Abu watches on and woners. "Where is the Avatar when you need him?"
Darwin chuckles and says "Whole lot of siegecraft to be had recently."
"We'll join you sieging the place." Krogar answers.
The aacroka leader smiles, as he sets down his now empty bowl.
"I thank you for your willingness to help the land in this time of plight. If there's anything we can do to aid you, we will accomplish it to the best of our abilities."
"Let's just hope these cultists were as stupid as the last ones."
"Could you give us information on where the cults are? Also, where the nearest town is so we can get some items identified. If there is anything we can do to help you, just let us know." Krogar replies.
"We would request any information you have on the fort if you've been by it. It should still be under repair, and if true we hope to seize the initiative and strike while their numbers and defenses are low."
The ranger continues.
"We haven't been everywhere, but from what we've seen and heard, They say the temple of black earth is hidden under a complex known as the sacred stone monastery."
"The fort we just came by? It was full with bandits and bugbears. Took some clearing, and I nearly got killed in the process, but for my comrade," He gestures at Jamenas, "for his timely aid."
"The fort is empty now. We cleared it out and we're on our way to the nearest town to identify and sell loot. Where might the sacred stone monastery be? We're pretty new to the lands here."
Jamenas chuckles. The fort is cleared, like my good friend here said. He scratches his chin. Sacred stone monastery..... never heard of it.
Darwin spits something inedible from his mouth and says, swallows the rest, and says "So, there are four different elemental cults, and we've already killed one? What do you all know about the other three? I have to admit, I've never heard of the Sacred Stone Monastery either, but we could probably gather some information in a nearby town or village. Drunk villagers like to tell local legends if prodded."
"The fort didn't seem particularly elemental to me, all there were was brigands and bugbears." Krogar looks puzzled. "Unless they were water cultists? But I didn't see any sign of religious worship.."
"Do cultists even wear holy symbols? I would think they would not, just to avoid attracting you holy types."
"I dunno, I'd be expectin them to be worshiping some kind of demonic idol or something.."
Abu knows not to get into religious. It never turns out well.
Jamenas drags the shield out from the loot pile. This, I guess?
The aacroka's surprise is evident on their face, and the ranger motions to the dagger-wielding rogue who quickly disappears into the wood.
"You must forgive me for skepticism. An entire fort by just a handful of fighters...I must seek confirmation."
But as a show of good faith, the mage begins to identify the shield.
"Ah! This is not magical. Just slightly reinforced to add more protection.
Soon the rogue returns and whispers into the leader's ear.
"You have told the truth," it admits. "Any assistance we can provide, we will. We only ask that you continue the fight against the cults."
They also hand you a spare map they have with the intel they've gathered, which I will post to the roll20 map eventually (hopefully soon).
"Ya, I was a bit surprised myself. They held a keep, and they decided to sally forth instead of just pouring boiling pitch on us and raining arrows down upon us. It was a nice change of pace, really."
Abu smiles. "I'll fight for the side that pays more money."
Upon learning about the non magical properties of the shield, Jamenas nods.
Well that's good. Don't want it to be cursed or something. Speaking of assistance... Do you know of a cult of fire? I've been after them for a long time now... Anything could he useful.
"Oh yes, me too. I bet if Bastion were to be seeking refuge, he would be seeking right minded people. I'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget, that pryomaniac." Krogar hefts his quarterstaff a few times.
"Cult of Fire you say..." The mage rubs his chin in thoughtful contemplation.
"You know," the rogue interjects, "I did overhear that the members have been sighted at Scarlet Moon Hall. It's sandwiched between that large spire over yonder and the sacred stone monastery."
"All right. We'll go to the sacred stone monastery first, then we'll go to the Scarlet moon Hall. Many thanks for your help." Krogar thanks the aacroka.
"Seems like we finally have a plan. We head out, hit up a monastery and kill a bunch of monk cultists, then go into a hall and kill a bunch of fire cultists. Then, I find a rich man's wayward daughter and return her home and collect my fee from that. A good little bit of work."
Finishing his meal, Darwin says with a grin "We should probably get some sleep. We have a long day of kicking @$$ tomorrow, and I would hate to show up tired."
Here, Here. Jamenas raises his bowl in toast and settles down to sleep.
[ooc]Hopefully that was enough.[ooc]
Abu Yawns a little by the speed in which we are traveling.
"Row faster!" Krogar constantly yells at Abu to be more diligent with paddling. Because that's what dwarves should do to lazy rogues...
Darwin sighs and again gets to rowing.
It's almost nightfall, but you all arrive at the shore near the village of Womford. You guys pull the boat up to the shore, a bit difficult as it's full of weapons and loot, but doable. From here and the map you recieved from the those scouts, you guess it's about an hour's walk to the Bargwright inn.
You might find someone to sell to in this tiny village, but that's unlikely. Otherwise, you'll need to find a way to haul your stuff to the inn where you know you'll be able to find buyers.
"Why don't I go to the village and try to borrow a wagon?"Krogar suggests to his party.
"Or trade it for this infernal ship" offers Darwin.
Darwin has the right idea. Jamenas stretches. I'll keep watch on the boat. Make sure no one wants to steal our loot.
by this time, Abu is already asleep. He's not responsible to take watch.
"Let's rest for the night and get moving tomorrow."
Krogar starts getting the night watch roostered, then will set off in the morning after a good night's rest.
Darwin takes his watch without comment and makes sure to keep the fire stoked.
Abu rolls over, looking to see hows everything going, then heads back to sleep.
The watch goes by uneventfully, and the party finds a new day approaching them. Popping into the village, those who go looking for a cart to barter find a local farmer in the village loading one up with crops.
"What can I do for you folks?"
The farmer looks to be barely and adult, his body leaner than built. He also seems to be happy for an excuse to take a small breather, pulling his water sack off the pile of crops loaded onto the cart. The cart itself appears well built, if not a bit dirty, scratched-up, and old. Its a pull cart, no horse or beast of burden in sight.
"Hello goodsir, we are looking to rent a cart. I'd be willing to make it worth your while if you had a cart for hire." Krogar greets the farmer.
"Cart you say?"
The farmer glances down at his own, scratches the back of his head, just under the brim of an old-and-beaten straw hat.
"Don't know if you'd find a spare anywhere nearby, I'd lend you mine but I got the rest of the day's farmwork to get done. Promised the wife I'd help prepare for the apple pie festival and everything."
"Why help her prepare for the festival when you can rent us the use of your cart for, say, five gold and some simple information?"
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The man immediately perks up.
"Five gold you say?" he asks, in disbelief. You can see it in his eyes, his mind begin to wonder about what he could afford with five gold, a windfall to a peasent farmer.
"Whatever you need," he agrees, a smile on his face. He sticks out his grimy hand, rough from the day's work so far.
"Take my mah if you have to," he adds with a chuckle.
"now, now, nothing so scandalous. We just need to know who we could get the best price from in town for some weapons and shields. Also, anyone we should avoid or weird things going on recently and that will do it for my questions." darwin hands the man 5 gold and looks to the others.
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Jamenas waits at the boat for the others to return with news.
"Well...no one around these parts are gonna have the coin on hand to buy your weapons. In fact, I'd probably be the most qualified since I'm the new owner of 5 gold coins. But I'd check in with the Bargewright inn far down the trail. They'll probably have what you're looking for. As for trouble to avoid....just keep an eye out for any cultist types, they'll getcha if you ain't looking hard enough."
Abu nods, "It is best to get the best prices we can, instead of settling for 5 gold." he turns back towards the farmer. "And just fair advice. Don't mention to strangers that you have 5 gold. That could get your killed if they were the wrong people." He slips his dagger back into its sheath.
"Thanks for the warning." Krogar answers the farmer gravely, then goes back to load up everything on the boat.
The farmer relents the cart, and the party takes it down to the river to load up their loot. The man is audibly surprised as he sees you pass with a veritable pile of weapons and armaments.
"You boys arming for a war?"
It takes roughly the a couple hours to push and toil the cart along hte trail, weighed down by your hopeful earnings once you sell. But the time passes fast enough, taking turns pushing and hauling, sharing tales, stories and jokes.
You approach the Bargewright inn in all its splendour. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the inn is just a building inside a large fort that guards it and other necessities for a way station. You approach the outer gate, and can see beyond its iron bars an inner gate and a bustling of workers and travlers beyond.
But you all are stopped.
"Halt!" A female guard says firmly, her sword drawn. She wears a leather helm that hides most of her features, but you can tresses of red hair draping down over her studded leather armor.
"State your business."
"We're just travellers, and we just wiped out a bunch of evil water cultists," Krogar answers. "We're looking in the line of getting rid of...excess supplies."