"Well, we should go see what she wants right? After all she is an old friend of ours, it would be rude if we didn't inquire as to her intentions."
Our heroes arrive in the inn and Shall is there, she runs up and hugs Fernus, Unalaq and Tarin, and greets the rest of you.
I was hoping you would be here, I need your help. Something strange is happening near Turtleback Ferry, I would like to send you there to investigate. It could be nothing, but it could be something related to that mess relating to our previous "fun"
"We found a note here too that suggested problems up that way. In fact, we'd been getting ready to go ourselves. What have you heard? The more we know, the better prepared we can be."
"Is it something about greedy people perhaps? And people becoming missing?" Fernus asks Shalelu, quite innocently.
I missed the "previous fun," what was it and what are the rumors?
Darin has deep circles under his eyes from exhaustion - clerics of Cayden Cailean are required to spend time as bartenders in the taverns used as temples so he's been up for many late nights with loud drunks.
Tarinhil hugs the elf happily, then frowns at her news as he sits. Finally, he nods, "Fortunately, we're exactly foolish enough to go looking for trouble. We're more than happy to help.... but, yes, would love to hear anything you might have heard."
Unalaq adds, "We defeated an evil creature here in Magnimar prior to the Runelord. Also at great cost to our group. It had a note from its sister that talked of gathering and harvesting greedy souls. The note said she was in Turtleback Ferry and that she thought she would soon have Fort Rannick under her control."
I don't know much, there are a group of rangers there, the Black Arrows that are charged with keeping the ogres of the region in check, they have gone silent of late, and that worry me. Mind checking it out for me?
"Of course we will Shalelu. Maybe something has helped the ogres get the upper hand."
Vinny seems a bit more dour than before. "I'm in."
Tarinhil nods his agreement, "Can't say I much like the thought of packs of Ogres on the loose. Can you give us information about these rangers - might be worth trying to find them to get an idea of what's happening, if we can."
Darin feels a familiar cramping in his leg.
I'm in I guess. Time to whump some ogre.
On the plus side it does get me out of the temple.
...
Oh shut up.
If you don't mind I would like to accompany you there as well. I would add my magic to yours to defeat the beasts. If the rangers have gone silent...that would be bad for that region.
Knowledge History +16 35 total
Knowledge Local +11 30 total
Elorin will talk magical strategy with Fernus so their spells don't overlap too much. When he finds that he also has haste on his list he will switch out that spell for stinking cloud.
I must admit, if you can drop a couple of enemies in the put, I can then drop a stinking cloud into the pit...it would be a very bad outcome for anything in the pit.
"Well we could at least make sure that anything in the pit is indeed incapacitated. A very nice strategy Elorin."
Fernus peaks into Elorin's spellbook and is amazed by his need for spellbooks, though he has seen them before it's rather rare for him to see such a loaded spellbook full of spells.
"Shalelu? Anything other information you have for us regarding the region and the possible ogres? Any more information about those Black Arrows you mentioned?"
I am not overly familiar w the ogres but the black arrows are good men, dedicated to keeping the region safe. Then going silent means something big is brewing. They have a fort called for tan nick out in the woods. Turtle back is little more than an outpost really.
Not much to know about turtle back. It has a river and a ferry and is little more than a hamlet I think
"Shall we head to the fort then and see why it has gone silent? We can go to the town once we are done at the fort."
Tarinhil shrugs, "Not a bad idea, assuming it's not too much of a detour... I'm wondering if maybe we should have someone escort our Wizard-friend back to Sandpoint while we're exploring?"
"Would we not talk to folks at the town first to see what they know?" It sounds odd coming out of Vinny's mouth considering how gung-ho he had been in dealing with things before.
Darin looks at Vinny a bit funny, having mostly experienced only Wisdom 1 Vinny, but shrugs.
Better to hit the trouble spot first in my opinion, then ride into the town heroes. Unless the fort's down with a bad case of food poisoning, in which case bring something to cover your nose. I once ran into a town where a cat had drowned in the well and it uh...well you could smell it a ways away.
"Shalelu, will we reach the fort first or the town first on our way north?"
[b] the town is definitely on the way, but it would not be hard to bypass it[/dice]
"We can always rest up and gather information in the town right, for all we know the rangers might have friends or even family among the populace. Somebody might have seen something." Fernus adds to the group.
"Well, as we know from that runelord encounter, there's no time to waste. If we all have enough supplies, let's go shall we?"
Tarinhil sighs, "Just need to talk to the Wizard we rescued... either to pay his stay here for a couple of weeks, or send him back to Sandpoint.... If we do the latter, Shalelu, would you mind escorting him?"
Of course. I am sure there is plenty that he could do in town, we are still recovering from everything that happened. The Sherrif wishes you were about, and that little Dragon is up to his old tricks.
Darin looks back and forth. Leaning towards Vinny.
Do you think "little dragon" is a euphemism for great big dragon? I mean, knowing my luck and all?
"Knowing this group's luck, the dragon is actually some aspect of one of the gods of darkness...and will appear just as we start to do something good...and swallow half the group before we even get a chance to move," he says with a shake of his head and a grin.
Darin will look at Vinny with a new appreciation.
And here I thought you were another incurable optimist.
Elorin just watches the conversation, preferring to get to know this mixed group vs. interact with the stranger.
You could ask him
"Wizard. Where we are going could be very dangerous. Do you prefer to go with us, stay here, or return to Sandpoint?"
Wizard? Ok brute. I'd prefer to be safe but I am committed to help you for saving me. So if you wish me to join you I will.
"I think you should join us. I am concerned that you may be no safer from our enemies in Magnimar or Sandpoint than with us."
Xorn is my name and Dewar you met before. Shall we go?
Darin will concentrate on everyone else while repeating a mantra well-loved by the clergy of Cayden Cailean in his head.
Don't court death by saying "What's the worst that could happen?" Don't court death by saying "What's the worst that could happen?" Don't court death by saying "What's the worst that could happen?"...
Tarinhil nods, "All right, Xorn. We were just trying to keep you out of harm's way as much as possible. It'd be a right shame if we got you killed after having saved you, and we seem to be having a hard enough time keeping our own fool selves alive lately."
He turns to the others, "Guess that's decided. Hope we can bring the wagons where we're going."
Dewar will keep me safe!
The heroes arrive in Turtleback ferry without incident. What do you do?
Unalaq spends a little time asking around town. He's trying to learn about the fort, any new events, just get a general lay of the land.
Darin will help, because paladins are show offs and don't need other people to smooth talk.
Give me perceptions as well
Fernus is looking around, prodding Unalaq to also ask about the rangers and the possible ogre problem as well as trying to help him be even more polite towards the inhabitants.
Perception
Tarinhil scans the area carefully, his keen senses and mind working hard while his more personable companions talk to the villagers. I should try to find some children... they tend to like talking to small folk like me, and generally enjoy good gnomish humour... It's too bad they outgrow that.
Vinny is very at home in a smaller Varisian town. He takes his time to look around and chat with folks, gathering info as he can, as well.