Torod and Strawberry are out front.
Seraph was sitting in Rear Guard, bow out and in her lap. Surveying the area behind and around them with her acute vision.
Asta sticks to the middle, the better to be able to apply her magic to whichever side needs her support as soon as possible.
Sunset on Fluff ride along as needed. Sunset keeping the large bird's beak out of reach of any of the mounts...
*Squark!*
*Ruffles feathers... Eyes docile grass eating amblers*
Thomas rides alongside Asta, taking the opportunity to get to know the woman as well as make small talk about the city and nation in general.
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After riding about two hours along the Skunk River , the sound of unintelligible cursing echoes through the woods. Just visible through the trees, a small wagon sits mired in the middle of a swiftly flowing river as the waters threaten to overwhelm its sides. Two ponies hitched to the wagon flounder in the swirling waters, close to panicking.
Two more wagons sit safely on the far bank where a group of 9 Gnomes are trying without success to reach the wagon and endangered ponies. Standing atop a small hillock next to the river a battered and bruised gnome with his helmet askew, he is shouting out increasingly conflicting orders to his men as they grow more desperate.
Seeing your group the gnomes give their leader a brief glance before calling out to your group for aid. You have to act quickly before the swirling waters overturn the wagon and drown the ponies.
First you have to reach the wagon
Once there you need to calm the panicked ponies
Only after the Ponies are unhitched can the wagon be moved to dry ground
You have a limited number of rounds to accomplish the rescue. If you fail an action you may retry the action on the next round.
Please post your chracter’s first two actions be as descriptive as you like and skill checks and/or other creative solutions.
”Looks like they are in some serious trouble,” Thomas says before blessing Torod with strength, and Seraph with a surge of goodness to help their efforts.
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Torod casts Speak with Animals just as he jumps into the water to get to the wagon.
Once there, he speaks to the horses as he tries to get them unhitched. "It's going to be ok. I just need to free you from this thing and you can swim to safety."
Sunset moves Fluff to the river's edge before dismounting and calling/looking for ropes.
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Quick thinking Thomas blesses Torod with strength and Seraph with goodness.
Casting a spell before jumping in the water without a second though, Torod swims to the waggon and begins to calm the ponys.
Moving to the edge of the river Sunset calls for a rope.
Seeing the strangers jump in to help save the waggon and ponys, the gnomes start to cheer.
The ponys are calm enough for Torod to free them from the waggon. The two animals swim to the shore leaving Torod with the floundering wagon.
She firmly affixed one end to Fluff's saddle, offers the other ens to Seraph and then, standing waist deep in the river's waters besides her mount, hold Fluff steady and ready to help pull the weight of the wagon.
Fluff ruffles its feathers. Sending a splash of water into the air. The large beak dips as the bird drinks calmy from the river even as the small fussing critter that's working on Fluff's harness emits some strange, growling noise.
As the weight increases on Fluff's harness, the large bird insitinctivly digs its clawed feet into the river's silty shore. Taking the added weight transferred to its saddle via the rope.
Fluff knows 'bath time' is over and insitinctivly, with the small growly critters urging, begins to pull against this new weight upon its harness. Fullf begins to try and move away from the river.
Asta starts to chant under her breath as soon as Torod goes into the water. When the Hunter is busying himself with the cart and the ponies have reaches shore, the Witch finishes the chant... a bulky, golden-furred aurochs appears in the river.
Thomas calls out from astride his warhorse, ”Toss a rope out to me and I’ll tie it off to my saddle and have the horse pull from here!” hoping the better angle and leverage might help free the wagon.
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Seraph offers one of her two ropes to Sunset who ties it to her mount Fluff. Using her expert knowlage and riding skill readies to push Fluff into pulling the waggon. Once the rope is attached.
Asta chanting summons a aurochs a large horned bull with a black hide and aggressive temper. Placing its large wide horns against the waggon it begins to push.
Calling for Torod to throw a rope, Thomas recalls that his servant packed a extra long silk rope in Thomas's own pack.
Remembering his own strong rope in his pack, Thomas blushes a bit at his own folly and retrieves it and ties it off to his saddle before throwing the free end to the group at the wagon.
With the horses moving to safety, Torod catches the ropes and ties them onto the distressed wagon.
Seraph aids the effort, tapping Julius's sides and moving to add their strength to getting the wagons moving out of the river.
Once she has Julius in place, or out of the way as needed, she wads into the water. Giving a sigh as she sinks into the cool river waters. "Well, I didn't expect to get Wet today."
Asta summoned an aurochs. Can we aid it rather than a pc?
Thomas clicks his tongue and turns the reigns of his horse to try and get it to help pull the wagon free.
Torod urges the Aurochs on as he pulls on the rope to get the wagon out of the water.
The aurochs grunts, then utters a low MOOOO and strains...!
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Sunset pushes Fluff to pull hard and Asta's Auroch pushes on the river soaked waggon.
With the combine might of the group working together they manage to get the soaked waggon moving freeing it from the turbulent flow of the river. From there they work it to the shore saving the gnomes' equipment.
The group of gnomes jump up and down cheering the heroes feat of strength and bravery. The leader of the gnomes comes up to the PCs, "Thank you for saving my supply wagon and ponies! We were attacked by a lone lizardfolk. We drove him off, but in the process our ponies spooked and rushed into the river. It is our fortune that you came along when you did! I am Jubilost Narthropple explorer, mapmaker, and raconteur." The gnome stands proud as he introduces himself.
"Please, stay and join us in the midday meal! I would love to show you my maps and maybe trade information of important sites. It is my quest to find the lost dwarven outpost in the southern greenbelt. Would you happen to know anything about that?"
”Greetings and well met, Jubilost. I am Sir Thomas Lebeda, and my companions here are the rulers of Stagland. Indeed, come, let us discuss what you know!” Thomas says as he speaks with the gnome.
"We are, however, on a mission," Asta reminds Thomas. "We will have to keep the exchange a bit ... to the point."
Seraph enjoyed the brief dip in the water, the coolness made her warmer then usual akin feel somewhat thrilling. Albeit for a moment.
She was steaming slightly now as she approached, sticking out a hand in greeting. Offering to shake the Gnomes hand and smiling broadly at him. "Well met and glad to help, Seraph Starsky of Stagland, pleasure yo meet you all."
At Asta's urging she nods politely at the offer but doesn't add anything else.
With the crisis over Sunset offers the trvelling troup a smile even as she sees to getting Fluff, getting the large bird dry and 'Preened' after its dip in the river.
Removing the 'Currying' brushes from her saddles she sets the habbles about Fluff's legs and works at placing a feed bag over the large, murderous, beak.
With her mount taken care of Sunset sees to herself. Simply removing her wet clothes and setting them a space to dry in the day's sun.
Donning her second set of gear she ambles over to join in the chatting with the Gnomes. Tipping her hat she introduces herself.
"G'd day t' ye. Sunset be me name." SHe offers.
*Settles down*
*Munch, munch, munch...*
While the others yap their gums, Torod does the real work. He sends Strawberry to scout the perimeter while he sees to the gnome's horses.
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Jubilost shakes Thomas's hand entheasticly, "Good to meet a fellow explorer interested in lost sites!"
Drying off from her dip in the skunk river, Seraph does recall hearing mention in town that Some gnome explorers came by a few weeks ago, claiming that they were here to map the entire Greenbelt; they were last seen heading up the Skunk River.
Seraph also recalls hering two rumors of ruins in the green belt.
2) The old tower on the island in Candlemere marks a place where the boundary between this world and another has rasped thin—and is now guarded by some sort of deadly monster
The gnome also shakes Seraph hand when offered, "Good to meet you, I can't thank you enough for saving our waggon and ponies! I would hate to have to return to civilization to resuppy right now."
Jubilost exchange greetings with Sunset as well, "Is that an riding trained Axebeak? I didn't know those creatures could be tamed much less used as a mount!"
Torod, checks the gnomes ponies finding them to be fine despite the incident. Strawberry goes about scouting the perimeter.
Continuing to talk Jubilost expounds on his recent finds, "We were heading east after mapping an abandoned Keep to the east, I am pretty sure it is elven in origin. Lost in the forest for who knows how long. We also ran across a tribe of Lizardfolk which I thought we had slipped by unnoticed. I tried to explore the tower on Candlemere island, but the thickets were just too thick. Then there was an abandoned ferry station on Strike river. Have you come across any landmark sites to the north and east?"
"Perhaps you would like to journey to Greenheart," Asta suggests. "Present yourselves at the castle with our compliments, and when we return we can compare maps and information at greater length. Who knows, you might find a place to ply your trades in our city, or take service with us if you like. We can use skilled explorers."
The gnome also shakes Seraph hand when offered, "Good to meet you, I can't thank you enough for saving our waggon and ponies! I would hate to have to return to civilization to resuppy right now."
Jubilost exchange greetings with Sunset as well, "Is that an riding trained Axebeak? I didn't know those creatures could be tamed much less used as a mount!"
Sunset nods and smiles in return, "Aye, t'is." She tilts her head as she regards the large bird sitting quietly munching on its cibble.
"Well.. 'domesticated' is more a slidin' scale, I'd reckon." She thinks for a moment. "Even as chicks, ye got'a watch said feathered critter's bites." She pulls one of her cigars from its case and begins to light the shortened length up.
"Here, that reminds me..." And she goes over to the wagon and begins to check that it hasn't suffered too badly from its time in the river. Even offering to help the Gnomes 'Air' the insides out.
,
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"So... This lizard feller ye crossed paths with...?" She asks as she puffs on her cigar, though her demeanour is more condusive to the wagons than to people.
"We could use skilled explorers!" Interjects Torod as he looks after the horses. "The Outriders could use him and his crew." He goes finishes up and walks over to join the others.
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Listing to Asta's and Torod's offers, Jubilost Narthropple rolls his eyes pointing out "I didn't head into the wilderness just to sleep in a bed! Not while my map has blank spots and my mission to find the ancient abandoned dwarven outpost is complete."
You feel Nathropple would make a good candidate for a leadership role, but his mission comes first, maybe when the green belt exploration is complete. If you share your greenbelt map and discoverie with him he will share his with you.
Sunset find the waggon and it's goods have come through the ordeal without damage and that they were well packed against water damage as well. when she brings up the lizard feller, Jubilost shrugs "It was a lone lizardfolk who we encountered, maybe a scout. We drove him off." you can clearly see Jubilost's eye is blackened from the resent battle.
Sunset just nods at Jubilost's comment, absently puffing on her cigar. With things settling down she pitches in to help settle the camp for the coming evening.
As Jubilost speaks with the others, Thomas pulls Asta aside. ”Perhaps this gives us an opportunity to fill in our missing intel on the surrounding area. Maybe even hire the man as an official cartographer for the kingdom. He clearly has the expertise. We could learn in moments what would otherwise take days or weeks. And this lizardfolk tribe could prove problematic, so knowing it’s location in advance could be invaluable.”
"That's exactly what I suggested." Torod gets in between Thomas and Jubilost. "I want you to keep doing what you're doing. I'm offering you the backing of queen and country. You'd have funding, a military escort if you wanted, and in between excursions, a warm, comfortable bed. My outriders patrol the wilds of the land and I just started having them map it too. Not only would you be exploring the wilderness. You would also be shaping a nation."
Asta is quick to merge the two conversations into one and add her support to the suggestion.
"Working for Stagland does not mean being shackled to a post like an old dog," she adds. "It means you get to do what you love and are good at, benefiting a whole nation and profiting from it yourself as well."
"Good, i'm greatly interested in knowing of the ruins you find. I love hearing of such lore and we will endeavor to see you when you visit the town. Mayhap we can have a quick brunch and talk about our travels and Sunny's Axebeaks more yes~" She gives her most enchanting smile to Jubilost and looks to Torod and the others momentarily as she adds. "For now we can share our cartographic knowledge thus far and help each other in cutting down exploration time, which will save on supplies and save lives. Agreed?"
She lets it sink in before adding. "Aside from that, we won't hold you up further. As we to have to be on our way again." She smiles at Pervalish if he's present.