Joseph finishes checking each harness on the firm snow shelf, tightening a buckle and testing every line. The team waits in formation while Banks remains near the sealed pass, watching the basin’s rim.
Joseph Lafayette
We will make one short circuit around the sheltered basin, then return here. River sets the pace, and I will follow her calls.
Mack settles beside River at the front, with TicTac behind him and Ally, Pine, and Harold completing the line. Their breath drifts white in the still air.
Harold
I will watch for clear reasons to speak up. If the pace holds and the footing stays sound, I will stay with it.
TicTac
Stay close. Match River. Do not let the fear choose my steps.
Mack
A practice circuit is sensible. No heroics, no rushing, and no pretending the basin is easier than it looks.
Joseph takes the sled handles, and the lines draw taut without a command from River. Banks turns his head toward the open route as the team waits for her first movement.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish a cooperative relationship with Banks
Director's note
Remember that Joseph cannot understand River's speech directly, he must fall back on his body language training while the dogs understand her instinctually
“River braces herself for the "hike" command, focused on timing it precisely.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +1)
River lowers her weight into the harness, paws planted squarely on firm snow. She fixes her attention on Joseph’s posture and the precise instant before his command.
Joseph Lafayette
Hike.
River launches on the command, neither early nor late. The lines draw taut in one clean motion, and the sled follows without a jolt.
Mack
That is the start. Hold the rhythm.
TicTac
Match River. Keep the steps even.
TicTac settles into River’s cadence, followed by Ally, Pine, and Harold. Joseph steadies the handles as the team begins its short circuit around the basin.
Banks
The outer rim is clear. Watch the shaded snow beyond the birches.
The storyteller must determine if the body language interpretation skill check succeeds to avoid misinterpretation.
The storyteller must determine if the shared cues are misinterpreted based on the context of the interaction.