. Besides, a good challenge can really get you fired up."

[Rand M. Guardman]

"Our best guess for numbers is about a dozen, maybe a few more. Their leader is a storm aspect and it sounds like we might also bump into some fires." Randall added.

[Drevin]

Drevin flicked his hard gaze onto Riesig. "Three to one numbers and they've got aspects among them. Scared and practical aren't the same thing kid. I'll go, but now I know we need a better plan than kicking in the front door."

[Rand M. Guardman]

"Well, Maroo is about an eighteen hour walk from here so the first thing we need to decide is when we want to arrive and how far away we want to camp. We don't want to tip our hats but the closer we are when we rest the better condition we'll be in for any fighting. Thoughts?" Randall addressed the group, leaning back in his chair at around the same time four steak and rice dishes arrived at the table.

[Riesig]

Riesig ate as he thoguht of an answer. "Well, as you are the one with the most knowledge of the area, where would good locations be? Like is it an open field approaching the town? Or some forests? Not really from around here so don't have much to go off of."

[Drevin]

Drevin looked thoughtful for a moment. "Any chance one of these are willing to take us by wagon?" He gestured broadly at the farmers. "Be a bit quicker and we'd be rested for a fight. Plus you never know maybe we'll get ambushed by an outlying patrol and we can thin their numbers before we even get there."

[Rand M. Guardman]

Randall nodded as he started cutting up his steak.

"Its almost entirely farmland, prairies and dirt around this area. There is a little stream about three hours away from Maroo, chances are that's where the Murder will be getting their water if they've thought far enough ahead to consider it." he said, punctuating the sentence with a bite of food before adding "And no luck on the wagon front, everyone who fled got out on foot and the people here aren't willing to send resources directly into the hands of bandits."

[Drevin]

Drevin grunted and started cutting his steak. "But they'll send us... Well best bet is probably to camp out near the stream and take out whoever goes to resupply them. Might as well drop their numbers and dehydrate them if we can."

[Rand M. Guardman]

Pointing a piece of skewered steak at Drevin, Randall nods and replies "That definitely has merit. That'll leave time of day pretty much in their hands but that's probably fine."