Lem seems relieved seeing the group doesn't blame him for the situation Of course you can look at them, but be careful please, they're worth a lot he says to Kleth. He gets a bowl of bean soup for each one and gives it to them. I take you've faced things like this before? Who'll take the first guard??
Kleth nods to Lem, "Not to worry, my plan is to look and not touch".
Kleth will grin at Gavin's comment and head to the goods in the wagon utilizing magic to inspect them.
He will also inspect them as hands off as possible to se if they hold a special Religious significance either in stitching or in embedded patterns a person not familiar with Religious rites may have missed.
Knowledge Religion
Malachi stands up and says If you don't mind I'll take first guard, I like to have a good sleep and awake with the rays of dawn inspiring my prayers to Lathander
"Aye that's a plan if'n I heard one. I'll join ye."
The night dissipates the heat that's plagued the party since they left Arrabar. Malachi and Oryx keep careful watch of the surrounding area while the rest of the group has some well deserved rest.
I... can I make you a question Oryx, my friend? whispers Malachi Does that... pebble you carry really talk to you? Are you sure this Sylvester you hear is not some evil trying to corrupt you? In the temple they told us of such creatures, imps and mephits who tried to lead people to ther doom by trickery and deceive
Sitting by the slowly fading fire, Oryx turns to Malachi and bellows out a laugh then catches himself and looks around at the sleeping figures and chuckles softly trying not to wake anyone.
Then he reaches into his satchel and pulls out a hefty rock. It's slightly larger than a large mans (on in this case dwarfs' fist. Ons side is rather flat and and the rest is rounded an smooth with a rough texture. The type of stone one would find weathered smooth along the seaside.
Oryx puts it beside him and Malachi then replies to Malachi.
"If anyone knows from rock and stone and steel, it's us children of Dumathoin and Moradin. Once in every few generations there are those blessed with the gift of stonespeaking. Like meself. Toril itself see's ta help us."
Oryx looks down at the rock he call's 'Sylvester'. "We 'ave a connection to the elemental plane of earth y'see. An' when I was chosen, I also chose to make a friend. Sylvester here. He speaks ta me. No, not in words yet. But I feel what he tries ta express. Perhaps the time will come when 'e chooses to let others hear his words. Maybe not. But evil? Nay there is no evil to one like him. Is the lion eating the deer evil? Nay."
Oryx pauses as if interrupted then smiles and looks at Sylvester. "Nay, he didn not call ye evil. I tell ye yer too sensitive. Alright then, g'nite ye grumpy sod."
Then picks up Sylvester and puts the rock back into his satchel. And then turns around and pulls a mugg from his backpack and before Malachi's eyes the mugg fills with a liquid and the subtle aroma of ale fills the air and Oryx takes a swig and holds it out in offering with a smile.
"Ale, ye want some?"
Menrozzar nods at Malachi's decision to take the first watch and says, "Wake me for the second. Lem, perhaps you will join me?"
Gavin sighs, "I'd be willing to take the last watch, that way I can get in my rest, then be working on a bit of something to eat when you all awake. Got to keep up the reputation of my people, after all. As for now then, I best get some rest."
Gavin bundles up in his blankets, nuzzled against his pony for comfort.
Don't mind if I do says the aasimar taking sip of ale, he tries to hide his face in reaction to the strong flavour# This is... stronger than the mead I'm used to.
The rest of the turn goes by without incidents and Malachi says looking at Selûne. We should wake Menrozzar and Kleth to take the next guard. Thanks for the chat it's been most interesting Oryx.
"Same to you friend. But agreed. Me eyelids grow heavy." He says then takes his last swig of ale then packs his tankard away and heads over to wake Kleth for the next watch and then huddles down himself and fades into a deep swift sleep.
Menrozzar is awoken by Malachi and takes his position at watch, his eyes scanning the tree line.
Wake me when I am needed. As everyone was calling out times, she a got a little lost.
Kleth takes his rest considering how to broach the subject of what he learned. "Wake me for the final watch my friends".
The night goes by without incidents, and the party wakes to the sound of Dagor, Magor and Bagor preparing the horses and the smell of Gavin's cooking.
Lem seems much calmer than the previous day and smiles at Gavin as he approaches the fire Gavin my good man, what do we have here? Is this some of that famous halfling cooking everyone's heard about?
Malachi goes apart from the rest of the group, stabs his sword into the ground and kneels before it, his face turned towards the dawning sun.
Kleth opens his eyes his prayers for the day completed after taking the final watch.
He stands and stretches opening his spellbook to consider what other spells he might select for the day.
"My friends, we should discuss these goods which we are guarding and their potential use...", he remarks casually.
"Oh? Are they more than the silks we all believed them to be?"
Kyli's interest was piqued at Kleth's mention that the silk had uses other than to gather mud on some dandy. She drew close, And?
Oryx wakes an gets up with a big yawn and stretches. Then smiles at everyone.
Gavin continues working on the meal as he responds to Lem, "Someone has to see to the well-being of you all. I mean, what, had you actually expected to live off simple rations? Umm, no. We Hin are multi-talented, and believe you me, my talents around the hearth fire, while not legendary, are quite capable. Now, Kleth, what are these concerns about the silks? We know some crazed cultists want them, what else need we deduce?"
Tasting the intended meal, Gavin notes, "Hmm, needs a hint more salt."
Malachi returns from his prayers, his hair flowing behind him with the same shine as the dawn sun. Kleth our good friend, did you find out something about the cargo that we need to know?
"Indeed, they are not magical in nature. However based on the the designs they're clothes used in rituals to summon powerful evil outsiders. By the amount of silks they could fully dress at least two dozen people which means the goods could have been created with an especially powerful ritual in mind. Thus, those who seek these items out may not be mere Acolytes but someone higher up in leadership, whatever that means in the hierarchy of a mad God, who seeks to have them back".
Lem stares at Kleth, his mouth wide open. I... I guess we should make haste then. Magor, tell your cousins to hurry up! he looks at the party and apologizes I'm sorry we got you into this, I'll make sure you get paid in accordance to the risk once we reach Riatavin
Malachi picks his backpack up and sits himself on the leading cart.
Hopping up on the back of the lead cart, Menrozzar says, "Let the curs come! We'll smash them and send them off to see the mad god they choose to follow."
Gavin serves out the roasted rothe sausage, scrambled eggs, and polenta to his companions then quickly splashes some water into the piping hot cast iron skillet. He pulls out an oblong wooden instrument then scrapes the skillet clean before stowing it in his gear. Picking up his plate to eat, he smiles, "Well then, not just a handful of cultists, but likely a whole sect of the Church of the Idiot Madman. Perfect! I would agree, good sir Lem, that our pay might need a little padding. For the moment, everyone eat up, then we can be back to the road!"
Kyli listened with interest to the discussion. She knew that fanatics of any background were dangerous and the sooner they got rid of the fabrics, the better. I fear they are already on our tail. We should make haste while we can.
After everyone has enjoyed Gavin's cooking the caravan begins its march southward towards the pass at Arranford. shouts Lem from the leading wagon.
Malachi turns back to Menrozzar, his eyes darting to the sides of the road constantly and says I can't wait to put my blade through those Cyricists, this is why I left the temple!
Dagor smiles at Kyli and offers her the reins of the last cart, then he makes a gesture indicating he needs to get rid of some excess liquid and moves to the back of the wagon.
Oryx sits on the back of the last card with his Stonebow in his hands. He smiles and says. "Let 'em come."
Several hours go by as the sun beats down on the party, Lem eyes keep darting to one side and the other of the road.
You see several humanoid forms standing hidden on the branches of a tree about 100' ahead of you, next to the road
Menrozzar grins at the sight of the humanoids and draws forth his flail, leaning forward to tell Lem, "We have company up ahead."
"What where?" Oryx says and squints ahead with his milky eyes and levels his stonebow.
Menrozzar grins at the sight of the humanoids and draws forth his flail, leaning forward to tell Lem, "We have company up ahead."
Menrozzar seemed to have spot something ahead, What is it?
Gavin continues to eat an apple as Menrozzar draws the others attention to the would-be assailants. "Oh, just a band of brigands, orcs, cultists, or what have you... Hiding in a tree, intent on waylaying us and taking our goods for themselves. Perhaps we should greet them... with an arrow or two?"
Kleth readies with the words of Arcane power at the tip of his tongue.
Lem smiles at Menrozzar and whispers Guess you're going to earn that payrise, eh? I'll go inside the wagon and you deal with this. Take care then he goes inside the wagon.
Oryx waits using some of the cart he's on as cover, stonebow at the ready.
"This is gonne be fun."
Some of the more stealthy among us should circle around so as to catch them in a pincer move. She advised.
"Why bother? This rabble will know we've seen them shortly. Best to strike before they know we've seen them." Menrozzar fires an arrow from his bow at one of the humanoid forms, bellowing, "Surrender or flee, else your deaths will be quick in coming!"
As Menrozzar draws his bow, Gavin follows suit. "Might as well say hello. This could get a little interesting." Drawing an arrow, Gavin touches into a bit of the luck that guides him.
Whelp, here we go. she thought. Kyli prepped her axe and was prepared to charge if any bandit foolish to show himself.
Menrozzar arrow hits one of the humanoids, as he is screaming in pain Gavin's pierces his neck an it falls lifeless from the branch.
The bloody body of a hobgoblin lays on the ground ahead of the caravan as the sound of charging comes from the wood to the right of the party.
Kleth casts a spell, Mage Armor.
Initiative
Dropping his bow, Menrozzar moves to the right, drawing his flail as he does so, and prepares to meet the coming charge of hobgoblin raiders. The pulse of battle stirs in his blood, and those who look notice that the hands gripped round the fail seem to have twisted into razor-sharp claws.
Six hobgoblins come charging from the right side avoiding Menrozzar's flail and throw javelins at the party
A javelin hits the wagon just over Gavin's head, another one flies true towards Kleth buth the force field surrounding him deflect it, a third one misses the caravan altogether.
Menrozzzar is hit on his side by a javelin thrown by the hobgoblin that has stayed back. As is Malachi by two different javelins thet wound him severely
The hobgoblin standing on the branches ahead of the caravan shoots an arrow at the leading cart
Malachi jumps from the cart charging against the closest hobgoblin and wounds his left arm.
Drawing another arrow, Gavin takes aim at the lone hobgoblin still standing in the branches and looses his shot.
Gavin arrow hits the branch just above the head of the hobgoblin who smiles menacingly
Oryx takes a shot at one of the hobgoblins with his stonebow and lets fly when it's within range that he can see.
Not waiting to see if it hits, he reloads the stonebow.
Oryx stone flies and strikes one of the hobgoblins on the side of his head.
Hefting her axe, Kyli makes a straight line for the closest hob. Her heart was pounding wildly as she angled for position and brought the axe down in a sweeping motion.