Bastion and the others will hire this scout. However it is made clear to him that this group seeks out the Gnolls, and he will be expected to help track them down.
Whether or not he agrees, proceeding on to the desert.
Out of Character: caveat, is there any hint of others that may know more of the gnolls, or otherwise has information that could change matters? If so, will reassess.
Edited: daishain on 19th Jul, 2017 - 2:33am
Albrecht already feels more wise from having read his Tome of Understand, and he plans to put it to good use in future battle strategies. As the team seeks the help of a scout, Albrecht helps ensure he knows what he is doing by asking leading questions, and finds him satisfactory. He agrees with Bastion about tracking down the Gnolls and guiding through the dessert being the main functions of the scout. He is then ready to head onto the final little town before venturing out into the dessert. He ensures the driver is still prepared and that the wagon is ready for the harsh conditions.
Out of Character: Are there any modifications we need to make to the wagon, so that it will be easier to pull in the dessert. Are there sleds or anything we can buy to change the wheels with so they don't get stuck in the sand, or so we can at least get the wagon out of the sand after it gets stuck?
Avan is happy to go after he has all his items, still waiting on his armour to be made upon his return.
Out of Character: My bad, thanks for catching it. I try to be careful, but that is one word that has always plagued me. I am a phonetic speller and it just eludes me for some reason to get it right. I will be more careful that we are going to the desert and not to eat dessert.
In a desert not all the sand is fine sand that would cause a wagon to get stuck. Granted it can happen in the dune areas of the desert but otherwise a wagon will travel quite well in a desert as it does in the woods or plains. The biggest issue with a wagon in the desert would be the ruts or washed out areas. You do find the scout to be quite knowledgable about the desert and he does advise you to make sure you have plenty of water and provisions for an extended stay. He has tracked the gnolls some but they go deeper into the desert than he has gone.
Bastion will ensure there are several sturdy pieces of wood in the back of the wagon, suitable for wedging in front of a stuck wheel to help it ramp up out of a rut.
Once in the frontier town, once again the group will ask for relevant information on the gnolls.
When it appears nothing else can be done, they'll proceed to the desert proper.
Albrecht will make sure he has plenty of rations for himself, Krama, and the horses. He will remind the others to stock up, as he doesn't think they can rely too much on catching prey in such a desolate location. Albrecht is glad they at least have water covered with those cups. He also asks around about Gnoll movements and rumors, hoping for find out more about what kind of creatures they are and what has been happening.
Out of Character: I am using the Knowledge (Nature) check as kind of bolster to the Gather Information check, so that he can ask intelligent questions and find out more about how to fight them (What their special abilities and attacks are like) or where they might live (Environments and numbers).