Chap repacks her her equipment and frustratingly goes back to work on standing watch.
Marius looks at Rex, confused. "You jumping at shadows again, Rex?" The wolf cocks his head, as though considering this prospect, before laying down and closing his eyes.
Which pretty much meant 'yes, yes I am.'
Looking to Chap and the others on watch, he shrugs. "What the hell was that all about? Playing fetch in the middle of the night?"
The disguised kitsune lets out lets out something akin to a bark herself as she is suddenly awakened by a face full of puppy. Pushing aside Rex, Kiwyn sits up and looks around at the commotion. She says something in her native language then shakes her head a little and speaks again in Common. "What is going on?"
"I don't think you saw an Imp... there is no body. Whatever we are up against knows we are here, and will move against us now. We must prepare to face it, or start right now for Vigilant, before we are caught here. I say we move, now. Vigilant must be warned."
Arabeth, sheathing her sword, moves over to Chap. Quietly asking about everything the other woman experienced.
"I think I've read about fiends like this. Whatever it was, it's invisible, can teleport, and probably reports back to something worse. Just keep your guard up along the road."
After such a long day traveling, pushing forward will surely exhaust the animals. We should finish our rest, but not delay in leaving as soon as my watch is over.
Looking across at Chap, Natanja simply replied, "It is best for casters, like myself, who are required to give prayer and make reflection, be permitted to do so come dawn and then the party may leave, properly prepared for the hard journey to Vigilant."
Chap looks to Arabeth as the others discuss the ruckus to share what she experienced...
Although Lesith would prefer to start out now, the majority of you agree to finish resting, and allow the mules to do so, too, in order to be better prepared for tomorrow and make better time to Vigilant.
Although some of you take a bit to get settled down enough to sleep again, once you do, the rest of the night passes without incident.
Chap and Arabeth keep watch, Cernan crafts, and the rest of you sleep, waking around dawn.
By morning Cernan has made six silver arrows, which he gives to Eli, Chap, and Marius.
The casters who need to do so take an hour to meditate, study, or pray, while the rest of you pack up everything you've salvaged onto the mules.
When you're all ready to head out, Sister Azmaria helps Gina up onto the cart bench, then climbs up to join her and drive the cart.
You bid a final farewell to Endurant. Gina glances over her shoulder as you ride away, and you notice she has tears in her eyes.
Arabeth, Chap, and Cernan lie down on the rolls of fabric in the back of the cart, and soon fall asleep, tired after a long day and night awake.
The rest of you ride mules (or horses) and keep an eye out for any sign of trouble on the road as you travel, pushing the mules and horses to hustle, and using healing magic to enable them to better do so.
Azmaria is well rested and cleans herself as best she can before heading out.
She takes what time she can as they travel teaching Gina what she knows about driving a cart.
Gina, if you ever have any questions about what happened, or any time you want to talk about what happened, I am ready to listen. and perhaps we can get started on your training to join my order, if that is something you would want to do, of course.
Lesith tries to take the lead, while keeping an eye open for trouble.
After her dawn meditations were completed with Oko and the wagon prepared as well as the group, the kin set out to Vigiliant.
Oko took to the sky to keep an eye from there for threats, obstacles or other signs of movement etc.
The pace would be taxing, but Eli had said it was doable, with the healers' aid.
Zzz
Gina rides on the cart bench and responds to Sister Azmaria...
"What kind of training? What would I do?"
Aeryth will ride just behind Lesith to deal with said "trouble" when it arrives.
Kiwyn stood and retrieved her waterskin to take a drink. She walked over and gave Rex a reassuring pat before yawning and moving back to her own bedding to settle back into slumber.
In the morning she stretched and set about repacking before pulling her book out ro study a little. She didn't like feeling so useless when they were attacked last so she thought to ready at least something she could use to fight with.
Once everyone is set to go Kiwyn finds someone willing to share their horse with the young arcanist.
Eli rises and washes quickly, then dries and saddles up.
As the day rolls on, he keeps to the rear of the group to continue to encourage everyone to move on, despite their own exhaustion and that of their mounts.
When the mounts need healing, he quickly dismounts, hurries to the front on his own to halt everyone long enough to heal the mounts, and then continues.
When they are too tired to continue as mounts, he encourages folk to dismount and continue walking.
Beyond that, he says little, though he attempts to assist his cousins with their search for any possible signs of... trouble.
The first day of hard travel passes without significant incident. The seemingly inevitable fiendish attack never comes. After 16 hours, around 11pm, you finally stop to make camp for the night along the roadside. Quite a few of you have used up healing spells or hexes on the mules. You're ready to rest.
Chap and Arabeth stay up to keep watch.
Eli purposefully wipes out as soon as possible in order to best wake as early as possible.
Lesith makes sure all the mounts are fine. No pending conversations.
Chap will cast detect magic and detect evil throughout her watch on frequent and random intervals- paranoid of being ambushed or spyed on by imps or worse.
Gina rides on the cart bench and responds to Sister Azmaria...
"What kind of training? What would I do?"
looking to Gina with a smile, Azmaria seems happy that Gina is at lest showing an interest, but she still does not want to pressure her into any decision.
Well Gina, you are pretty young, you would begin training by learning about our faith. you would probably do some service work in the church, and help out in the communities, helping the less fortunate. If you can sing, like me, then we may find a place for you in the choir.
Azmaria keep the conversation positive and simple, not wanting to scare her.
Vincent, seeing the others return to sleep, does the same. When on the road back to Endurant, on day two, he keeps a look out for any signs of danger, or anything out of the ordinary.
Upon entering the town, Vincent tries to recall what he knows about the city to better reduce the time in the city.
"Hmm..."
Gina nods, and rides along, considering Sister Azmaria's words in silence, but seemingly grateful for the company.
The roadside night passes, seemingly without incident.
You will probably be asleep when the group first rolls into Vigilant, so you may want to hand your pack of imps off to one of the others, unless you want them to wake you, despite the likelihood of fatigue.
----
In the morning, Chap and Arabeth settle back in to rest in the wagon, with Sister Azmaria driving it, and Gina riding beside her on the bench.
The trip passes uneventfully, with no sudden fiendish attack.
After just a few hours travel, you approach Vigilant, which, you discover with some relief, still seems to be standing, and normal. It's late morning.
No one in the group knows exactly where in Vigilant to go to report to the Captain of the Guard, or to the local Church head, or to the Mayor, or to find Uncle Max, so you figure stopping at the Green Tree Inn to ask Bob or Alice Treekeep makes sense.
You bring your cart and horses and mules to rest at the stables near the Green Tree Inn. You might let Chap and Arabeth remain sleeping in the cart for now, and you probably leave someone to keep an eye on them and on most of the Endurant stuff for now, until you figure out what you're doing with it.
So, for now, everyone except Chap, Arabeth, and whoever's guarding them heads into the Green Tree Inn for food and information.
The familiar middle-aged lady wiping down the bar smiles at your entrance.
Just a few other folks who have arrived early for lunch sit at tables in the large room.
As you approach, Alice speaks...
"You're back! I hope all is well?"
Eli, covered with heavy dust, sweat, and the smell of mules, quickly bows from the neck, and informs her flatly, "We need to speak with you quickly and privately, please, Lady Alice." he nods at her, and gestures to move toward a different room.
"Oh! Um..."
Alice hesitates, but nods, and calls a teenage boy from the back room to come out and cover the front room. She then motions for you all to head into the back with her.
Once you all follow Alice back into the kitchen area, you find Bob turning from the stove, wearing an apron and holding a spatula.
"What's going on?"
You don't see anyone other than Bob and Alice here now.
As soon as they are all in the kitchen, Eli turns to them.
He cocks his head to the side, a bit, thinking for a moment, before nodding to the others, and continuing.
"I will keep this short." he nods at his cousins and the Treekeeps, speaking in his unhurried monotone.
Calmly, he states, "No, things are not well. I shan't burden you with the details, unless you choose them. Be aware, however, that it is far more dire than any of us could have conceived. We need to speak with the leaders of Vigilant, and quickly, lest the town suffer terrible consequences. We need the mayor, the captain of the guard, and the most prominent priest in town, if any. We have no time to waste hunting these people down to talk to them - under my suggestion, we have wasted far too much time already." he explains.
He looks at Bob and Alice, steadily. In a voice lacking any worry or haste whatsoever, he continues, "Regardless, it is fundamental that neither of you spread rumors or panic about how dire the situation is. That said, I strongly recommend the following precautions be taken as soon as you can: locking windows and putting barbed nets around the outside, preferably with bells to alert any involved if anything gets caught in it or passes through - enough bells so that, say, four creatures working together are unable to disable them."
"Finally, if you know anyone named 'Max' Gelthis, or anyone related to the Gelthis family from Endurant. We have a survivor who may need to stay with her uncle." he says, emotionless.
Alice's eyes have been widening throughout Eli's speech.
"A survivor?"
She seems worried at the sound of that word, as her eyes scan your group, settling on Gina.
"That's me. We need to find my Uncle Max. He's a carpenter."
"I know Max Gelthis, but, what's all this? Barbed wire and bells on the windows? What's going on?"
Eli's head moves back at implication of the word he'd chosen to describe her, but he nods at Alice, and gestures to the young girl. "This is Gina" he explains, flatly, "Gina Gelthis. She has stated that her Uncle Max lives here in Vigilant."
He turns to Bob. "Barbed netting, not barbed wire. The latter is strong for keeping cattle, but won't harm or snare any intruders."
He takes a deep, slow, breath, and then, "Again, I don't wish to burden you with the details unless you're ready to accept them." he explains. "These precautions are to protect you and those here from subtle intruders - wicked spirits given flesh."
Cernan will do what he can to track down law enforcement, religious and political authorities for the rest of the group.
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A dishevelled Natanja with Oko on her shoulder stood silently, supporting her cousin Eli, as he spoke with the Treekeeps in their kitchen. When he was done, she added quietly/discreetly,
"Also, Mistress Alice, Master Bob, is there perchance a nobleman by the name of Hawkthorn residing here in Vigilant, or some nearby town? I am unsure if he is a man of some note but his crest is that of a hawk."
Lesith asks the Treekeep couple.
"Were can we find the mayor of the town? We have important news to give him."
Azmaria watched Gina go with Eli. meanwhile she remained with those resting in the cart. keeping watch.
could someone bring me some apples or something else good to eat, I'm tired of rations.
"Could someone bring me some apples or something else good to eat, I'm tired of rations."
"Will do, Azmaria. Hopefully we won't be too long with the Treekeeps."
You would also be aware that Vigilant's well-run city guard is under the command of Captain Ronald, known to be a fair man, to whom significant safety threats should be reported promptly.
Finally, you would be aware that the most prominent Church in Vigilant is the Church of St. Pelor, and that the pastor, Father Peter, is said to be a kind man. The path of St. Pelor focuses on goodness, sun, light, strength, healing, and travel.
Alice's eyes grow even wider at Eli.
"Wicked spirits given flesh?"
Her voice drops to a whisper.
"Do you mean some kind of fiends?"
To the group: "Captain Ronald of the Vigilant City Guard is the official most likely to respond to a threat promptly. For religious guidance, the Church of St. Pelor is likely to be the most helpful."
Bob looks at Lesith.
"The Lord Mayor wouldn't let anything or anyone disturb him, unless you happen to be some hoity-toity noble, or the Captain of the Guard himself."
"Cernan, what about going to see Captain Ronald? Who else want to come?"
Lesith goes with whoever want to accompany her to talk to the captain. She will ask the Treekeeps for directions if she doesn't know where to find the captain.
Bob looks at Cernan and nods,
"I agree. I should be able to convince Father Peter to come with us to see Captain Ronald."