Group #11

[Ezekial Aesalon]

Eze had no desire to either turn back or keep going. He had emptied his silver flask and so far had managed to refrain from refilling it. Besides, he still had control of his motor functions, and as they were still walking, he figured it would be a good idea to hang onto that.

"I'll drink to that," he drawled at Callum, playing with the lid of the empty flask in his pocket. He hoped they'd camp soon; this whole 'can't access more liquor while walking' thing was suck.

  

[Cassandra Trelawney-Bowen]

Sam was always protective about her and Cass loved that in him. He kept close to her during the trip, for her safety of course. The young witch disapproved of the fact most of the men were drinking when the danger could occur, but she kept that to herself. Sam was also discontent with that, but there was nothing they could do about it.

"I believe mr Baines is right. We need to go forward" Cass said. Then Sam took a voice in the matter, agreeing with her. So they were all finally on the same page.

  

[Everett Grimm]

Everett skipped through the tedious, endless forest seemingly unaware of just how drunk his group mates were getting. He had yet to dig into his alcohol, preferring to save that for the nighttime when he would need a little help falling sleep. He was still concerned about Ella, though he kept telling himself she was in the best hands.

Being an athletic kind of guy, the physicality of walking all day did not exactly have him fatigued, he was sure there were some in his group heading that way. Or course he had noticed half of them were more than half in the bag as well. Cal was easily on his way to being tanked and Eze couldn't be far off either. Ev wasn't exactly in the mood to drink, though he was sure it would help pass the time. Despite James' opinion, having Ella had made him more responsible. In all honesty, he just wanted this whole thing to be over so he could go home.

"Not fussed about continuing." Everett voted, knowing it was a far from helpful contribution, but he didn't feel like being overly helpful. He could keep going, he was sure as hell not turning back, or he could stop. It didn't really matter if they kept going or not, for today, but he refused to go back. Everett didn't believe in re-dos so therefore the only direction to go in was forward. He'd become unpredictably flexible in his last few months, going with the flow unless it was necessary to put his foot down, which rarely happened and he was not about to start now.

  

[James Riley]

James didn't bother to comment on the decision the group made; it hardly seemed like a decision to him. They had chosen to go this way, so until there was some reason they couldn't, such as an impassable sheer-rock cliff or a sudden forest fire, he was planning on going West. He didn't really understand why anyone else in the group would even consider otherwise.

Despite what the presence of so much alcohol in his bags seemed to imply about his plans for the trip, Ev hadn't started drinking yet, which James was relatively happy about. Baines and Eze had, but James wasn't sure he had ever seen Eze one hundred percent sober, and he didn't know Mr. Baines, and thus was in no position to offer any sort of judgement. As long as Ev wasn't drinking, though, it was fairly easy to refrain himself (and he was determined to refrain).

"It's probably only two or three in the afternoon," he said, judging roughly by where the sun was--he hadn't thought to bring a watch of any sort, since time hardly seemed important in the wilderness. "When should we set up camp? Not until at least five, I'd imagine. The longer we can keep travelling, the sooner we can be done with this mess."

  

[Hogsmeade Trail]

EVENT ANNOUNCER - ROUND 3
Your group continues to walk West through the forest, but by the time nightfalls, it's obvious that you have discovered nothing. Your group decides to make camp in a clearing of trees for the night. In the morning, you make the days' treck back to Hogsmeade where you started, but the Ministry isn't happy and forces you to go back out again. They do however, refill your rations for you (including water) and remind you to write to them if anything interesting is discovered.

Which direction do you choose?
a. East slums
b. South slums

OOC DIRECTIONS
1. Pick a new direction

Round 4 begins May 26th

  

[James Riley]

James wasn't happy with the decision to turn back, but he was outnumbered and outgrumbled and it did appear that their current path wasn't taking them anywhere that the Ministry wanted them to go.

During their brief stint at the Ministry, James had tried to discover some word of the other groups--specifically, of Miss Felicity Prewett, but though he ran into both Daniel (who probably wouldn't have helped him anyway, just out of spite and being able to lord the "I know something you don't," factor over him), and Anders Howland (who genuinely seemed to have no idea how Fee was faring), he came away without even a speck of news, which put him in a considerably bad mood.

Then, there was the fact that they had lost two days and were now being forced to start again. James bought a bottle of whiskey (since the stuff in his bag wasn't strictly speaking his) and shoved it along with the Ministry's new supplies as they were being shuffled out the door again. "Forget this," he muttered irratably to Everett and the rest of the boys (which meant Baines and Eze; Samuel was so in Cassandra's pocket that he didn't really count in James' book), "I don't care which way we go."

With that, he took his first swig of alcohol since he'd fallen off the wagon that night in the alley of the Hog's Head. Everett would help pace him. He'd be fine.

  

[Everett Grimm]

While Ev was rather royally pissed they had to start all over, at least they had gotten fresh supplies while fiddlesticking around at the ministry. The physicality this whole thing required wasn't what was tiring him out. Ev felt like they had wasted two whole days which should have been spent more productively so they could be done and he could get his rewards and go home Ella.

Despite his unusually depressed thoughts, Everett had yet to start drinking. Well he'd sneaked a couple of sips from his bag, but refused to fully get into it. The hangover would be far less tolerable on the trail than when he could spend the day nursing it in his bed. Of course, he hadn't been hungover in months and figured why start again now. Once you got out of the habit, getting back into it was more painful than when your body was used to it.

It didn't go unnoticed that James added to their whiskey collection. He didn't blame his best friend, the guy did not want or need to be here. Ev needed the money and the land wasn't bad either. If he could sell it of, the money could help get him back on his feet. Of course if Edmund could make up his damn mind and give him some answers, that would be nice too. "Why not go in the complete opposite direction and head east?" He suggested to the obviously disgruntled group. If west had been such a ridiculous endeavor why not try the exact opposite? Maybe it would prove more fruitful.

  

[Cassandra Trelawney-Bowen]

Cassandra knew that Callum will chose west and that is what she wanted. To prove them that she is a person they can listen to. She didn't intend to rub it in the man's face, though. She was a good person. She wanted to teach him a lesson, but it would end badly.
"Yes, we should try east, like Cass had suggested before." Sam said and the woman nodded her head.
äI agree with heading east. That will surely prove to be more fruitful."

  

[Callum Baines]

• A night in his own bedùwith a friend, because God only knew when he'd make it back to Hogsmeadeùhad done wonders for Callum, who arrived back at the group's meeting spot sober and slightly less cranky than he had been initially. Though he was less than thrilled that his route had proved rather uselessùand would have been happy to continue on in that directionùhe was relieved that it was Ev who suggested a different route this time æround, and though Bowen, had Cal been any less cheerful, would have garnered a punch to the jaw for his comment, the woman at least seemed much more agreeable today.
  
  Cal doubted she would keep it up for long.
  
  He shrugged simply, no longer caring what direction they set out in. Hell, he wouldn't have cared to begin with if this Cass hadn't sought to place herself above them. His flask was refilled (though tucked at the bottom of his pack for good measure) and his clothing changed, and that was enough for the caretaker.

  

[Hogsmeade Trail]

EVENT ANNOUNCER - ROUND 2
You spend all day traveling east through the forest. The trees are comfortably placed and you seem to make good timing. The shade and sun are dappled, so you may receive sun burns, but are not too warm. When the sun begins to fall, the trees finally thin out and you reach a meadow. You have the options to camp for the night there at the edge of the treeline, or you can continue following the meadow to see what's on the other side of it.

What do you choose?
a. Camp for the night and follow the meadow in the morning
b. Follow the meadow now and worry about camping later

OOC DIRECTIONS
1.) Have your character vote which route they are to take.

Round 3 begins May 23rd

  

[Callum Baines]

• At least this time, the journey had been somewhat more enjoyable. The scenery had varied enough that the caretaker could be reasonably sure they would not turn back again (he refused to acknowledge, however, that they should have taken Cassandra's advice to begin with) while not being too trying a walk, for all that the sun had been relentless enough in some areas that his nose had begun, unbeknownst to him, to freckle. Still, when it came time to discuss further plans, the wizard knew without a doubt where he stood. The sun was beginning to set and the troops were no doubt getting hungryùor thirsty, for them that didn't take to the bottle on the walk.
  
  "I say we stay here for the night, continue on in the mornin'" he offered sagely, letting his pack fall to the ground as if to emphasize his point of view. Whatever lay on the other side of the meadow would still be there in the morning, and surely they would get along better with a proper night's relaxation behind them.

  

[Cassandra Trelawney-Bowen]

Cass nodded her head.
"Mr Baines is right. Let's camp. Me and Sam will take the first shift. The woman said. She had a plan. When they were all asleep, she would sneak out and transfigure all of their alcohol into water. Or pour it out. She hadn't decided yet. In any case, she didn't want to put up with such behaviour any longer.

  

[Ezekial Aesalon]

Camping sounded great to Eze. With a grin, he flopped down on the grass and pulled out a bottle. "Feel free to take first watch, Trelawney, " he said, "I'm sure as hell not sleeping yet though."

With an overly enthused smile, he raised the bottle at them, popped the top off, and took a long swig. It was going to be a very fun trip.

  

[Callum Baines]

• The first shift doing what? Probably snogging in the bushes. Couples.
  
  It was Eze's statement that Callum agreed with. "I'd say it's decided, then," he said simply, hunkering down on a conveniently felled log. Fire. Fire would probably be helpful, but he would wait until he was coldùor until one of the happy couple thought of it, since they felt like making all the rules. For now, Cal was quite content to do what he and the boys did best: drink.
  
  Taking a leaf out of the bartender's book, the caretaker took out his own flask, drinking deeply from it. "Joinin' us, Ev?" he called over.

  

[Everett Grimm]

While Ev was all for continuing on, it seemed everybody else was ready to camp, so he had been outvoted and therefore they planned to camp. Everett, despite the fact that he was in pretty good shape, was not used to sleeping on the ground and while he was now used to getting very little sleep, he would kill for a good rest.

Of course, an alcohol-induced sleep was always a good one. As everybody prepared to make camp, he laughed aloud as Eze was the first to noticeably bring out a bottle of booze, though Ev was fairly sure Cal had been sneaking sips all day. It was a good idea, but Everett, having suffered from many a hangover, knew that day drinking never ended well for him so had refrained. Now he saw no reason to, even if James disapproved, he planned on partaking anyway.

Finding a good tree to lean against, he unrolled his blanket and plopped down. He supposed they should collect some firewood and get that going, but he also figured one of them could start one with their wand if they got cold. As he reached into his bag, he pulled out a bottle of firewhiskey, smiling as it clinked against its brothers on the way out. He uncorked it, grinned and raised it in toast. "Cheers mates." He said and took a deep swig.

  

[Hogsmeade Trail]

EVENT ANNOUNCER - ROUND 5
Your group decides that it is best to camp where you are for the evening and then follow the meadow in the morning. It's an uneventful evening (aside from foolish drunkenness) and though the forest is rather noisy with critters, none seem to come bother you (though the feeling of being watched is apparent.) It's a chilly morning when you set off across the meadow once more, but quickly warms up so that by noon you're sweating without a single tree for shade. As you near the end of the meadow, you can see the shape of a mountain begin to form. The closer you get, the higher they become until you see that there are two different paths you can take. You could either try and climb the mountain, though it looks fairly steep and would not allow for the horse to be able to make it. The other option is to go to the West to go around the mountain, or at least until you find an easier place to climb.
Which do you choose?

a. Climb the mountain
b. Go around the mountain

Round 6 begins June 4th