@Wood: Kendra appreciates the offer and allows you to copy anything from her book as well. You and she have a noice month discussing the ins and outs of magic and she is happy to be your guest at the party.
Eva packs her things to leave
"I hope things will be alright here." she says to herself.
Rova shops around for a sturdy wagon and a few horses good enough to pull it.
"I'm not feelin' like luggin' all m' stuff ta th' next town on m' back. Should be enough room ta carry campin' gear an' w'atever ya don' feel like luggin' yerself."
"I like the sound of that, do you want me to chip in?" Zhiden asked, putting his extra stuff on the wagon.
"Sure, iffn ya wanna. We get enough, mebby we kin buy one 'a them Varisi caravan wagons. Th' covered kind, so's rain don' suck as much. Anyhoo, a basic un'll cost abou' 35 gold fer th' wagon, an' anudder 400 gold fer some stout horses. An' they better be stout iffn they're pullin' me. Couple hunnert more iffn ya wan' em trained not ta spook."
Vertielle makes a face of discontent.
Destriers?
She shivers.
Wouldn't just a couple of coursers suffice?
In either case, Vertielle contributes a little for the wagon.
Meanwhile, as a certain half-orc would-be ladies man tries to sneak out of town...
The road north to Lepidstadt is guarded by a pair of giggling urchins, each with something clenched in their fists. They step in front of Gkirkhan, apparently aware that the otherwise scary dude in the hat is harmless -to them, at least- and open their hands. Each is holding a gold piece. Simultaneously they each then close that fist and hold out the other, open hand, still grinning. Each also has a whistle around their neck.
Your call, Gkirkhan.
Even as dense as Gkirkhan is, he's not so dense that he misses what the kids want or what would happen if he didn't give it to them.
"Hyu vouldn't dare..."
The boys raise the whistles to their lips and wait.
"Hyu vould."
Gkirkhan goes for his coin purse, only to realize that it is with Vertielle after paying for the party, and the drinking, and the repairs, to keep him from going broke.
"Uh, uh-oh. Vould hyu mind not blowink dose? Vertielle, de elfy-girl has my coin."
The scene is rather comically, with a half-orc nearly twice their height and arms as big around as their waists begging the two boys not to rat him out...
The boys look at each other, shrug, and blow those whistles.
You hear shouting and running footsteps.
"Dem. Hy em goink to dunk hyu two in de river next time Hy em here!"
The sounds of the voices are getting closer and Gkirkhan is off like a shot again making his way north out of town.
"Well, iffn we get th' small horses, an' some'un needs ta ride 'un, an' tha' some'un is me, I'd be better off carryin' th' horse than ridin' it.
'Sides, wid all th' rain hereabouts, I'd rather have th' big'uns ta pull us outta da mud.
There is a Varisi style wagon in town, but th' owner'll only sell fer 500 gold. Sez tha's w'at it cost 'im. I'm thinkin' 'e got swindled..or is lookin' ta swindle us."
"Hey, we gotta month, mebbe we can get the wainwright ta make us a custom jobbie. I'll go ask."
"Make sure you spend community funds rather than personal funds for our wagon.
"Ok, wainwright sez he'll make us a carriage, wid enclosed space fer 4, 2 on da buckboard, an' cargo space on da back, customized ta us (meanin' I'll fit in or on it) fer 100 gold. He'll even paint it our choice o' colors. He sez th' 100 is wid our discount cuz he's gotta modify it. He ain't gonna throw in da horses, but he'll cut us a break on da price [Town discount] iffn we buy alla dat from 'im. Comes ta 580 gold fer the carriage an' 2 trained heavy horses."
Vertielle whistles.
That's a hundred apiece, and I've no clue how to drive a wagon, let alone fix one. Anyone else know how?
.At the question of color preferences, Zhiden's eyes went wide, like a child asked what flavor of ice cream he wanted, "Blue!" He announced, smiling widely, "And orange! I've always liked those two, maybe he could use both?"
.At the question of color preferences, Zhiden's eyes went wide, like a child asked what flavor of ice cream he wanted, "Blue!" He announced, smiling widely, "And orange! I've always liked those two, maybe he could use both?"
Oh, that seems simple enough, and it would keep my things dry I suppose.
As they depart in the new wagon, Wood comments:
"This wagon is a great idea. It lets us appear to be traders or circus performers--I can be the wild potion and magic man. Gkirkan and Rova can be the strongmen. It also gives us a secure place to put our things we don't want to carry everywhere."
Wood hears a whistle from town and comments, "Speaking of Gkirkan, where is he? Who is that naked man running from town?"
Wood is surprised to discover his two inquiries are related.
After Gkirkhan's -interesting- arrival at the departure point, you head out for Lepidstadt.
It's a journey of around 100 miles and the early part is unadventurous, which in Ustalav, is probably a good thing. You see fewer and fewer people on the road, which is why, as you near the end of the second day, you are surprised to see wagons pulled to one side of the road. There is a larger group of people gathered by those wagons, in seemingly deep and excited discussion.
As you aproach the caravan, someone steps out into the road to flag you down.
Perception checks, please.
Caught up in her journal, feet kicked over the back of the wagon, Vertielle can't see much save the canvas covering, and hears only the rumble of the wheels.
Gkirkhan has been unusually quiet and thoughtful these past couple of days. This had the side effect of him paying more attention to the road rather than the two lovely ladies in the wagon.
"Vait, izn't dot vun ov dose Crooked guys?"
Perception:
Zhiden watched the wagons as they approached, thinking it odd to see a circus here. "Huh, that's not really something I was expecting to see just now, He said, not taking his eyes off the wagon train.
The tall albino in the Ringmaster's outfit steps forward and speaks. "Fellow travelers, could you help us?
He pauses, then steps forward a little further. "Aren't you the folks who helped us out in Ravengro? We desperately need someone's help. We stopped here for dinner and our cook, Aleece -you remember her, I think- wandered into the woods to find some herbs. It's been hours and she hasn't returned. Could you help us find her? Her sisters say they heard noises just before she left and that she might have tried to investigate. I can reward you. We have a magic dagger that you might find useful. I'd be willing to give it to you if you find her."
Wood smiles, "I think we will do our best. A lady missing this long, can't be good. Who's coming with me?"
Wood takes his wands off the wagon and prepares to look for Aleece.
Wait, where are we going? Who are these.... oh! Well, alright, let me get my things.
Vertielle looks the ringleader up and down.
On second thought, someone should stay with our things...
Gkirkhan hops down off the wagon and quickly gathers his gear.
"Vhich vay did de fraulein go?"
Perception:
Rova, clearly asleep, is jolted awake by the sudden stop of the carriage...
"Hmm?.. Where we at?"
Rova stretches, yawning.
"Waz dis? Who's missin'? 'ang on, lemme get armored up."
Rova opens his armor box, and begins suiting up.
"Summun wanna give me a hand 'ere?"
Zhiden looked into the box and said, "All right, I'll help. Uh, where do I start?"
It took some time, but Zhiden figured out what was going on and help Rova into his armor. After that, Zhiden grabbed his own equipment and got ready to go.
"So, do we have a plan, or is everyone just going to wander off in a different direction and hope we get lucky?"
Wood summons an eagle to help scout and sends it ahead and aloft, speaking to it.
"Find any humanoid."
Eagle perception
XP 200
N Small animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10
Defense
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
Offense
Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4), bite +3 (1d4)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
Ecology
Environment temperate mountains
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Among the most majestic of raptors, these predatory birds pluck fish from streams and lakes, drop down on rodents and small mammals in alpine meadows, and have even been known to pull young mountain goats from the assumed safety of their cliffs.
These creatures, like all birds of prey, have powerful clawed talons and sharp, hooked beaks perfect for tearing flesh. Their enhanced eyesight allows them to spot prey from great distances, and they typically hunt in wide circling patterns high above the ground.
Eagles typically build their massive nests in the tops of tall trees or among the rocky crags of steep cliffs. During breeding season, an eagle lays two eggs, but only one chick normally survives, as the stronger of the two usually kills and eats the weaker.
Eagles generally weigh between 8 and 15 pounds, with a wingspan of up to 7 feet, depending on the species.
Aleece's tracks are easy to follow, at first, but as you persue her, the boggy, reed and midge infested area becomes as difficult to transverse as heavy undergrowth.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
Eva, Vertielle, and Zhiden all hear cries, like a woman screaming for help. The rest of you begin to examine the area.
Evangline
Gkirkhan
Rova
Vertielle
Wood
Zhiden
monster of the day
Eva=1, Gkirkhan=2, Rova=3, Vertielle=4, Wood=5, Zhiden=6
As Zhiden begins to search for the source of the cries, it finds him! A large spider-like monster with an eerie, humanoid face surrounded by a shaggy mane of fur pops out of nowhere and seizes him, bites him savagely, drops him, then vanishes again.
Fort save, please, DC is 18.
"Scheiße."
Gkirkhan pulls out his battered, but still usable sword and keeps an eye out for the big spider-thing.
"Zhiden, hyu hokay?"
Fortitude:
There are times when blind, unfeeling panic overcomes the logic of anyone. This was one of those moments for Zhiden. Maybe it was the rapidly numbing pain, maybe it was the fear of a creature that could move so quietly.
Zhiden wanted to alert the others of where it was, and to distract the creature while he escaped. With shaking hands he reached into a pocket and withdrew a tindertwig. He struck it against a nearby tree until it lit, and then dropped it on the ground below. With that done, he broke into a run.
"Aw, great! Zhiden! Don' run around, it moves da poison through ya faster. An' makes it hard fer da preist ta catch up!"
Rova draws that huge blade, and adopts his fighting stance, readying for the monsters inevitable return.
[standard action] (Ready) Attack the spider (?) if it appears in striking distance...
"A teleporting spider does not feel like it's of this plane of existence."
Wood prepares to summon the shiny dogs; as he casts a dimensional portal begins to form: "The beautific dogs will smell the spider."
If the eagle is still active, Wood will send the eagle to investigate.
Wood at first thought the spider may have disappeared, but then he was pretty sure it teleported away. He was determined to stop it from hurting his friends. Summoning extra-dimensional allies was what he did best, so that is what he did.
If undisturbed, dogs appear.
The beast is a Phase Spider. It lurks on the etherial plane and waits for its poison to slay its victims.