» Group #10

The night’s rest had not been an easy one, but it had hardly been the worst Magdalena had experienced. Though a tad sore when she awoke in the morning, she was nonetheless ready to go out once more. The walk provided a bit more challenging today, with the group struggling to maintain ideal temperatures until it finally looked to get a lot more difficult: mountains.

“Perhaps we should climb?” the witch suggested, somewhat guiltily. Though she—and the men—were dressed for such a feat, and she imagined herself more or less capable of it (provided they could rest afterwards; she had done her fair share of tree climbing as a young girl, and imagined the two would be largely similar), both Miss Ollivander and the Spanish woman would doubtless disagree. Meggie had not yet come to know any of her companions particularly well but the redhead, at the very least, seemed to be a bit more feminine than the rest of the party. Still, climbing could easily prove quicker in the long run. While she was quite happy for the prize at the end of this mission, the shorter it took, the less time she would spend fretting over Stefan and Penny.

Glad they had stopped when they did, that morning they broke their camp and made their way across the meadow. It was pleasantly cool in the morning, temperatures Hamish was used to, having lived in Scotland his entire life. However as the day wore on it got hotter and hotter. Hammy was not a warm weather person. While he didn't mind getting hot and sweaty under the right circumstances, being dripping in sweat simply from walking was not his favorite thing to do. With no shade and the presence of proper young ladies, Hamish was unable to lose his shirt, though he did undo the top buttons. Of course, if he took his shirt off it would not take very long for his fair Scottish skin to burn. Plus he was pretty sure that the ladies wouldn't want to see his ridiculous scars. However, even with his sleeves were rolled up he could still feel the beads of sweat rolling down his back and arms.

However, being ever the optimist, he kept from complaining and tried to keep the conversation light, joking and making suggestions to his fellow group members. He was a storyteller by nature and when nobody objected to his speaking, told stories of dragons and ancient cultures and even a couple from his youth. It certainly helped pass the time, or at least he thought so. Without wanting to seem awkward, though it was hard for Hamish to find anything awkward, he gave Violet his last clean shirt to shield her pale skin from the sun. He had noticed that even in the partial shade of their walk yesterday, she was looking rather red. While a parasol would have been better, she could at least hold it over her head to keep the sun from directly frying her. Then again, since he towered over her, if he simply walked in front of her, she would have continuous shade as well.

As the shadow of a mountain loomed in the distance, Hammy wished for the cooler temperatures that usually accompanied higher elevations. When Miss Cripps voiced her opinion to climb the mountain, Hamish waffled on his own. While climbing it would be cooler, he wasn't entirely sure it would be an easy climb. "I wouldn't mind a climb, but perhaps we could walk around a bit to find an easier route?" He suggested, not entirely disagreeing with her, but giving another option as well.

EVENT ANNOUNCER - ROUND 4
You choose to go around the mountain. As you go around and head East, you see a mysterious rainbow hanging in the air farther ahead - which means that there is fresh water. The rainbow seems to be located inside a valley between two steep mountains. Do you go to the rainbow, or continue on your way around the side of the mountain?

What do you decide?
a. Go to the rainbow
b. Continue around the other side

OOC DIRECTIONS
1. Make a decision


Round 5 begins June 1st

.mandypost { font-size:12px; font-family:'Merriweather',serif; line-height:110%; text-align:justify; margin-top:15px; }.mandypost:first-letter { display:block; float:left; margin-top:3px; margin-right:3px; font-size:45px; font-family:'Fondamento',cursive; font-weight:bold; }Tag:Outfit:How did I get myself into this mess? Hamish MacFusty was an interesting fellow to say the least. While Edmund had taken on the role of polite gentlemen, the other male had busied himself conversing and joking about as though in effort to keep things calm and comfortable - though, Edmund wasn't really sure if that WAS why Hamish did it or if that was simply how the male was on a regular basis. He had helped the ladies climb, hope, jump or ascend when ever they seemed to need and want a hand. Never once forcing his help on any of them, he'd innately kept an eye out for all of them and their safety. So perhaps it had made him a touch quiet but Edmund had done anything over night with a woman since her and here he was making camp with more than a few of them nightly... He simply didn't know how to act. "Looks like our choice is divided here folks," He said, speaking up to glance back to the others. He routinely moved from the front of the pack to the end, thinking that it would help to have his stature in the front to break through any low hanging limbs, vines or Merlin knows whatever else....and then at the back just to be safe, to ensure and keep count that everyone was still together. "We can stay on our course and keep going around the mountain but that rainbow there indicates fresh water. Perhaps a small pool even to splash our faces with? What do you guys think?"TEMPLATE coded by EMILY

James hadn't had this much excitement since his days as a cursebreaker, which was a bit sad, because there hadn't been much action yet. Still, the exercise was fun, and while he would have much rather been with Artemis and Brody, at least it was mildly interesting.

"I'm with you on this one," he said, cocking his head at Edmund Grimm, "water's good." Roxana Rios agreed with the pair of them, considerably less scowl-y than she had been when the trip had begun.

Violet had begun to feel quite miserable from her sunburn. She hadn't received enough water and with a mixture of that as well as the severity of her burns, she had begun to run a low fever. Her body ached and all she wanted to do was to lie down, but she knew that wasn't an option. Thankfully, Mr. MacFusty had noticed her misery and had given her his last clean shirt in order to cover herself. It was rather improper, but she was so desperate to protect herself from any further damage done to her by the sun that she accepted it with a shy thanks before quickly throwing it on over her walking dress. The extra layer certainly didn't help her fever, but it would at least keep her sunburn from getting worse.

The redhead felt herself wanting to head toward the rainbow - not only for the water - but the valley between the mountains had to have plenty of shade. She needed a break from the sun. It also might protect them later that evening when it was time to camp again.

"I would like to see the rainbow as well," She piped up suddenly, though didn't explain her reasoning behind it. The professor refused to offer a single complaint about her condition, as she was certain that the others were suffering just as much, if not more.

"S'fine by me." Hammy shrugged when asked about their next choice in path. The lot of them could use some fresh water and a rest in the shade. He was feeling perfectly fit, but being used to more physical activity than most wasn't feeling the wear. Hamish even wondered if they found a suitable spot that they didn't just rest for a day. While he was feeling fine, just one look at some of his companions told him they should probably take a break.

Looking ahead to where the rainbow glowed in the sky, he judged the distance. "Can't be much more than league or two." Plus, if they found a pond or at least a water source he could scavenger around for some plants. Hamish wasn't a complete moron, herbology and potions had gone well in school for him, he could probably come up with something to sooth Miss Ollivander's sunburn. Something to take the sting out of it anyway.

"It'd be a good place to stop and rest, even for the evening." He suggested. It might take them the better part of the day to get there, depending on how fast they moved. If they found a good place to camp, they could just call it a day. Was there even a time frame on this damn trip anyway?

Unlike Magdalena herself, much of the group seemed to have an opinion. The witch simply nodded in agreement, having no real input into which route they ought to take. At the very least, MacFusty’s suggestion of a place to camp would likely come to fruition, and that alone was enough to make up her mind.

EVENT ANNOUNCER - ROUND 5
After some deliberation, your group chooses to go upward to investigate the rainbow. By mid morning, you find the arrive at the end of the rainbow. There is a small waterfall cascading across the rocks which means plenty of fresh water for your party. There is also a very large pot of gold that seems to be completely unguarded. As to the continuation of your journey, you can take the easier mountains to the East, or the more difficult (yet decidedly more adventurous) and steep mountains to the west.

Do you:
a. try to take the gold
b. take the easier mountains
c. take the difficult mountains

OOC NOTES
Edmund missed 3 rounds in a row, however since I missed it and he posted for round 4, he can continue.

Round 6 begins June 4th

Violet was in awe of the beauty of the scene. Rainbows meant good luck and blessing. Surely, they were headed the right way? They were to discover something soon, she just knew it. Things felt like they were falling into place.

She eyed the gold, but folklore told her that it was leprechauns gold - that it was fake and would disappear by morning.

"I think we ought to leave it be," She said, "Gold under a rainbow is supposed to be leprechaun gold. It's a trick." Instead, she turned her attention to the waterfall. The water was clear and she filled her canteen with it. Then, without thinking, she slipped her boots and stockings off and dipped her feet (and the bottom of her dress for modesty's sake) into the cool water. It was refreshing on her aching feet and her toes went numb not long after. She braced herself against the ground with her hands and leaned backward, quite enjoying the moment of relaxation and comfort.

As to the direction they were to head, she decided that she had a good feeling about taking the more difficult mountains, "I think we might try the more difficult mountains. There might be something good to find up there."

They followed the rainbow; there must have been a children’s story about that somewhere. Though before she had not cared, the girl’s eyes widened at the scene before her, and she cared very much indeed. Sitting before them was a a pot full of gold, just sitting there—more than she had ever seen in one place in all her nineteen years. Every inch of her wanted to touch it, to have it—and now Miss Ollivander was telling them no?!

“Even if it’s fake, it couldn’t hurt to take it—worst we get is a pot of disappointment, but best...” she trailed off, eyes never leaving the gold. She was not like the rest of them; her only income was that earned by her and her brother through long days of hard, but unrewarding work.

Roxana had given up being nasty earlier in the week. It wasn't helping anyone, and it certainly wasn't helping her. When everyone had suggested going to the rainbow, she agreed simply because it was the easiest of the options. Although, according to her count, she was officially out of her first trimester of pregnancy, Roxana was still feeling miserable. Her feet were swollen -and all the walking certainly wasn't helping- and it was still difficult for her to keep food down, despite being hungry enough to eat an entire cow.

She stopped short at the sight of the pot of gold under the rainbow. Oh heavens. Roxana didn't need it, and she certainly enjoyed working hard for her money... and her baby would never worry for anything as Mac was of the upper class and could easily provide for them all without much effort... but still. The gold in that pot was a glorious sight to see. She could use it to help her parents out back in Spain. They would certainly love the money. "I'm with her," Roxana said, jabbing her thumb in the direction of Madgalena. What was the worst that could happen? It turned out to be fake? At least they had tried.

Heading to the rainbow has been a fairly unanimous decision and reminded Hammy of several leprechaun stories he could tell, but he chose to remain quieter this round. The scene in front of them was something Hamish was sure he would never be able to replicate in words, but he would surely try when he told this story. He had been keeping a loose journal of the trail, ideas he'd had while traveling, important events or simply things he wanted to remember later. When he told their story of the trail, he wanted it to be just as real for his listeners as it was for this group of people.

Everybody kind of dispersed in the small area, checking out the waterfall, investigating the pool, the leprechaun gold. He knew better than to touch one ounce of that. He could spill at least four or five stories that ended poorly when somebody messed with leprechauns. "I would not touch it if I were you." Hamish suggested, though there was nothing he could really do if somebody was to take it. They would be the ones suffering the consequences, whatever they may be, for taking something that was not theirs.

Finding himself a shady spot, Hamish took off his heavy books and rolled his pant legs, wading into the pool a few feet, relishing the cold. He was not a warm weather person and therefore this frigid water was a welcome cold. He looked off in the distance, deliberating which route they should take. He was ready for some cooler temperatures. "Mountains are mountains," He shrugged. "Might as well get the hard ones out of the way."

Across the way, Hamish noticed some plants growing. Mint was no uncommon in this climate and he recognized the leaves from across the pool. Wading over, he picked a leaf, smelling it just to be sure; it was definitely mint. He grabbed a handful and headed back over to his bag. He knew probably looked like a bit of a loon, but he was used to that. Carefully he dunked the mint in the pool to get it moist. With two rocks, he carefully mashed the mint with the water, adding some from his canteen. Then he got out some of the bandages from his pack, wrapped the mint inside and wet it again. If she dabbed the wet bandages over her sunburn it would ease the sting. It wasn't the best cure for a sunburn, but it would work.

Once he was done, he headed over to where Violet sat. "This should take the sting out." He gave her a lopsided grin. "Just dab it on the worst spots."

James, as technical heir to a very old fortune, had no reason to go for the gold. However, he also saw no reason to disagree with the ladies. "You two go for the gold, " he suggested, "I'm going to go over there. Yell if anything implores."

With a grin and a bow, he went to sit on a rock by the river, refill his canteen, and respond to the letter he had received from Artemis.

It seemed as if their group had come to a disagreement. Miss Cripps and Miss Rios wanted to take the gold (which Violet now firmly believed to be leprechaun gold thanks to Mr. MacFusty's confirmation). The redhead still believed it to be a trick of some sort, but didn't say anything else on the matter. Let the women decide on their own. She had already spoken up about her belief on the matter - which had been rather difficult in the first place - and didn't see the need (or have the courage) to speak up about it once more.

She hadn't been the only one to decide to enjoy the refreshing waterfall. Several others (most notably Mr. MacFusty - who had decided to make some sort of... something?) had found their own spots near the water. It was a nice break. It would probably be short lived, but it would undoubtedly cheer their spirits enough to continue on. Violet certainly felt better already, at least, as better as she could be with her sunburn.

The redhead had closed her eyes for a moment to enjoy the sound of the falling water and the coolness on her feet in an attempt to block out the others - and the reasoning behind her very being there. It helped calm her anxiety, if only for a moment. She would have loved to simply curl up there and go to sleep (which was a rather big deal, seeing as how she hated sleeping outside.)

However, when a shadow fell across her face, she opened her eyes to see Mr. MacFusty approaching her. He held whatever concoction he had made in his hands. She took it delicately, glancing up at him for a quick second before bashfully flicking her gaze to the minty paste and murmuring an embarrassed but appreciative, "Thank you," She hadn't the slightest idea what it was, but she trusted him enough to simply do as she was told. At that point, she was nearly desperate enough to try anything to ease the pain.

Gingerly, she rolled up the sleeves to his shirt in order be able to reach her bare skin. The salve was immediately cooling and as she spread it as neatly as she could over the worst parts of her burns (including her nose and cheeks, as well as her forearms) she felt an immense relief. Unable to help herself, a small smile - the first she'd ever released on the trip - tweaked at the corners of her lips.