The mass of vines and vegetation finally gives up the ghost and slumps dead, leaving a rotting pile of swampy plant.
Rok clambers out from underneath, grimacing at hers and Kaspers wounds.
A faint glow from under the fallen tree the creature was lairing leads you to the remains of one of its kills.
Loot
Leather armor + 1
Light pick + 1 (Glowing with the light of a torch)
As usual, Lisl channels the soothing power of Abadar to tend the wounds of the team.
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"Well that was... quite something." Isabel says drily as Rok extracts herself from the remnants of the creature. "We have to remember this is a dangerous place - we've been lucky so far. Let's head back to Olegs as planned. I think we could all do with some more supplies if this is going to keep happening."
Darian stands the thing once more, just to be certain, before using his magic on Rock and Kasper to heal them.
Once they are all healed as best as he can provide, he saddles back up and returns with the others to Oleg’s.
EDIT: disregard
The return to Oleg's is now familiar to you, you ride through the open gates, not that the guards have been busy repairing the rotten walls and towers while you were away.
There are more people bustling about the post now as it slowly begins to come to life as the trading center of the region, the only one in fact.
Oleg's store is now in line with a small towns as regards stock and his ability to purchase.
Isabel once you've settled down and unpacked you get a visit from Ludi, one of the girls you spared after they were part of an ambush on your party. "Thought you might like to know. There's been a slippery type asking questions around here about two people. From the description given it fits you and your loverboy. This snoop drops by in the mornings, hangs around being nosy for a few hours then takes off again. So he must be camped somewhere nearby?"
From the sounds of things your arrival late in the day has meant you missed the curious visitor. Ludi gives you a good description of this man. "Everyone here talks about you lot openly, so he knows someone who matches who he's looking for is based here."
What are you doing?
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Isabel gives the other girl a grateful hug upon receiving this information. "Thank you Ludi - I really appreciate this. Do you think you could point him out to me in the morning, quietly? I think we should have a little talk... Now, what have you been doing while we're away, apart from watching my back?" Her gratitude makes her more garrulous than usual and, assuming Ludi is willing, the two of them spend quite a while swapping stories and chatting.
Later that evening Isabel beckons Darian off to one side, the serious look on her face making it clear that this is a business conversation - not pleasure. "Ludi warned me that there's someone hanging around the trade post, looking for us - or at least people who match our description. Apparently he knows that we are often here, but not that we're here now. She's going to point him out to me tomorrow and I'll try and have a quiet chat with him... I think it might be Lord Lebeda, he didn't like the Dowager-Countess boarding us and after Silverhall," she can't help but grimace at the memory of that particular faux par, "I could imagine him wanting to make sure we've gone for good. What do you think we should do? I think we need to warn the others at least, ask them to stick to a story if they're questioned."
Darian listens intently to Isabel’s information. ”And what story would that be?” he asks, turning his hands up questioningly. ”We should definitely warn them. And let Oleg and Kesten know. Talk to the others. I’ll talk to Oleg and Kesten, and Jory.”
Darian goes and talks with Kesten first, to see if he has noticed this,person and what he can recall of them, before going to Oleg.
”Master Leveton! Good to see you once again. Has our shipment from Restov arrived?” he begins, handling the group’s prior business before moving on to more serious discussion. ”One of Isabel’s ‘friends,’ Ludi, told her of someone snooping around asking questions about she and I of the mornings. If you are willing, I’d like to use the gates as a blockade much as we did with the Stag Lord’s men that morning several weeks ago when we first arrived, block them in, until we can learn from them what they want with us. Hopefully nothing violent will happen, but if it does, I don’t want them being able to escape and bring more trouble down on you, or us.”
As he talks, he spots a very well-made bastard sword in Oleg’s wares. He lifts the sword and tests the balance, obviously pleased with the sword’s quality. ”If this is for sale, I think I’ll take it. Could have used something a bit larger back a couple days ago against some plant beast that assailed us...”
Darian leaves Oleg’s shop, strapping his new sword to his belt, before seeking out Jory. ”Master Haltine! Care to take a walk with me?”
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Darian listens intently to Isabel’s information. ”And what story would that be?” he asks, turning his hands up questioningly. ”We should definitely warn them. And let Oleg and Kesten know. Talk to the others. I’ll talk to Oleg and Kesten, and Jory.”
"That we left the group a few days ago due to an argument and they haven't seen us since?" Isabel suggests. "We might as well keep it as simple as possible."
Once she and Darian split up she goes around the rest of the group and explains the situation just as she had to Darian. "Tomorrow we'll try to speak to this person - find out why he's here. If he talks to you beforehand could you tell him we're not here, that we left in a huff after a fight? The longer we can confuse him the better."
Once this is done Isabel seeks out Ludi and Katrina to go over the maps with her. "On the maps I've seen there are two river which meet some way before the big lake. I think we'd do well to investigate that area first. Do either of you know that area at all? All the information we can get helps." She offers, keen to make her friends feel like part of the effort.
As the two women are about to leave Isabel calls out. "I forgot, sorry! Wait a second! Do either of you know a good way I could dye my hair tonight?"
"That we left the group a few days ago due to an argument and they haven't seen us since?" Isabel suggests. "We might as well keep it as simple as possible."
”Oh, you mean,” Darian pauses, ”in case anyone were to try and get to us through them...”
He nods, ”That’s a good idea. No sense in them being put at risk for our past. But, I still want to talk to Jory. See if he’d be willing to keep an eye out when things go down with that crossbow of his. And if Oleg is okay with us using his Trading Post as a staging ground. Again. I’m hoping having Kesten and his men at our backs would help keep things...civil...”
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"That we left the group a few days ago due to an argument and they haven't seen us since?" Isabel suggests. "We might as well keep it as simple as possible."”Oh, you mean,” Darian pauses, ”in case anyone were to try and get to us through them...”
He nods, ”That’s a good idea. No sense in them being put at risk for our past. But, I still want to talk to Jory. See if he’d be willing to keep an eye out when things go down with that crossbow of his. And if Oleg is okay with us using his Trading Post as a staging ground. Again. I’m hoping having Kesten and his men at our backs would help keep things...civil...”
"It's not the man I'm worried about." Isabel responds. "I intend to make him my friend before we start talking anyway. It's whoever he represents that worries me..."
Lisl, in the meantime, is busy puttering about the growing, bustling village. She clucks her tongue at the side of the sagging palisade wall and takes the opportunity to speak with Oleg while making purchases.
"If more people continue to come here," she says conversationally, "this will need better defenses. Otherwise it will attract bandits and monsters and if these walls aren't rebuilt and the siege engines repaired, that small group of soldiers from Restov won't be able to keep this place safe. Perhaps we could make some arrangements to have it rebuilt? We do, after all, have some idle hands available for the labor, if nothing else."
As Isabel pulls out the map to begin plotting the next expedition, Freya walks up to see what the muse-touched woman has in mind.
"Not a bad, although I'm pretty sure we ought to cover that area while we are down that direction." she says pointing to the southeastern most area of the region to be explored.
"So perhaps an ever-so-slightly different route, like so." she says tracing her finger on the map.
Morning dawns at the the trading post, the gates are opened with the suns arrival and the post comes slowly to life. It isn't long before a trickle of people begin to wander in. Traders following the road from the north, and trappers ambling in with full packs from the surrounding lands.
Isabel, you are seated in a comfortable site out of the wind and catching the warming morning light. Ludi is seated beside you keeping an eye on Natalia who is working the walls today. She's been thinking of applying to Kirsten as a guard. When Natalia pauses in her patrol and bends over to scratch her knee Ludi nudges you. "Our 'friend' is on his way in now."
Where is everyone and what are you planning on doing?
Lisl has freshly washed her hair, which she is carefully brushing out so that it can dry. Seated on one of the benches by the outdoor table, she seems engrossed in her task, with many tangles in her locks that require diligent care.
In contrast to Lisl's diligent effort to manage the tangles in her hair, Freya's unkempt form sits on the ground, seeming to pay little attention to anything but the raven on her shoulder or the wolf lying in front of her.
Darian remains seated on his backpack behind one of the gates, quuetly awaiting the signal that he had arrived. Once he is through the gates, Darian will begin closing them.
Jory is seated at one of the tables in the yard, working his way through roast fowl, one eye surreptitiously on the unfolding drama near the gates, crossbow leaning gently against the table leg...
______
Darian leaves Oleg’s shop, strapping his new sword to his belt, before seeking out Jory. ”Master Haltine! Care to take a walk with me?”
"Darian, my friend!" Jory nods at Darian's newest purchase. "Finding that blade to your liking? I find I need at least a fortnight to decide whether new steel and I will get on well..."
It is clear that, despite Darian’s smile, that something troubled him. Darian makes his way with Jory up to the wall of the fortress, coming to a stop on one of the parapets housing the siege weapons Oleg had inherited. He looks out over the surrounding countryside a moment as if looking for something before stating, ”Word has it someone has been coming around the Trading Post, looking for myself and Isabel. I know I’ve mentioned some of the troubled past the two of us have shared, and the fact that someone is seeking us out specifically concerns me.”
The gate seems a bit easier to move this time around, clearly work has been done to get it back into a more workable state.
As the well dressed man walks in Darian has a sinking feeling the matter may be much worse than thought! The man is dressed in robes befitting a magic user of some wealth, but Darian has seen him before in Kintargo, wearing the uniform of a Dottori guard Conjurer.
He stiffens as Isabel's spell washes over him, spinning around and scowling as he see's the gate closing.
He quickly casts a spell on himself, preparing for a fight.
Mage armor.
What are you doing now?
"He is casting a defensive spell..."
Not entirely sure of how this will go, Freya whispers into Fenrir's ear "Guard." while pointing toward Isabel.
The wolf gets to his feet and moves between Isabel and the conjurer.
Darian draws his sword, the blade springing to life with the white energy of Darian’s own magic, as he lunges towards the mage! ”What do you want, Dottari!? You are well outside of your jurisdiction, or does House Thrune think the leashes to their dogs can stretch without limit? You’d best speak quickly, lest you wish to meet the devils of Cheliax much more quickly than nature intended!”
__________
Lisl carefully places her brush on the table and stands up, pushing her hair back out of the way.
The young stranger changes sides of his horse, reducing his brushing to a mere excuse, as he watches the pending action from behind the animal. The hilt rising above his shoulder is clearly visible to anyone looking, but his hands seem to be on the horse.
The man steps back from Darian and sneers. "Bold words from a fleeing rat! The House of Thrune doesn't like loose ends Boy!"
He begins casting another spell.
Isabel & Lisl both have held actions and can take them now.
Lisl waves her hand with her key-symbol of Abadar, in an almost languid gesture, and the air behind the intruder shudders and emits a crystalline shattering sound. From a distance it almost seems harmonious, but up close it is overwhelming.
As Darian's gaze searches the countryside, Jory reaches up to pat his comrade on the arm. "You and Isabel shall have my blade and bow at your call should you have need, my friend."
The intruder's sudden appearance and the telltale utterance of some sorcery catches the attention of most in the yard.
Jory draws his dueling blade and circles to a more advantageous position, looking to bracket the newcomer.
The sight of a dueling sword grabs the newcomer's attention, but the situation still seems undefined . . ..
His hands leave the side of the horse, as he draws a dueling sword from a sheath on his belt, but the sword and his hands remain hidden behind the horse.
He again shakes off Isabel's spell, but staggers as Lisl's hits him hard.
He is now stunned for 1 round. What is the party doing?
Seeing the man stunned, Darian decides to try to take the chance to learn exactly what all House Thrune knows, and lunges for the man! He quickly tries to restrain his hands and arms to prevent him from working magic!
__________
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As Darian grasps the man Isabel strides forward and stops a few feet away, leveling her crossbow at the man's face. "Take his weapons and bind his hands, quickly!" Her voice is sharp and has an undercurrent of tension. "And you! Don't move or I will put a bolt between your eyes!" The implacable stare leaves the thrune magician in no doubt that she means it.
The man stops struggling, but clamps his lips shut and refuses to to talk to you.
What are you doing now?
Freya walks over to the grappled man, tapping her hip as she walks by Fenrir - bidding the wolf to come along.
"I realize that you find yourself in a bit of trouble and don't really want to make it worse by opening your mouth, but I highly suggest that you do answer whatever my friends ask of you...Fenrir here hasn't had his breakfast yet...I have half an inkling to let you fill that roll unless you cooperate."
(inspiration point)
Darian proceeds to tie the man’s hands together before walking him over to the table and sitting him down. He then ties the man’s feet together. All the while, Darian talks to the man, ”Loose ends? That would make sense if we ever intended to return, but we’ve had our fill of Cheliax! Isabel and I just want to be left alone. But clearly you devil-worshipping nut cases can’t manage that, so I’m going to make this very clear to you,” Darian moves to get himself a chair and sets it opposite the bound Mage. ”Your fate hangs in the very literal balance, here. I’m not going to lie to you, in most every other case, we’ve offered the bandits we captured a chance at redemption. But you are no bandit. You’re an assassin of a tyrannical government. One that has hounded Isabel and I halfway across the world, separated us from our families, and slain our friends and countless others. Mercy for you will be a swift death. One that is only earned through cooperation with my questions. Is that understood?” he asks, casting a glance towards Fenrir.
Freya soon has the man eyeing Fenrir with dread. He looks at Darian with almost pity in his eyes. "Fool! You think what you want matters?" Giveing a bitter laugh. "Do you think I wanted to lead an expedition to this frigid backwater? As long as a known rebel exists alive others will use them as a figurehead to foment more rebellion. Even as I left Kintargo whispers on the street where telling of the army that the brave Aulamaxa was raising to free the city!"
As he rants Isabel's spell slips through his defenses, leaving him looking a little dazed and dreamy.
You have him under Charm person. What are you doing now?
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"Tell me everything please - who sent you? What resources and men have you brought to help you? What magic items do you have with you and how do they work? I really appreciate you helping me out with all these things!" Isabel smiles and extends her full charm to supplement her spell.
As an aside to Darian and Freya she whispers, "Let go of him. He's my friend now."
Freya nods. "Fenrir, to me." she says having a seat not too far away should the situation escalate.
When Isabel asks her questions something breaks her hold on his mind, he glares back at her. "You'll find out soon enough whore!"
Asking a charmed person to do something that will harm him breaks the spell. One of your questions must have triggered this?
The man is still intimidated, but also fears something else just as badly.
What are you doing now?
Obviously irritated, Freya walks back over along with Fenrir.
"Answer the questions." the witch says flatly. "I do not know what fate awaits you if you do answer, but I do know what will occur should you not." she says glancing toward Fenrir.
Seeing that the local group has captured their man and is interrogating him, Josef sheaths the sword and finishes brushing Lilly, watching the interrogation as he works. Nobody's challenged them, so they must represent authority around here . . ..
”Very well,” Darian says with a sigh. He takes the man up by his bindings. ”Jory, care to give me a hand?” he asks as he leads the man out of the Trading Post.
When he returns through the gates, he pauses to see if Kesten cared to have his men tend to the body. He then moves on to the rest of his companions. ”We should track this man back to his camp. See if he was alone or has friends waiting. I...I know this is a lot to ask if you guys, and is beyond what we’ve been tasked to deal with here by the charter, but it will pose a continued threat if we don’t tend to it now. With Roksana’s departure we are even more vulnerable, so it doesn’t bode well for us to have added threats on our heels...”
He looks anxiously to Isabel, then notices the man standing by the horse. He casually asks Oleg if he knew anything about the newcomer to the Post.
At this point the guy by the horse will approach the group. "Pardon me, but, based on what I just saw, you seem to be the people in charge around here. Can I find out what that man did so that I can avoid his fate?" He has a hand dancing on the hilt of the sword at his waist, but it isn't the one you would expect him to draw that dueling sword with. Depending on your background, you might recognize the single wing symbol on his chest. It is the crest of the Orlovsky family.
Darian immediately recognizes the Orlovsky Crest from his time memorizing the sigils of the greater Brevish Houses. ”You would have to begin worshipping devils, for one, Lord Orlovsky. Which, I would doubt from a house as noble as yours,” Darian says with a bow of his head. ”That, and be willing to chase a pair of souls, whose only crime is to have opposed the rule of tyrants, half-way across the world to try and kill them.”