Thank Korbran Sterling says with a sense of relief.
I don't think so. I'm Luke. Looking over to mother Kreedy's I'm sorry, I don't want to be rude. Leia is probably worried sick. I should go find her. Thanks for your help.
Sterling heads off to Kreedy's
"Yes... of course..." The woman says, somewhat distractedly as she watches Sterling head toward Kreedy's.
The smell of a wood fire and cooking fish hit Sterling's senses. His eyes lock with Luna's. Oh my. You're ok? Sterling rushes to her and hugs her tight. whispering in her ear he says. Your Leia, and I'm Luke. The Constable thinks she's seen me before.
Sterling pulls back from the hug. Loud enough for Kreedy to hear, he says No more overland for us. Let's get a boat and skirt up the coast. It has to be safer.
"Oh Luke... I'm so glad to see you alive... I'd feared the worst... and getting a boat sounds like a genius idea... but can I finish eating first?" She takes another swallow of food... "You hungry? If not we can go check on getting a boat now, if you want."
Sterling looks at her like 'are you kidding me?' Boy, it does smell good, but I saw the fisherman coming back. Now would be a good time to find a small boat for sale.
"Alright..." She sets down her bowl and utensils... thanks mother Kreedy for an awesome meal... "Luke needs me right now... but perhaps we'll be back later so he can eat as well..."
Kreedy blushes at the compliments, and waves her off. "No no now, you and your beau just be happy you found each other. One bowl of chowder isn't going to make or break me dear. You pass that on to someone else later who needs it." She bustles around, cleaning up the bowls and plates and utensils.
The fishing boats are already tying up when you get there, the largest looks about 70 feet long, and has a pile of fish on the deck that's 2 ft deep. There are a couple in the 50 foot range, and the smaller ones range from 10 to 30 feet.
When the two approach the dock, a man with a peg leg from the knee down, and missing a left hand (a metal hook is replacing it) looks at them. "Hoy now, you two get back. You wanna watch, watch from over there." He points to a place near a home that has a view of the docks, but isn't near them. "Gonna be a lot of folks workin to get those fish in. Gotta get 'em dried before they rot, or we'll be starvin' come the Calming."
Steps back a few steps but before she goes all the way to the place he's sending her, she pauses and turns back to him.... "We don't mean to be in the way, but who would we talk to about perhaps purchasing or hiring a boat?"
Sterling backs up to get out of the way. Well, barter for a boat. We've had problems with the lizards, and figure floating up the coast is safer.
Sterling fidgets a bit, and straightens his shirt.
The man blinks, and then shakes his head. "Nobody sells their boats, how would they fish? Try Verdant Shoals, about a week's walk North. They build boats to sell, we build boats to use." The man says distractedly as he waves the two over by the building he indicated originally. "Nobody wastes their time going to the city this time of year, when they need to fish. Maybe in a few months when the Calming comes. Or wait for one of the merchant barges, should be one by in a few weeks."
Paul keeps an eye on the town looking for any patrols or what look like guards in the town.
Luna nods in understanding... "Thank you for the information good sir." and then moves out of the way of the fishermen...
Once out of earshot of anyone besides Sterling she says for his ears only, "Maybe I should send for Harry and Paul to join us north of town and we should leave right away. The only place in town to stay is the church and you know we can't do that. We should be on the road right away."
That make sense, but it doesn't hurt to ask, someone might have had an extra boat. You've given us lots of good advice. Thanks
Sterling gently grabs Luna's arm and walks her away from the others. He quietly talks. Why don't you let Han and Chewie know to meet us at the shoreline a few miles north of town. oh and make sure no one sees you talking to your raven. All we need is the towns folk yelling 'burn the witch'
"Good point... let's head north now out of town and I will send for them when no one can see me talk to Crow."
Paul and Harry don't see any patrols, but the road side does look cleaner than they would have expected, so it's likely that something comes through cutting out underbrush on a regular basis, keeping the road from getting overgrown.
Paul and Luna work their way out of town as the fleet begins unloading fish. The fish look perfectly normal to the duo. They don't exactly look familiar, but big eyes, scales, fins, silvery complexion.
Once about a half mile out of town, Luna sends the crow.
Another hour, and the four are reunited on the beach. There's a road of packed dirt just above the beach itself that runs along the edge of the woods.
"Well, it's not yellow brick, but we might as well follow it.. I'd like to put plenty of road behind us before we have to camp."
"Yeah, let's get moving. I don't like being around any place with one of those churches. And there's no way I'm singing 'We're off to see the wizard' so don't ask. "
Sterling starts heading down the road. How about, "On the road again,
Just can't wait to get on the road again."
"I'm not much of a singer. Tended to scare away the game. "
"Hmmm.. you never struck me as a Willie Nelson fan, Sterling."
Sterling smiles. My tastes are eclectic. Running from Nina Simone to Johnnie Cash to Ween. But my tastes have one thing in common...they're always excellent. He winks at her.
"We may not want to stay on the road. If we run into a patrol we're probably going to have to fight it out as I'm sure they are looking for four of us. Keeping nearby so we can follow it and see what traffic is on it may be a good idea though."
"Smart thinking Paul... I agree. Paralleling the road from a short distance sounds like a great idea."
The group heads up the coastline, staying off the road and in the trees for about 10 miles, and then they find they can't, as the forest peter out and they find themselves in plains, vast rolling hills covered with bright green grass about waist high. The shimmering sea of green seems to flicker and breath as the wind twitches the tops of the grass.
"I say we camp out here on the edge for at least tonight. It will give us a chance to watch the road and see what we can before heading down it."
"Yeah, best be cautious. "
perfect area to make some ghillie suits
The group makes camp, off the road, and in the woods.
I would say hot camp but try to hide the fire.
I can take first watch.
Start the fire after dark, and make sure it is going inside a pit, or make a wall around it to conceal the light.
Harry will try to do some hunting.
and appears to be in luck
Harry comes back with some sort of animal that looks vaguely like a rabbit, but has horns curving back like a rams horns, and has a long tail instead of a fluffy bunny tail. Other than that, it appears to be a jackrabbit, about 50 lbs.
I'll take second watch."
About midnight, about an hour before she awakens the next person, she hears some horses on the road.
I'll take 3rd
Harry will take first watch.
luna quietly shakes each of the others with a finger over their lips so they know to be silent. she holds one finger to her ear so they know to listen for the sounds of the hooves on the road.
we banked the fire earlier so it couldn't be seen from the road, but if it's not burnt out by now she'll double check that it's well banked.
By the time Luna gets everyone awake and banks the fire again to make sure the sounds have faded away.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sterling listens for 10 minutes before saying wake me at my shift and quickly falls asleep
The rest of the night passes uneventfully. The next morning the group awakens, puts out the remains of the coals, and has a breakfast of warmed over rabbit meat.
I have alchemical glue, and can just stick grass to their clothes
Add +2 to Harry's rolls
Cast Guidance to add another +1 to Harry's rolls
Harry spends half a day and the group has one decent ghillie suit.