Ok, so run to the river, after taking an insigna. Then, use it to lose the centipede (and the smell) and go towards Bitak. Maybe staying parallel to the cart path, but you'll get another chance to think about the route at the end of this update.
This update will contain a test on another mechanism I want to put in the game. As usual, if it does not work well feel free to suggest things, and I will change it.
16 – Meetings at midnight
You can't stay here any longer. You have no idea how long you will still be safe. The centipede is underground right now, that's probably the best you can hope for. Quickly you come out from under the corpses, trying to move as little as possible. Then, you rip off one of the sleeves of a soldier, and start running towards the river. You think that is your best bet.
After a few seconds, you feel a rumbling noise coming from behind you. You do not stop and keep running. You dash past the plaza, down what is left of a small road. The burning houses disorient you a little, but you remember the general direction. At last, you see the river. With a burst of speed, you reach it and start to wade cross it quickly. The water is quite deep here and so you're not very fast. You use the opportunity to throw a glance behind you.
The monstrous centipede is on the shore, but is making no move to cross. Still, you do not slow down. You quickly reach the other bank, and dive into the forest. You keep running for some more minutes, then you turn east. Slowing down, you still keep jogging east for about a hour. Then, totally exhausted, you stop and rest a bit.
It is early afternoon before you're rested enough to move again. You decide to use the rest of the day to make absolutely sure those people and the centipede can't find you. This means, making sure they can't follow your smell. You go south a bit and reach the river. You proceed to bathe meticulously, and then you start walking east while staying in the river where the water is shallow. It's tiring and uncomfortable, but you remember your father telling you that water is effective to make sure dogs lose your smell.
After a couple of hours in the river you think you have covered about 5 kilometers. You leave the river and find a small clearing near the north bank which seems a nice place to rest for the night. Tomorrow you will decide which path you should take to reach Bitak.
You are near the north riverbank, about half a day's march east of Qoor
Quickly you fall asleep. But suddenly, you wake up. You look around, and considering it's very dark you think you must be close to midnight. The only light comes from a thin moon. You think you heard a noise... You get up immediately and draw your sword, your mind going immediately to the horsemen, or maybe to the centipede. What comes out of the woods instead is a bear.
The bear is not big, and in fact it seems very thin, even emaciated. And it seems very hungry, and you are the dinner it has in mind. You look around, but you see nothing in the small clearing you could use. Around you, there's just the dark forest, and the river about 500 meters south. But you remember your father telling you that bears are quite fast...
GM's important note(
This is your first combat situation. Here is the system I have in mind. When a combat is possible, I will write a semi-open choice. You should choose either how to try to avoid combat, or what general strategy you want to use. This is the strategy for the entire combat, and the outcome will then be decided by your foe, your skills, your equipment. Unless in particular, story-critical combats or huge battlefields, a combat will be just one update.
So, choose the strategy, or propose one, or decide how to try to avoid combat. As usual, ask questions if you want.)
How will you face the bear? (semi open-choice)
1) Stay firm and try to kill him with your sword, using the superior reach.
2) You think you are more agile than the bear. Circle it and kill it slowly, staying out of his reach.
3) Approach the bear, take the initiative and overwhelm him with a series of fast strikes.
4) Try to fool him by pretending to flee, then turn around and catch it unaware.
5) Try to hit him in the legs, and flee once he's slowed down (you may lose some gear...)
6) Other. Make a proposal, put a number on it.
Also, this question is for me, for planning purposes.
Which road will you take after this, supposing the combat goes well (if not I'll write something else)
A) As said before. Go back south, get close to the cart path, travel towards Bitak staying parallel to the cart path, but out of sight from it.
B) Other. Look at the map, make a proposal.