"Praise be to Sarenrae! Gustav, I am pleased to meet you and pleased you will be blessed with the sunrise tomorrow! Mala Salazar, daughter of the Dawnflower. While you were suffering the poison, you mentioned two snakes had attacked you, swamp adders. Can you tell us what happened to you? Are they a common threat in these parts?" Mala tries to make Gustav as comfortable as possible.
I am Gusteelus. I am great at making problems disappear.
He chokes a bit as he guzzles down some more water.
Didn't see much apart from the place just being... weird. I thought to load up on some wine and maybe some rice and make some money with the food prices going up and all. I made it in one piece with my guard, Stephain, and didn't see any issues.
But the place was strange - the villagers seemed, different - stand off-ish and disinclined to do business. No one wanted to talk me anything, let alone sell me a thing. I went to the mayor and he called in one of the farmers - forget the name, and told him to sell some rice to me. The farmer just gave him a weird nod and said it would be ready on the morrow. I figured I'd do wine the next day and stopped at the Golden Grain Inn. Normally that place is pretty hospitable but that night?, Just gloomy morose people, barely talking while they ate and drank. Creeped me out.
I got up early and found that Stephain wasn't in his room. He was just... gone. All his stuff was there - just the man himself was missing. Innkeep said he must have left before I rose, maybe took a walk or something but I'd been using that man as a guard for years and I know he just wouldn't walk out.
Things were so creepy that I decided to hitch up my wagon and just leave - I wasn't staying any longer. Profit or no profit I wasn't gonna disappear myself. Long story short? I've been on the road a day or so when I went to 'drain the serpent' and got bit on the leg while I was doing so - thank the gods they didn't strike higher eh?
Damn snakes, they seem to be everywhere in this swamp.
He's in a bad way and it is mid afternoon. If you stop to keep on eye on him and get him some nourishing food he should be well enough to continue his journey on the morrow...
Grimm looks over at the wounded man.
"He does not look too good. Maybe we should drive this wagon back, with him. Its already late, and I am not too sure the fellow will survive without further medical assistance. No worries, I know how to drive the wagon...the rest of you can jump aboard and we will be off. What do you say?"
Adran listened thoughtfully as Gustav spoke. When Gustav finished Adran said, "I hope you don't mind if I ask a couple of questions. One of them is due to the fact I don't know the local area that well. Is the Golden Grain Inn in Faubourg? The other thing that I'm curious about is where Stephain's room was in relation to yours. Was he right next door to you or farther down a hall somewhere?"
"I need to talk this over with my companions, but we will likely go ahead and keep you company until tomorrow morning when you should be well enough to continue on your way. If we were to do that and give you a letter of introduction, would you be willing to tell your story to the courtier who hired us? I couldn't guarantee that he would give you anything, but it may be helpful in the long run if he had first hand information."
Adran listened thoughtfully as Gustav spoke. When Gustav finished Adran said, "I hope you don't mind if I ask a couple of questions. One of them is due to the fact I don't know the local area that well. Is the Golden Grain Inn in Faubourg? The other thing that I'm curious about is where Stephain's room was in relation to yours. Was he right next door to you or farther down a hall somewhere?"
Its one of the inns there. I think there was three. He was in the room next to mine but I didn't hear him leave. I'm not a light sleeper but even so I think I'd hear.
"I need to talk this over with my companions, but we will likely go ahead and keep you company until tomorrow morning when you should be well enough to continue on your way. If we were to do that and give you a letter of introduction, would you be willing to tell your story to the courtier who hired us? I couldn't guarantee that he would give you anything, but it may be helpful in the long run if he had first hand information."
Errr courts? Why are we involving courtiers and such?, he says with some concern. You ain't from round these parts are you? Gove'mint is best avoided you know - never trust an official - your coins will stay in your pouches longer.
Adran chuckles. He says, "I'm from Kyonin. Most people would think my ears were a give away on that. If you don't want to talk to the courtier we won't try to force you. It just might make some things a little easier for us is all."
Adran turns and says to Grimm, "I think it's going to be better to wait here with Gustav. We'll only lose half a day that way. If we were to take him back to Hochoch the round trip would cost us an entire day."
"Gustav, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It will be quite helpful for us when we arrive in Faubourg. Where is it that you are traveling from? Or now traveling to?" Mala inquires.
Mala takes in the man's story and looks over the contents of the wagon again to see if everything seems logical.
"Since we were hired on in Karcau, basically as caravan guards we would be happy to escort you somewhere safe. Grimm here can even aid in managing your wagon while you rest. Though if you are comfortable continuing on your own, I'll impart Sarenrae's blessings on you and we can all continue on our way."
I go through a series of katas to calm my self. Basically performing Tai Chi.
Snake poison must be messing with me... or is that guy slow dancing?, the merchant says.
Trust me, you would not like me when I'm bored.
errr... okay, sure, he say lying back down.
Grimm shrugs his shoulders at the groups decision to stay.
"Well if that is how you see it, then I guess we carry on and let this fellow take his chances."
Adran says, "We didn't see any problems on the road from Hochoch to here, so I doubt that Gustav would have any trouble going back there once he's better. If we weren't on a time schedule then I wouldn't mind escorting him back the way we came. Unfortunately though the schedule we were given could get a little tight and I would rather not lose a day escorting somebody back through an area we have good reason to think is safe."
"We need to give some thought to what our watch rotation should be. Right now my only suggestion is that Gusteelus and I do our meditations at different times. Other than that we can be on watch most of the night."
"A can take watch before the sunrise, I will be awake to greet my Goddess anyway." Mala says. Turning again to Gustav, "If you will accept the blessings of Sarenrae, Her divinity can heal your wounds further. Do you want us to escort you back to Hochoch, or do you feel comfortable making the journey yourself?"
A free caravan guard? I definitely want one... I'm feeling really bad - it would set my mind and heart at ease.
He looks eager for the help.
"May your wounds feel as fresh as the new dawn." Mala invokes her holy power, healing Gustav.
"We should be under way then shouldn't we?" Mala asks the others.
All that remains is to decide do you set up camp now or try to make it to the town... likely a few hours after nightfall if all goes well.
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"I agree. Though perhaps it might be most beneficial to all if Gustav travelled with us to our destination. We could, continue to treat his wounds as well as help defend him, and when there perhaps, if he is willing, both introduce us to some of these individuals he spoke of that are acting peculiar. It would certainly help us to have someone that knows that area and those markets a bit better than we, and we could also find out what has become of his missing friend. Either way, a bit more travel and then rest could do us all some good, huh?"
Rex "hears" Adran's voice in his head. It is something Adran has done previously on occasion.
"Riddle me this my young apprentice. How many more people in Faubourg will go missing, 'weird' or perhaps even die because we took the time to escort Gustav back along a section of road we had reason to believe was safe? The gods alone know the answer to that question. I most certainly do not. But if it turns out that the answer is two or more then helping Gustav was not as simple a proposition as it appeared to be."
"I agree. Though perhaps it might be most beneficial to all if Gustav travelled with us to our destination. We could, continue to treat his wounds as well as help defend him, and when there perhaps, if he is willing, both introduce us to some of these individuals he spoke of that are acting peculiar. It would certainly help us to have someone that knows that area and those markets a bit better than we, and we could also find out what has become of his missing friend. Either way, a bit more travel and then rest could do us all some good, huh?"
If your fixing to head on to Faubough and take me there too? No thanks, the merchant says with a certain firmness.
Griim taps his foot, waiting.
"Let him go or take he back...lets decide before I grow moss on me toes!" he grumps.
The merchant does not look eager on the prospect of heading back.
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"We will not force you, but like my friend said, we would make it a priority to protect you, and we could very much help each other in this matter. And wouldn't you like to know what happened to your missing friend? Again, not by any means forcing you, the choice is yours, but are task is to go there and then return, so a day or two at most, which might just get you the rest of the supplies you had sought the first time."
Becketts words have a real merit to them... and appeal to the merchants enlightened self interest. There is profit on the line as well as an assurance of safety.
If you boys and girls will back me? Keep me safe? Hmmm... I do need to get those goods, otherwise its a wasted trip. Fine - I'm in, but remember you promised to protect me.
If we rest the night? We could be there morning, otherwise we'd arrive late tonight but I am not one for night travel - too many things lurk in the dark, and people are wary of anyone arriving in the nighttime.
Once again Rex hears Adran's voice in his head:
"No need to be afraid now. We will deal with the situation as we find it. I also have to congratulate you. I did not think that you and Beckett would be able to talk Gustav into returning to Faubourg. Granted that trying to keep him safe will mean a little extra work, but having somebody along who knows the town and the people could be invaluable."
Adran says aloud so everybody can hear him:
"If we are all to go to Faubourg together then I would suggest resting here for the night and continuing on in the morning. I share Gustav's concerns about traveling during the night under current circumstances. So it just seems to be a matter of figuring out the watch schedule for now."
You move back along the road for an hour towards Faubough then stop to settle in for the night as the shadows deepen and the sun begins to set.
Some of the bugs, who were already a very audible part of the atmosphere fall quiet, while new ones take up their own music. The midges and mosquitoes fall to biting more viciously and there are many slaps and curses as you prepare a hot meal for the weakened drover. It is of some small satisfaction when some of them invariably burn up in your camp fire.
The elves require little in the way of rest and so Adran and Gusteelus mediate as best they can so as to take the later watches.
The mist rolls sits over the marshes that lie to the side of the road and in the trees, forming a white blanket over the night time scene.
Rex takes the first watch as the others turn in for the night, anxious to do a good job. The coals of the fire are banked and his eyes have adjusted to the darkness.
His keen ears pick up something... a crack of a twig? A russle of leaves? Is something moving along the tree line in the mist?
Adran would likely have missed whatever alerted Rex that there might have been a problem. However when Rex called out his challenge and cast a light cantrip that should have got Adran's attention (unless the GM rules otherwise).
Adran will stand up, draw his handaxe for use as a ready weapon, and look around.
The kid makes a rookie mistake. Understandable given his experience. He fails to discretely wake his allies, signals he knows of the creatures presence, lights up his position and ruins his night vision. The only saving grace is that is ruins the night vision of the two creatures now run into the camp!
They are an abominable combination of reptile and man, and misshapen without any pleasing symmetry, being slightly out of proportion. Their snake-like neck and head flare out as they hiss.
Initiative coming up.
If you are sleeping/meditating your full action is to wake the first round... Everyone is within melee range of everyone else. I'll allow move actions to step back to cast spells etc.
Mala -1
Adran +0
Rex + 3
Beckett -1
Grimm +1
Gusteelus + 3
Serpent People +0
Everyone acts then the Man-Snakes.
One of the serpent men steps up and attempts to crush Rex with a club.
The other attacks Gusteelus with his club
Both miss.
New round.
Round 2
[1] 9pts
[2] undamaged
You all can act.
Adran will get up and move 15 feet back as a "disengage". As he does so he will pull on the thong around his neck and arrange it so his arcane focus crystal is hanging out in the open.