10th day of Calistril 4711(Year of the Faithless)
A cold chill hits your face, as the freezing wind whips around the cast snow on the ground. You wrap your cloak and furs around yourself tighter in a vain effort to keep warm on this 23 degree day. As you look around at the travelers at your side, you see they are also frustrated and depressed. Gavin, the herbalist from Sandpoint, is futilely wrapping his arms around his wife and their two children ages 10 and 12 (the kids asked you to carry them or perform tricks to keep them entertained throughout the trip); there's Anna and Anton, Varisian gypsy brother and sister spice merchants, trying to stay as far apart as possible to avoid any implications of an incestuous relationship, whispers of which were heard early in the trip; there's Joshua, the rug merchant from Magnimar, with his three sons, their heads all down, as it was their wagon that broke down half a day ago and forced you in your current predicament of walking the rest of the way to Korvosa. And then yesterday, a snowstorm hit, leaving three inches of snow on the ground. Combined with the wind chill coming off the coast, you are not in a good mood.
You stop to eat and rest and unload the bundles of wares the merchants are carrying. As they stretch their shoulders and crack their backs, Gavin begins the conversation, "So, it's been years since I've been to Korvosa, at least ten I would say. Is it true that King Eodred II, that old horndog, married a woman 1/3 his age? That lucky bastard!" His wife, Audrey, scowls. Joshua laughs upon seeing the wife's look and speaks, "Yes, it's true, Queen Ileosa is barely 21 summers old and I hear from my brother Devon that she is quite beautiful, almost nymph-like. But a lot of the nobility is not too happy, given the King's advancing age and with no male heirs, they think it would be a scandal to have the throne in a trophy wife's hands, especially one from Cheliax. That and she's emptying the kingdom's coffers on beautification projects all over the city, like statues and gardens. My brother works in the Treasury so he knows all about it." Anton, who has kept quiet till now, speaks passionately, "Yes, King Eodred II, the Stirge King, as my fellow gypsies call him, is bleeding the city dry and the downtrodden and poor are suffering. Of course, the nobility don't care about them. Who needs more statues of themselves when our children are dying of hunger? Who is speaking for them? First the gods abandon us and now this! While your brother Devon, I am sure, enjoys his privileged position." As the political passion spikes, you see Joshua and Anton about ready to come to blows, over their class and sociological differences.
Anna and Joshua's children look to you for help.
Disturbed by the pleading eyes of the women and children Eudonius makes an effort to try to end the argument. He dreams of a warm meal and a bed and just wants the cursed trip to be over.
A f-f-fight now would be pointless good sirs. Its too cold to even breath. Please calm yourselfs, I am sure no offense was meant. We still have a long walk a head.
As the insults start flying, "You gypsy piece of ..." and "You sewer-dwelling monument loving son of a..", everyone is surprised to see the hulking but rather shy and quiet half-orc suddenly speak with conviction, reason, and wisdom. Anton and Joshua stop their argument and Anton goes to sit and finish his lunch. Anna silently words a thank you to the half-orc. Joshua yells, "Bah, that argument was getting my blood boiling and making me forget that we're out here in the cold, freezing our asses off. So what say you, half-orc? And you, archer? How about the lame soldier? I'm sure you all have an opinion about the current state of Korvosa. Pro-queen or not? After all, you're all headed there." Joshua looks at Cinnamon, is freaked out by her appearance and her different colored eyes, "Never mind, I don't want to know what you think."
Gyllan looks at the normally quiet half-orc with respect, still unused to one of his kind speaking with such gentle tact.
In response to Joshua’s question, he thinks a moment and says ”Well, to tell it straight, you’ve both got a bit of the right of it. I don’t recall the king ever doin’ me much by way of favors, nor other poor folk, though I’m sure he means well enough. At the same time, I don’t expect a pretty young thing from Cheliax is going to do anyone in Korvosa much good, unless we can eat all those statues of her she’s had put up – though she is a beauty, that’s sure. And speaking of Korvosa, we’re not getting back there any faster by sitting here jawin’ and freezin’. Let’s eat up and get back on our feet!”
The gaunt woman had kept quietly to herself for most of the journey, but after being addressed by Joshua she turned her gaze on him. The pupils of her mismatched eyes are extremely dilated as she struggles to focus on the merchants face.
"Don't want to know what I think?" " Cinnamon asks. "I guess I can understand that, given my friendship with the queen. I do like her -- she smells like apples." " Cinnamon smiles broadly, her tongue darting about her lips.
"But she can be thoughtless, too. 'Illeo' I said -- her friends call her 'Illeo' -- 'Illeo, you need to take care of your people. They're hungry and having a hard time. For the cost of that sumptuous golden gown you just bought you could feed half the Shingles for a week.'"
'But Cin,' she said to me. 'Cin, Cin, Cinnamon. What about the ball next week? That gown would be perfect.' And I had to agree. Who could begrudge their queen a bit of flash. We can't all be blessed with finery like mine." "
Cinnamon preens, her hands sweeping over her faded dress.
"Does that answer your question, Master Joshua?"
Jun listens to the others then when they have completed their thoughts about the queen adds, "I was part of the Korvosan Guard once so my thoughts on this will be influenced because of my time there. The king has a young queen from Cheliax? I don't care. I'm sure the king has his reasons for choosing her and it probably has to do with politics. If he has no heir and she has the throne to herself, I am sure soon enough a political marriage will happen with one of the city's major families to strengthen their claim."
"In the end the city will go on much like it always has. Kings have come and go and yet the city still goes on. Korvosa does have its share of problems, but a few extra statues are not one of them."
The gaunt woman had kept quietly to herself for most of the journey, but after being addressed by Joshua she turned her gaze on him. The pupils of her mismatched eyes are extremely dilated as she struggles to focus on the merchants face.
Cinnamon preens, her hands sweeping over her faded dress.
"Does that answer your question, Master Joshua?"
The rug merchant just stands there, his mouth a little open, as he focuses on Cinnamon's sweet voice and demeanor. His eyes do wander and focus a little too long on her her legs and chest, even with the furs covering them up. "Uh...you're friends with the Queen? I'm sorry if I insulted you. Please send her my regards." Joshua gulps, as he turns around. "Our guide is right, we need to get moving. Master Gyllan, after you."
Cinnamon sees Anna stare at her skeptically but she remains quiet.
One of Joshua's sons, Desmond, smiles and looks at his brothers, "We have a bona fide member of the Korvosan guard with us! Oh, I'm sure he's got some great stories to tell." His father glares at him and he shuts up.
Gavin speaks again, "What you all say is right. As long as we all do our part to make Korvosa a little better each day, I think things will work out. After all, she is not the Jewel of Varisia for nothing."
Anton scoffs at this, as he walks past Gavin and his family, to continue the march.
Gyllan listens to Cinnamon's tale with an intent look in his eyes. He's know her as little more than an acquaintance, even done a little business with her, but has never seen this side of her.
After hearing her answer to Joshua's question, Gyllan appears to be taken with a mild coughing fit, as he struggles to hide his laughter, thinking to himself, The fool believes her! I'll have to be sure to offer my services to him when we're back in the city, I'll be able to charge him anything I want!
One of Joshua's sons, Desmond, smiles and looks at his brothers, "We have a bona fide member of the Korvosan guard with us! Oh, I'm sure he's got some great stories to tell." His father glares at him and he shuts up.
Jun gets a haunted look in his eyes for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry I am no longer a Korvosan Guard member. I've made many mistakes in my life and have regrets. Any story I may have is more suited in a warm tavern with a plenty of ale." He slaps his knees and stands up, "But that was my old life and not my new one. Gyllan is right, we should get moving if we are to ever get back there!"
"Is that why you walk funny? Were you wounded?", Desmond innocently asks Jun. Joshua speaks to his sons in a forceful voice before Jun can answer, "Leave the young man alone, boys. It's obvious he doesn't want to talk about his past so please respect his wishes. Now, let's get moving or else we might catch our death in this cold." They nod accordingly, though Desmond, the youngest of the three, age 7, still stares at Jun's leg.
An hour later, as the caravan and party members continue their trek, the sounds of boots crunching on the snow constantly ringing in your ears, Eudonius stops for a second, looking at the sky, and says, "Uh...folk, we've got trouble coming."
Seeing that Eudonius is looking up of all things, Gyllan drops his bundle and slides his bow off his shoulder and into his hands, quickly sliding a long, slender arrow out of his quiver and nocking it. "Where away?" he says. "What do you see, Eudo?"
Gyllan quickly scans the sky and then looks around for anywhere the children can hide from whatever the threat is, and says "Joshua, get your boys under cover!"
"Is that why you walk funny? Were you wounded?", Desmond innocently asks Jun. Joshua speaks to his sons in a forceful voice before Jun can answer, "Leave the young man alone, boys. It's obvious he doesn't want to talk about his past so please respect his wishes. Now, let's get moving or else we might catch our death in this cold." They nod accordingly, though Desmond, the youngest of the three, age 7, still stares at Jun's leg.
Jun responds to the kids questions by saying, "My leg is a lesson learned to always do what is right and not what is easy. Good thing to learn early to avoid the hard lesson later." He pretends not to notice his limp as they stare.
An hour later, as the caravan and party members continue their trek, the sounds of boots crunching on the snow constantly ringing in your ears, Eudonius stops for a second, looking at the sky, and says, "Uh...folk, we've got trouble coming."
Jun looks up and asks, "Do we need to find some shelter?"
"Gyllan, I've got kids too, you know!", screams Gavin, as he and his family get down on the ground at Gyllan's warning. Joshua does the same, hugging his family to him, while they hold hands. Desmond looks up, "Is it a dragon, papa? That would be cool!" "Shush, child!" is the father's response.
Eudonius stands there sheepishly, with his head down, as Gyan sees no threats in the air, other than gathering clouds to the south.
Gyllan looks more than a bit embarrassed by his plan to shoot arrows at a gathering storm, and voices an opinion, "See, this is why I like the city. Out here, anything could be coming out of the sky. At home, you see something up there, it's pseudodragons and imps fighting it out, but unless one of 'em crashes down dead on your head, they won't bother you none. Here, it could be a dragon, so even some storm-clouds make ya jumpy."
Looking at Gavin, he says "Anyway, sorry not to tell you to shelter your kids too, Joshua's boys were just right in front of me. And speaking of Joshua - hey, Joshua, if that storm hits before we find some shelter, I say we unroll some of these heavy, heavy rugs to keep dry. In exchange, I can connect you with a guy in town who'll buy some slightly damp rugs for a good price. Seems like a fair deal, no?"
Gavin begrudgingly accepts Gyllan's apology when the caravan of travelers realizes there are no aerial threats to contend with. Joshua grunts, "While I prefer that my merchandise not be ruined, I guess we can do that. Where are we going to find shelter? Do you know of any Jun? Anyone?"
"You know what, Joshua, I think I can save your carpets. Now that I think about it, we're not far from a little place called Ocean's Cove - a couple of hours away if we move pretty quick. There's not much there, but I passed through it on my way out of Korvosa a while back, and we can find a roof to get under, I'm sure. There's a temple to Gozreh there, they'd probably take us in if there's nothing else in town. And we'll be that much closer to Korvosa, thank the gods!"
"The problem with the city is people. Too many people, all with problems, always needing help. Doesn't matter what you do there's always more. All that whining makes it hard to sleep, and that's a problem."
"But then you get out of the city and it's lonely."
Cinnamon shivers. She's been trying to ignore the pain in her feet, but now she's not sure if she can even feel them.
"I'm cold. And I'm tired of walking. Isn't there somewhere warm we can sit down?"
She looks at her limping companion and cringes. He hasn't complained a bit, and he has it harder than anyone.
"Good thing you don't like easy, Jun, cause we're not getting any of that today."
Eudonius listens to the exchange in silence, keeping to himself as he have most of the trip. He only breaks his self imposed solitude when danger seems imminent yet again. Still looking down he seems a little annoyed by Gyllan's sudden intimacy. The half orc speaks while fumbling with the buttons of his jacket and getting some small distance away.
No need for weapons Master Gyllan but there is a snowstorm on the way. However we should have a couple of hours before it hit us. Your sugestion sounds very sensible.
Then he mumbles mostly to himself at Cinnamon's first remark.
Yes, people are in the root of every problem, aren't they?
With Gyllan leading the caravan, the merchants and their families pick up their step, despite their fatigue. They know how deadly getting caught in a storm can be, how a simple pneumonia can kill now, especially during this Year. During your travels, you have heard each of your traveling companions tell tales how they lost a friend or loved one due to injury or disease and it's only the second month of the year! The gypsy siblings, not burdened with carrying their wares, make the best time behind the archer. Jun and his lame leg bring up the rear and you know at his speed, the caravan will not make it to Ocean's Cove in town. Joshua offers Jun his horse to ride along with Desmond.
Everyone hurries along and after an hour, the proximity of the rain storm is clear to everyone, as dark clouds gather over the horizon. It looks to be pretty severe and that only inspires everyone to move faster. Cold and tired, Gyllan finally spots the small coastal village of Ocean's Cove. Bird's eye view
Small indeed! The sign welcoming you to the village lists a population of 45. You see a host of cottages dot the coast and a paved dirt road leads you through the center of the village, which at the time is deserted. You start to feel the cold drizzle mixture of rain and snow come down, freezing your skin. You easily spot the Temple of Gozreh as it is the fanciest place in the village, a one-story building. As you approach its doors, you are surprised to find it locked and a male voice inside turns you away, "I have no space here for so many people. Go see Harwell at the Sleeping Mackerel, just follow the path. His inn can accommodate you and he will be more than happy to feed the lot of you. And do so quickly, the storm's almost here."
Turned away and not wanting to bust your way into the Temple, fearing a possible curse if you desecrate the place, you head south until you see the lights coming from the inn. Everyone's mood seems to lighten, as the drizzle continues to come down, each time more with more frequency.
Cold a miserable Eudonius wispers a complaint as he marches to the inn.
...Gozreh used to be friendlier.
Jun is grateful Gyllan remembered Ocean's Cove. How come I didn't think of Ocean's Cove. Keep it together, man!
On the trek to the city is leg started to really ache and he just keeps going one step at a time.
"Good thing you don't like easy, Jun, cause we're not getting any of that today."
Jun chuckles in between haggard breathes, "Yeah, what challenge is there to two good legs?
When offered the horse Jun wants to turn it down, but realizes that getting to town is the most important thing for everyone and if he walks it will take longer to get there. Grateful he rides the horse the rest of the way.
When turned out of the temple he says, "Come let's find this temple, I guess we have little choice. I'm not going to break down the door to a temple."
...Gozreh used to be friendlier.
Cinnamon shook her head at the half-orc's words. "Wouldn't be surprised if that blowhard didn't revel in our misery in his storm." She picked at the glove on her left hand nervously. "Just another faithless god -- I'm glad we're not sleeping in the temple. I'd rather freeze."
As the party walks away from the shuttered temple and toward the inn, Gyllan remarks, ”The priests are a skittish lot when the gods turn their backs on them, ain’t they? Me, I’d rather depend on myself, and maybe a few folk around me, and know that I can rely on that, instead of hoping each year that the gods still like me. But some just need that…higher power, I guess, to look to, and get told what to do. I guess I’m just glad that what we got told to do involves an inn, and hopefully a fire and a pint or two. And look, look, look, is that the lights of the inn I see there ahead? That’s a welcome sight, it is. Looks like you might not have to make that choice, between Gozreh and freezing, Cinn!”
"Hopefully the inn is more cordial. Otherwise I think I could convince the Gozreh priests to let us stay." Jun looks like he doesn't like that idea however.
Suddenly, the door to the inn swings open and a human male, who stands 6’ tall with a portly belly, placing his weight at almost 250, you believe, opens the door. He looks to be about 40 years old and has a tattoo of an anchor on his right forearm. "My, my, look at the what the storm has brought to our doorsteps? Customers! Please, please come in and get out this awful weather and wipe your boots on the mat. I'll get a good warm meal in ye, if it kills me." He grins and yells back into the inn, "Jenna, darlin' stoke that fire, we got fish to fry!"
The merchants have big smiles on their faces at the portly man's hospitality and a chorus of "thank you and best wishes" is heard from the crowd.
Suddenly, as the merchants are about to enter the establishment, an odd noise cuts through the howling wind and rain, that makes them pause and look around at each other, "What the hell was that?" Cinnamon and Jun have no idea what they're talking about.
Eudonius looks back at the inn with longing and gives a deep sigh.
Sometimes I hate my life.
Turning to the group.
I see an armored man about 75 feet in that direction. Pointing with his left hand. He wears some kind of insignia, maybe a guard of some sort... And he is weaving for help.
The half orc waves back at the man to come closer.
Jun drops whatever he is carrying and heads as fast as his injured leg will let him towards where Eudonis was pointing.
Joshua, the owner of the horse, sees Jun's look of worry about the horse's condition and he runs to you and grabs the reins from you, "Go do what you have to. I've got Jordan. Go!"
Jun nods to Joshua in appreciation and limps towards the man in trouble as fast as his gimpy leg will take him
Sighing again Eudonius slowly follows Jun while shivering in the cold wind.
"No. Nononono. Don't care. I don't care what happens to him, let him take care of himself," Cinnamon insisted. But she turned around and started walking back into the storm while she did so.
Once again, Gyllan slides his bow off his shoulder and nocks an arrow, thinking Well, at least this time it’s not just stormclouds. Though we’ve enough of those already.
Moving in the direction Eudonius is pointing, he says to the group, ”Let’s see what this is about. But I’ll tell you, if this fellow keeps me from a warm fire for long, I’m like to put an arrow in him. And keep your eyes open, everyone – wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a cry for help used as a distraction by someone with ill intent.”
Eudo waves the armored man over and waits for Jun; Jun limps over as fast as he can; Gyllan and Cinnamon walk toward Eudo. When everyone has line of sight to the armored man, he starts to walk toward them, with a bit of relief on his face..when suddenly, an arrow shot from the east strikes and pierces his right ribs, causing him to scream in pain and drop to his knees in agony. You can tell he's still alive, but the wound is severe and he's losing a lot of blood, as he grips his side. Upon hearing the screams, the merchants and their families rush inside the inn, leaving you four outside. Joshua runs behind the inn with his horse. The rain comes down stronger as the afternoon sky darkens. None of you have any line of sight to the archer, as there are structures in the way.
Initiative Order:
Eudo
Assailant
Armored man
Gyllan
Jun
Cinnamon
Jun sees the arrow hit the man. Can I get there in time?
Find that archer, I'll look to the injured man!" Jun shouts this out on old instincts, not knowing how anyone will respond or if at all. Jun appears to not care about the archer and makes towards the injured man.
Seeing the direction the arrow was fired from, Gyllan moves into the shelter of the nearby house and looks for the archer.
F$%#!
Eudonius bolts to the injured man. Up on arriving at his position he quickly scans the surroundings for the attacker.
As Eudonius starts to run, he sees the armored man on the floor grunting and despite the horrible pain he must be in, he drags himself and crawls 10' in the mud-covered road. Eudo realizes he does not need to run and reaches the man with a double move. As he looks around to the east, his acute eyes see a figure hiding behind the side of the building, only his eyes visible. Seeing he has been spotted, the lean figure dressed in robes steps out, a shortbow in hands with an arrow nocked, moves closer within 30' and fires! The arrow flies through the air and hits the half-orc, but does not penetrate the thick leather armor he wears. The figure curses in some unknown language.
Another figure, garbed as the other, rushes out from the NE, gripping a 2-handed thin scimitar and tries to bring the half-orc down, swinging the blade not with force but grace. However, Eudo remembers Lynch's talks about similar elven agility and he predicts the trajectory of the blow and easily sidesteps it, causing the sword to miss by a mile! Again, more garbled bird noises and what sounds like some form of cursing.
Now that they are close enough, you can all see the robe garbed humanoids have black crow-heads with beaks and hands that end in bird talons!
Before Gyllan can act, he hears the sounds of combat so he moves west and shoots an arrow at the creature attacking Eudo but his arrow misses as well.
Jun double moves and is almost within 30' range of the guard on the ground.
Cinnamon seems bemused by the birdmen, but not at all afraid. I thought I was going to wait until we got to the Inn to pop a Polypurpose, but I guess I couldn't stand it any more. I wish we were fighting peacockmen -- I prefer my hallucinations more colorful.
She moves toward the fight and shouts, "Hey, quit that. It's too cold to fight."
A Birdman!? How marvelous!
Eudonius is pulled out of his initial revery by the swinging sword of the nearby attacker. He steps back pulling a vial from one of his suit's many pockets and drinking it.
The bird-man ignores the sorcerer's incantation and resists her magic.
Round 2:
The armored man, severely injured, stops crawling and goes into full defense, seeing the bird-man looming over him.
Seeing the half-orc move back, the bird-men squawk and communicate with each other. The one with the 2-handed scimitar seems to smile as he walks around the prone human, while the other bird-man with the bow, draws his short sword and moves to threaten Eudo from the east, providing a flank for his buddy. Despite the toughening of his skin after drinking his mutagen, Eudo is distracted by both assailants at his sides and cannot dodge the bird-man's graceful sword stroke that cuts through the rain and slices across the half-orc's abdomen, leaving a deep wound that would have killed a lesser man! The crow-headed humanoid squawks in joy at seeing the blood flow!
Initiative Order:
Eudo
Assailant
Armored man
Gyllan
Jun
Cinnamon
Jun says to Gyllen, "Hold your arrow for a moment" and moves up 15' and channels, a burst of positive energy healing the half-orc and the injured man.
Cinnamon startles as healing energy washes over her. She turns to the limping man with a murderous expression on her face. "You! How did...that's not...aargh!" she screams. Then she turns her fury on the ridiculous bird men, as she runs to one screaming and rakes at it with her claws.
"Tengu? What are they doing out here in the boonies? They belong in the city...like I do. Well, they're not friendly, that's for sure!"
With this, Gyllan drops his bow and runs to join the fray, drawing his longsword as he does so. He runs to get an advantageous position behind the tengu's back and swings his sword with a two-handed grip at the creature.
When the wave of healing energy hits them, though they don't have any wounds, the Tengu look in shock at Jun and speak in Taldane (Common), "Kill the rest but we need to take that one alive!" Of course, that is before Gyllan moves up and nearly kills the shorter Tengu, spraying his blood on the snow and road, while the storm plays in the background.
Round 3:
As his elixir take effect Eudonius body swells with new muscle, his skin darken and his features become even more bestial. From his throat an animal howl emerges as he draws his greataxe and beheads the Tengu leader with a single powerfull side swing.
Covered in blood and drooling he turns to the smaller attacker.
Ya next shorty!