Covering his eyes, Wanderer squints into the distance and tries to make out what's going on up top.
He sheathes his pistol and calls out, "Hello up top! What's the matter?"
There is no response. They can't hear you.
Marrada makes her way back to the woman, occasionally wincing from the wounds in her side and shoulder. Reaching the woman she helps her to rise allowing her to lean against her as she leads her back towards Wanderer.
The woman takes your shoulder, leaning against it, but says nothing. She seems lost.
Leading the woman back towards Wanderer and the shattered carriage, Marrada asks "What's your name, lass? And why were those gobbies bothering ya?"
Poking Wanderer in the shoulder, hard, Marrada gives him a glare that, uncomfortably, reminds him of his late wife. "Uncle, back off. She's been through enough without you browbeating her!"
"Okay, okay. Let me see if I can find my darn pack."
Wanderer looks all around for his missing backpack.
"Blasted goblins stealing my gol durned stuff.."
You find where the pack touched down in the sand...surrounded by goblin footprints. They lead through the spot where the wreck of the carriage now lies...and they are totally obliterated.
As Wandered looks for his pack, Marrada leads the woman to a barely sheltered area by the wreckage. Sitting her down, Marrada raises the woman's face to her own and asks "Right now lass, what's yer name then?"
The young girls is crying silently, her face wet with tears and the surf. "Nu...Nualia." she stutters, trying to catch her breath.
Looking all over, throws his hands up in frustration.
"Gah! I'm not gonna find that pack any time soon. Stupid blasted melon-headed goblin freaks."
Turning back to Marrada and the distraught girl, "So, got any ideas on how to get out of this mess?"
"Well, this here's Father Tobyn's girl, Nualia. Nualia, this gruff, grump of a man is...well I call him Uncle" Marrada says with a smile. "Can you walk, lass?" she asks Nualia.
To Wanderer, "We'll have to take those stairs back up, she needs shelter."
The young lady coughs. "I can."
You head up the cliffside slowly and carefully.
GM:
Climb Take 10, if possible:
Climb Rolls:
"I cannot believe those stupid little gourd-headed freaks took my gorram backpack and got away. I hope they all choke and die of dysentary!" Wanderer's rant trails off into grumbling and under-his-breath cursing as he attempts the climb back up the hill.
"Alright lass, put your weight on me." Marrada says to Nualia, assisting her as they climb up the stairs.
Climb
Climb
The three of you move slowly up the cliff. Wanderer, the staunch face of leadership, puts on his best face of the skilled warrior, up to any challenge, as he slips and slides up the cliff.
After a particularly harrowing twenty minutes you make it to the top of the cliff. The Old Light towers off to your right, the Cathedral down the street to your left.
Dark clouds hang over the village, as the storm breaks in fury. Rain pours down. Off in the distance, as lightning strikes some fifty miles away, you see the outline of the Skyraker forest to the east.
Wiping the combined rain and sweat from her brow, Marrada gazes tiredly about the deserted streets "Where is everyone?" Hitching Nualia a bit higher on her aching shoulder, Marrada looks the girl in the eye. "The Cathedral , Nualia?"
"No!" she choaks, for the first time. "I'm fine. Just take me...take me to the House of Blue stones. Please."
"You have some issues with the temple? That seems the perfect place to bring you, seeing as how you were nearly drowned and stabbed to death by goblins."
Wanderer keeps walking uphill, trudging towards the Cathedral.
"Besides, both Marrada and I are wounded, and would appreciate some attention to these injuries."
"I wasn't stabbed - I almost drowned. I'm a little weak, but I'm fine." she coughs. You move slowly along for a few moments, the sound of your wet shoes sloshing on the grass. In the distance, a loud crash can be heard, and then someone crying. It all seems surreally appropriate, and not out of place. "Thank you. But you should go see the healer." Nualia says to you both as you trudge along, the rain beating down, and the light of the street torches getting brighter as you approach through the hazy fog that has formed in the streets. "Take me to the Garrison, I should tell them what happened."
Mittean, does it make sense that she wants to report to the garrison? Is that militia or guardsmen?
Giving the girl a look, Marrada says "We'll take you where ever, just answer me this.... where were the gobbies trying to take you back to ? That you very vocally said you weren't going back to?"
"I...I don't remember. I just remember getting away and finding myself on the beach."
"Right lass...we'll drop you off at the Garrison. Once we're assured you're alright , we'll hie over the the Cathedral for some care."
You drop her off without incedent, and an officer takes care of her.
Looking to Marrada, Wanderer seems at a loss for words.
"So, now what? Do you think we could get Shalelu or another tracker to assist us finding those buggers who stole all my gear?"
Looking at Wanderer, Marrada says wearily "You look horrible, Uncle." then she laughs,"I doubt i look much better. Lets get these scratches taken care of."
"Injuries first. Your pack, I'd forgotten about it. Yes, we must be able to pick up their tracks further on down the beach!"
"Good point. To the temple it is."
Wanderer wearily plods over to the temple, sore, wet, tired, and angry.